Rauri's Heading Home

Well Mike just left to deliver Rauri the big BCI to Casey Hulse of Nature's Spirit Reptiles http://www.nsreptiles.com/ Rauri will spend tonight and Sunday night with Casey and Darla then ship out Monday morning for delivery Tuesday to Becky in Texas.....finally home to his forever home. Since Mike and I aren't FedEx certified yet or experienced in shipping larger snakes, Casey was kind enough to volunteer to help Becky get this snake home. Casey and Darla are good people :) (builds a damn fine incubator too as well as racks, etc.)

We took Rauri in as a rescue on September 11, 2005 and it's been a wonderful adventure helping this beautiful snake heal from poor care and a very unstable life these past couple of years. As most of you know we fell in love with Rauri and he helped us to see how wonderful Columbians are. So much so we recently adopted a young one from a forum member here so Rauri's legacy lives on in our house.

We'll miss this big snake dreadfully. He was a real presence in this house and very much enjoyed by the whole family. His temperment, feeding responses and pure bull strength beauty have been a joy to behold.

We know Becky will give him a loving, caring and experienced forever home so that's why she was our first choice for Rauri from the day we rescued him back in September 2005. Enjoy him Becky as we have done. I don't think you'll have any trouble at all falling deeply into boa love....Rauri's a perfect ambassador for his species.

(dang now if I only wasn't getting all teary looking at his empty tank sitting there! :oops: )

Quote:

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

(dang now if I only wasn't getting all teary looking at his empty tank sitting there! :oops: )

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Awwww. I know that feeling Jo. :hugs:

Thanks Raj. I feel like a bit of an idiot feeling so sad about Rauri leaving today. I always knew he was leaving from the day we took him in and I'm totally happy he's going to Becky. Just sad that our time with him has ended I guess. :tears:

Gosh I feel for you Jo. Take heart from the fact that you guys took him in and gave him a wonderful home. Though he may be gone, you guys still have wonderful memories to remeber him by and you can always ask Becky to send holiday pics of him and all. :hug:

Oh I know Raj and I'm really fine inside and thrilled for Rauri to be going home to Becky finally. Just like sending your kid off to college lol....you know it's a great thing but you know you'll miss the old days (though Rauri was waaaay easier to keep than a teenager any day of the week LOL)

Had to find that old thread and do Rauri's last letter home from Camp Hiss N Slither of course! LOL

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...t=26696&page=3

Awwwww...don't feel bad or silly at being so sad to see him go. I'm getting all misty-eyed and I've never even met him! :hug: I can only imagine how bittersweet it must be for you.

Have a safe trip home Rauri!!! Do you think you could give us some updated pics before he leaves? Please?

We didn't want to stress Rauri with a picture taking session this morning. Since he was shipping we had skipped his every 2 week feeding last weekend as well so poor Ruari I'm sure was totally confused as to why he was hungry and nobody was producing dinner for him and then stuffing him in a bag to boot! There are some pics in this thread from the end of May so pretty recent (as an adult male he doesn't change much anymore LOL).

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=31220

Mike just got home from they Taylor show so Rauri's been handed over to the good care of Casey Hulse for shipping out in a couple of days.

Thanks Jude. I don't want to be a sap about it but cleaning out his tank tonight will be a very bittersweet moment for me. Having little Sev here helps but Rauri was just such a unique snake and our first bigger snake rescue that we'll miss him but have lovely memories. I know Becky will always keep us up to date on the big fella as he enjoys his years with her.

I was JUST about to ask about his camp merit badges. :D It was always soooo much fun to read about Rauri at camp.



:hug: I know you'll miss him, but Sev will be gi-huge-ic big in no time at all and ejoying the hockey games, just like Rauri used to. :) :)



RuLyn

Awhh... :grouphug: You've done such a great job with him, and he's such a handsome boa! I bet his vibe will linger a long while, and he's being passed from good hands to good hands. He's one lucky snake! :hug:

btw, your new icon is SO sweet! :love: Go Orlah!

Thanks everyone for the sweet comments. As hard as it's been for me it's been way worse for Mike who spent so many more hours with Rauri than I ever did. They are buds and Mike worked very hard to show Rauri that life can be good and full of caring humans. Mike's going to really miss the big boa come hockey season this year so we'll have to get young Sev interested in the game LOL. Mike always let Rauri use him as a big, warm climbing toy and we have lots of great pics to remember our 10 months with this special big snake.

Awe, how awesome that you could rescue this poor guy and get him into a home that he never would have otherwise found. I wish you all the best karma!

Awww Jo..... :hug:

Got a message from Becky today that Rauri made it to Texas safe and sound and Casey Hulse did a super job packing and shipping him. I'm sure she'll post when she gets time.

