Absolutely Disgusted

I'm a college student at VCU studying for my Bio-Ed degree, and I encountered something that pushed me to tears. I'm taking Biol-152 in one lab that has a rescued ball python. I think the world of people who rescue these beautiful animals from certain death. I do. He's still go scarring from whatever he'd encountered before he was rescued. Poor guy. Anyways, last thursday was my first day of that class and I saw him in his tank. It was covered in feces and old shed. Okay. So, maybe he just pooped, right? I get into class today, and again. Feces and shed. They have a HEAT ROCK in there, no thermometer, no uth, no heat lamp. Fifty gallon tank. -Murmurs.- I went and spoke to the woman who supposedly took care of him. "We've had that heat rock in there for four years, and he has a better amount of room to feed." "That tank's too big." "No. He's fine." "Is that heat rock all he has for heat?" "Of course." -Rolls eyes.- "I want to volunteer to help." "The Bio department says you'll be a liability. You might get hurt." "I won't sue. I'll sign a waver. I'll do everything in my power to take care of him and give him a proper enclosure." "He's fine." I walked away, with tears in my eyes. Anyone with half a brain can google a caresheet. I'm going to be e-mailing the dean with my request and I will sign a waver to help him.

I just can't believe that a group of trained biologists who claim to be so intelligent could be so negligent with such a beautiful animal. I mentioned BP.Net, and she rolled her eyes. I briefly mentioned my hour long conversation with Adam and she blew it off.

What to do? I'd really appreciate suggestions for how to be diplomatic in my e-mail to the dean. HELP!

you always get a better response when you are gentle and kind in letters and requests.

explain in the letter that you are herper and how much you love your snakes. the support you have (adam and bp.net) and the knowledge you hold.

explain that it would be an honour to be able to care for such a beautiful snake...

and IF that doesn't get you what you want... then get into more details about how the care is wrong, show proof and see if you can make changes.

but... in my experience... when i go in gently first... i always get what i'm after! :wuv:

It's hard to be sweet and loving when I see him/her in that sort of situation. Oh. Yeah. They told me it was "unethetical" to probe...

It sounds like what you are going up against is their pride and ego. They think that because they are biologists they can properly care for any animal. People like that don't like being told that what they are doing is wrong and may not be open to suggestions.

My thoughts exactly. Good luck, It's nice to know someone cares enough to get that BP the environment he deserves. Please let us know how this turns out for you.

Thats horrible :( Start off with the e-mail describing your experience with snakes and ask if they would allow you to help (waiver and all). If that doesn't work, get more forceful describing the poor conditions (and the danger with that stupid death rock) the snake is in. If that still hasn't pushed them, try going to see the dean in person with photos, information, anything at all that he/she can see with his/her own eyes.


Good luck, let us know what happens...

His only source of heat is that heat rock, and the classroom temp is between seventy and seventy-five. I swear, they're trying to kill him...

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Originally Posted by Melicious

His only source of heat is that heat rock, and the classroom temp is between seventy and seventy-five. I swear, they're trying to kill him...

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that is ridiculous , I would include several care sheets in your letter to the head of dept.

These care sheets took me approximately one minute to find. I briefly read over them, and there's some varying suggestions, but they've got the same information. These don't even include the BP.Net caresheet...

http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/pytho...lpythons_2.htm

http://www.kingsnake.com/ballpythonguide/

http://www.newenglandreptile.com/CareBall.html

http://www.wnyherp.org/care-sheets/s...all-python.php

http://www.reptileforums.com/care_sh...ballpython.htm

http://www.repticzone.com/caresheets/Ballpython.html

THat's terrible!!! Good luck in convincing those stupid biologists :)

You could always release her e-mail address to us.....that will ensure she gets a dozen e-mails with a dozen care sheets.

If that doesn't work.....save a life, steal a snake. desperaate times call for desperate measures...


edit:...don't take me seriously :bolt:

Just curious but is there any form of animal control you can contact?
Maybe a visit from them will scare them into taking proper care of any animals they have.

Wow, that is very sad. I agree with the letter writing. Start off slow and respectful, that should do the trick (and will make you a better person, even thou I know it is very hard).
Sadly I have seen many "rescues" have issues like this. Your not really rescueing anything if you don't know how to properly care for it.
Sad really,
Rusty

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Originally Posted by nathanledet

If that doesn't work.....save a life, steal a snake. desperaate times call for desperate measures...


edit:...don't take me seriously :bolt:

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Not being funny or anything but i would try to do everything in your power to persuade them to listen to you by what has already been suggested i.e show them as many care sheets and a wad of information about royal (ball) Pythons as you possibly can, but if all fails id know what id do as a last resort for the poor thing...hint hint nathanledet
i know it would have serious repercussions and i wouldnt want you to get into any kind of trouble at your university but me being me as a last resort would get that snake outta there

Publicity. Universities don't like negative publicity, and it surely wouldn't look good for a university's BIOLOGY department to be shown publicly with an animal under their care in that condition!

Steve

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Originally Posted by hoo-t

Publicity. Universities don't like negative publicity, and it surely wouldn't look good for a university's BIOLOGY department to be shown publicly with an animal under their care in that condition!

Steve

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Ouch, that'd do it. But yeah, you do catch more flies with honey than vinigar generally (unless you do go to the press) and the more caresheets you have from different sources the more convincing it is! Poor little guy...