He's here! Just gorgeous as ever and was very happy tp be out of that darned pillowcase and into his warm hide. Such pretty peachy colors on his cheeks, even my mom said he was absolutely beautiful.

Thanks for the support everyone! I'm so happy he got here quickly and safely(and not because Fedex meant it that way... Idiots).

But we'll get to that story tomorrow when I've had SLEEP. I don't think I even remember what it is...

Glad to hear that he got there safely Becky! And please do tell us the tale later on! :D

ah this is great. may i ask though... why didn't you just keep him jo? why did you rescue him and send him off to becky?

inquiring minds want to know!

He was never actually our snake Aleesha. Long story here.

When the twit who bought Rauri from the twit who had owned him before that, she had never even held a cornsnake or fed one. Twit #1 convinces twit #2 she can manage this big BCI...well she can't. She's driving around town with her car windows down showing him off (oh and she's scared of rats...one of the things he eats *sigh*). A friend of a friend calls me in a panic because this girl has just shown up at her work with the snake loose in the car. Oh and this is the day she bought him...so at this point he's not even been anywhere but the petstore (where twit #1 worked) and her car! Anyways, we convince her to take the snake home and Mike and I go over to help her set up.

Of course they've sold her a big arse heat rock and she will NOT listen. Neither will she join a snake forum because apparently they are too hard for her to figure out how to log in to *sigh sigh sigh*. Over the next month I was on the phone to Becky constantly venting about this twit and on the phone to the twit (this would be twit #2) trying to help her with the snake. Mike had to help her feed (remember she's afraid of rats...even dead ones!) Within a month the snake is not doing well...turning almost black with stress...his belly is going bad from the heat rock and the massive pan of water that basically takes up all his cool side (and she wouldn't remove it either even when we told her too....twits are stubborn...stupid but stubborn!).

Becky always expressed an interest in this snake and I said if ever I could get him away from the twit she would offer him a permanent home. At that point Mike and I had no real interest in boas. Finally twit #2 calls in a panic and I make her take the snake to our reptile vet and he's got the beginnings of a belly burn/belly rot (burn on the rock then go soak in the tub then go back and burn on the rock and spill the tub and sit in wet substrate...quite the life for a snake! grrr). She brought him in loose in her car and our vet nearly freaked when she wandered into the clinic with him slung over her shoulder (he was easily 5.5 feet at this time). Our vet was VERY concerned and tried to give the twit husbandry advice but didn't feel she got very far.

The next day twit calls me because she doesn't want a sick snake and didn't know snake had to see vets! (see twit run...see twit speak....grrrr). So we go to get the snake and he's a mess. So black you can't see his saddles from his background and his belly is burnt looking with the beginnings of blisters though none have broken. She insists on driving this snake loose in her car to our house (I could have beat her with a stick but at this point just wanted him out of her hands fast). I made her sign a paper releasing him to us for permanent placement with Becky. I had phoned Becky before we went to pick him up and she confirmed he wanted him. He also has permanent lung damage because Twit #1 never treated past RI's (he lied and said he did but since our vet is the only one that will see large snakes she confirmed she'd never treated this snake before).

We worked with him and went to see Dr. Pam our herp vet. She was pleased he was out of the previous owners hands and still shocked that anyone drove around and entered her clinic with a big loose BCI. Lucky enough we got him just as his belly was turning bad so were able to treat it quickly and he actually healed beautifully and quickly. He has no belly scarring but will also have dimished lung capacity due to Twit #1 not bothering to get him proper vet care in the past.

So basically Rauri was never ours to begin with Aleesha. He was always Becky's snake (she even picked his name which means "red king") and we were just the family that cared for him while he healed and over the winter till it was safe to ship him to Texas. We made a committment to this snake and to Becky and as hard as it was to let him go for our family, we need to live up to our word. We fell in love with the big fella but he was always Becky's boy so he was never ours in the first place Aleesha though he'll always hold a special place in our hearts.

oh wow what a huge story! i am even more in awe of you jo... i was before but now, after reading what you did for rauri... well that's just the most beautiful gift you could have gifted him. :hug:

*honoured to know you*
aleesha

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

oh wow what a huge story! i am even more in awe of you jo... i was before but now, after reading what you did for rauri... well that's just the most beautiful gift you could have gifted him. :hug:

*honoured to know you*
aleesha

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Couldn't have said it better myself. :grouphug:

Oh heck don't be silly! Any one of you would have done the same and you know it! We weren't even sure we were the right home for him but there was no choice. She decided it was either we pick him up or he was getting dumped back in the pet store she bought him from and back into the crappy care of his first owner. Ask Adam how panicked I was when I phoned him looking for advice and support (and thanks as always Adam for not minding those kinds of calls). I did more BCI research in 3 hours then I ever want to have to do again but you do what you have to when a living creature is in need.

We didn't do anything special really. You see a need, you do your best or find someone who can. In this case we were able to help and will do so again if we believe we can make a difference.

Oh btw just for a laugh. She named that big, handsome male snake "Baby". I could have gagged LOL. Mike and I refused to call him that and were thrilled when Becky renamed him quickly (though I occasionally called him Ro Ro just to bug Mike LOL)

you have no idea how many people would just look the other way and complain.

that's how so many people in society are! look at the abused kids and how many people "don't want to get involved"... so don't diminish your good deed jo... i'm in awe of you!!!

*biiiiig hugs to your family* So sad see him go but yet so happy too...my favorite picture and story about Rauri is the day he slithered under your blanket on the couch and layed his head on your pillow...you gotta post that picture again!

And yay for the nice folks who mailed him and that he arrived safe and sound! Becky, you'll have to let us know how he adjust from wathing hockey to watching barrel racing!

Thanks for telling the whole store - I had always wondered myself. =)

Well thanks Aleesha, I guess it never occurred to Mike and I not to offer to take Rauri. We knew we would have to get up to speed fast on BCI care but we had the room, the time, the resources and an excellent herp vet to back us up as well as the resources of this online community for help and advice. Be in awe of Mike too Aleesha if you must LOL. He doesn't post here much so you all don't know my hubby all that well but he was the one that did most of Ruari's care and paid the financial burden as I don't work outside the home. It took me a long, long time to not be intimidated by that big snake and only in the last months did I handle him alone. Without my wonderful husband I would have been very hard pressed to consider giving this snake a foster home with us. Rauri and Mike were buds and for Mike this has been a hard time but he and I are confident in Becky and Rauri's future.

oh don't worry... mike is in that "awe bucket" with you!!!

my hubby handles drake - our hog island. i'm intimidated by him so he does most of his handling... although i do his care.

see... having a man around the house isn't all THAT bad! LOL - there is a use for them after all :P

Well just to look back and remember...here's a few pics of Rauri including the infamous couch potato BCI one LOL.

Rauri's face (light phase)...such a beautiful face!
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...acecloseup.jpg

His incredible number 81 scale markings...talk about unique!
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...8/number81.jpg

The couch potato shot and no this was NOT set up. I was napping I got up and Rauri slithered right over and crashed on my pillow. Mike tossed the blanket on him and the crazy snake lay there for over and hour happy as can be. We finally put him back in his enclosure and I think he was mad his pillow and blankie didn't come along!
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...tforumsize.jpg

Me and Rauri
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../8/raurijo.jpg

Mike, Mikey and Rauri
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...rauriforum.jpg

Rauri did love hockey and we have proof! LOL
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...8/GameisOn.jpg

Our older son Luke who adored the big snake and is now raising his own BCI Severus. Rauri introduced Luke to the wonder of boas.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...auriMoving.jpg

Just to show how big he is.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...llBodyShot.jpg

His beautifully marked tail, his belly is also a beautiful orange in places but I could never get a good shot of that.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...ail_162066.jpg

Hockey rules!
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...layingGoal.jpg

Just for Adam LOL....Rauri says..."BOAS ROCK!"
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...aurionback.jpg

What a beautiful boa he is!
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...groomMay06.jpg

In 10 months, despite a sore belly and treatments and previous poor care...this is the ONLY bite he ever did. That snake is amazingly well mannered.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...Rauribite1.jpg

There....Rauri in review LOL. Becky remind me sometime...I have tons more...I need to send you copies of them all and his full Degei records of his time with us.

Yay! Rauri pictures! I love that couch potato one...just cracks me up! =D

Jo. You're a doll and I bet the GREAT karma gets you what you want from your cooking eggs :grouphug:

oh i looooove those photos!!!!

Thanks Cue. We already got good karma back when the experience with Rauri showed us how great boas are so we supported our son's wishes to adopt little Severus who will bring our family years of pleasure interacting with him and watching him grow. Though heck I'll take any good karma for those 5 eggs that wants to come our way LOL

go eggs go go eggs go!

any more info on the eggs? how are they candling now?

Not sure Aleesha. I haven't had a chance to get hold of Eugene and ask him if he's recandled yet or wants to not disturb the eggs for a bit.

Oh btw forgot to mention, that one pic of Rauri over Luke's shoulder. Kind of a funny story. What Rauri is reaching for out of camera range is the Christmas tree LOL. The thought of trying to work a 6 foot plus determined boa out of a fully decorated Christmas tree is just tooooooo freaky to even think about! He was determined to check it out though so all through last Christmas we had to watch him like a hawk or he'd try to sneak over to the tree (amazing how sneaky a big snake can be!)

All those pics are so sweet, Jo...! :happycry: Rauri's really one lucky (and beautiful!) snake, and Severus is all the luckier for it!