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Originally Posted by nathanledet

steal a snake

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Originally Posted by Forum Rules

No posts promoting illegal behavior will be tolerated

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I know it's frustrating to see an animal suffer, and I wish you the best of luck getting it into better circumstances. (Nice gets you a lot further than arguing) Please let's keep the rules in mind, and offer up more viable options. :)

I hope she will see the light and at least try to look things up.. I wouldn't way anything negative about her on here though, in case she does have a change of heart and look; ignorance is one thing, but if someone can't even realize they're wrong, you can't help them. I hope you have luck with the dean.

yes yes Christie i know..that's why i edited the post and said not to take me seriously...I wouldn't steal the snake.

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Originally Posted by nathanledet

yes yes Christie i know..that's why i edited the post and said not to take me seriously...I wouldn't steal the snake.

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but I would *wink *wink ;)
just kidding you guys.

Its great that your really taking matters into your own hands. its important for everyone to get a good education in the right environment, even the snake. oh and for him to be healthy and maintained properly ;)

good luck and I hope this guy gets better conditions fast!
(heatrock:confused: ...what are they thinking:mad: )

As some one stated bad publicity for a Uni isn't fun.

NO MATTER WHAT ALWAYS MAKE YOURSELF LOOK GOOD. make the letter seem concerned and helpful and well-intended. Try not to throw words or make any accusations. Stay as neutral as you can with wanting to help the snake as your only goal. I say skip talking to the woman again and go to the head of the bio dept or the dean. if no one is willing to listen call the college's paper or the city/town paper (depending on if the school has one and or the town/city paper is small enough to be seen by some of the public ie front page- that would make front page here i mean, the bio dept not taking care of an animal? duh.)

it has always been hard for me in confrontation to make myself look 'good' and not get hot headed or over anxious when i know some people are wrong so please dont make my mistakes. if you appear as a kind, concerned person that simply wants an animal to be taken care of and not an 'evil nazi snake freak' as lol i would come off as im sure you'll definatly light a fire under something.

Wasn't it PETA that broke into a lab to release a bunch of monkey's that were being tested? I cannot remember.

People, lets not stoop to PETA's level.

Yes,.... Very bad to piss off your dean.... There has to be a "PC" way to aproach the issue... I read on a simular thread that the majority of knowledge that is "out there" is so out dated, and thanks to the BIG -E and awsome forums like this good news travels sooo fast. If she is completelly turned off to viewing this sight, maybe take a photo of a bad heat rock burn and a severe bac. infection from poor conditions in and show her what might happen!?!!?!??? Just a thought.... Keep us posted please!

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Originally Posted by nathanledet

Wasn't it PETA that broke into a lab to release a bunch of monkey's that were being tested? I cannot remember.

People, lets not stoop to PETA's level.

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Depends- dont get too hasty, i will grant that peta has gotten rid of some animal testing that was just unnecessary imo.
simply because they have the right to test doesnt mean that they should keep animals infested withe feces and pretty much tortured needlessly. Insult to injury imo. I mean, alteast let the poor blind puppy you blinded so we could have hairspray have a blanket in that undersized metal cage(extreme example extreme example extreme example)
;_;
other than that DOWN WITH PETA!!!!!

LOL @ shhhli

yes yes...i understand.

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Originally Posted by nathanledet

yes yes Christie i know..that's why i edited the post and said not to take me seriously...I wouldn't steal the snake.

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It just had to be said. ;) Some people don't understand kidding, and we don't want that. :rolleyes:

Any news?

Is it in the life sciences building?

...my girlfriend has an after hours access card to the labs there...I'll go snatch that thing, lol....

He's in the Life Sciences Building in lab 121. Justin and I are going to be writing a letter to the Dean tonight. I need him to keep me calm.

I know exactly where that is...

(cue mission impossible theme)

Oh boy...I had nothing to do with Brad's actions...

I would follow what most here say. Write a very PC, polite concerned letter to the Dean and cc it to the dept head. See where that goes. These things must be done delicately at first. If that goes no where than write a letter to a local herp rescue.

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Originally Posted by Melicious

Oh boy...I had nothing to do with Brad's actions...

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uh oh.

:confused:

Any updates on this situation? :confused:

He's no longer in the classroom, so either Brad snake-napped him or some other student or someone took him. I hope he gets better care...

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Originally Posted by nathanledet

Wasn't it PETA that broke into a lab to release a bunch of monkey's that were being tested? I cannot remember.

People, lets not stoop to PETA's level.

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This is no longer classified...

I was working at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. In 1983, we were doing a study on anthrax using sheep. They were kept in our facility at Forest Glen. One night a bunch of animal rights people broke into the pens and released the sheep on to the street. We went on full alert and found all the sheep in two hours. The people responsible were all sent to jail for releasing a biological agent into the public. There were no reported cases of anthrax in humans in the area, but everyone knows that anthrax can be transferred from human to animal and vice-versa.

We (the US Army) were really scared!!! The facility had to put in a high-tech security system along with the regular military guard. Just to protect a bunch of sheep and dogs.

OH, well you never know with fanatics. I am very sympathetic to the cause of animals and animal testing. But it is better to use animals that match human qualities than to use death-row inmates like China does.

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Originally Posted by Melicious

He's no longer in the classroom, so either Brad snake-napped him or some other student or someone took him. I hope he gets better care...

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I hope he's in a better more proper home now. :) I wonder how they pulled it off? :P

:snake: :bolt:

lol who ever took the royal should of left a note sayin sod this guys im outta this hell hole cheers then

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Originally Posted by steveo

lol who ever took the royal should of left a note sayin sod this guys im outta this hell hole cheers then

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that'd be leaving evidence though....


*watching CSI* :P