News item: Reptile rescuers home vandalized, herps hurt/killed

This story is just awful...:mad::(

http://www.lcsun-news.com/news/ci_4322169

Link to the rescue's home page: http://www.awesomereptiles.com/lcrr/home.html

Link to their side of the story, including a link to donate to the rescue: http://www.awesomereptiles.com/lcrr/tragedy.html

I'm at a loss for words.....

Why?

I plan on sending them some money to rebuild.


http://www.awesomereptiles.com/lcrr/support.html

I don't have anything to offer right now except a small donation to them, but anyone who might be able to auction off a snake or supplies, this is the time to step up.

wow, that's absolutely sick. it's insane and so tragic the things that some messed up/confused people can do. :(

-billy

Amazing how there are "kids" who love this stuff and are educated, like nate, bpkid, myself and many others on this forum, and then there are kids who are bored and descide to break in and both kill and steal animals, and it isn't like they killed aggressive animals like a beardie, just puts a bad word out for teens and younger people.


wildlifewarrior

Reading that just made feel sick. How in the world can someone do that to any animal? Just horrible!!!

My God...That's awful. I can't believe anyone would do such a thing. Well...actually I can, and that's what's so horrifying. My heart goes out to him and his herps.

That is just plain sad :mad:.

How awful. What is wrong with those people? :mad: I sent a small donation through paypal - very quick and easy. Wish I could afford more.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jglass38

I don't have anything to offer right now except a small donation to them, but anyone who might be able to auction off a snake or supplies, this is the time to step up.

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Jamie,i just placed a ad in the sale section here offering a female amelinistic corn.I will donate the proceeds from her to this rescue.Anyone interested please view my ad and help out.

Everyone really needs to see this...=P

That's such a heartbreaking story. I'm not sure how anyone could read things like that and still not believe that there is true evil in the world and in some people. :rainon:

Las Cruces Reptile Rescue is an incredible organization. This is a horrible turn of events, if I recieve any updates directly I'll be glad to post them.
These folks need help and they are very very good people.
Every little bit helps.
It's nice to see you guys supporting these fine folks and the work that they do.
It is a terrifying situation if you have a large collection of herps to be vandalized or robbed. We have had restraining orders on certain people during a few animal cruelty cases. That was scary enough, I just couldn't imagine.
Rusty

I'm honostly in tears. I cant imagine those poor guys sitting in there cages, and having these *******s bum rush them and hurt/ killing them for no reason.

This is truly a sad sad thing. Hey just remember, karma will catch up with with the guys who did this one day. And it will be a good day for sure.


I'm also donating to them, I hope everyone steps up and donates anything they can to help them get back on there feet.

I still have the Amelinistic female corn up for sale and the procceds go to the rescue.If anyone is interested in her the ad is in the trade/sell section here.

There was a small animal rescue in my area that went through the same thing, they found rabbits drowned in their childrens swimming pool and much worse things inside.... It's disgusting what people will do to creatures who can't defend themselves. IMO people that do this do not face stiff enough penalties, then again I'd gleefully remove all of their extremeties starting with the smallest. There is no excuse for these kinds of situations, none at all. Hopefully all of their negative energy will catch up with them in a huge way.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rusty_Reptiles

Las Cruces Reptile Rescue is an incredible organization. This is a horrible turn of events, if I recieve any updates directly I'll be glad to post them.
These folks need help and they are very very good people.
Every little bit helps.
It's nice to see you guys supporting these fine folks and the work that they do.
It is a terrifying situation if you have a large collection of herps to be vandalized or robbed. We have had restraining orders on certain people during a few animal cruelty cases. That was scary enough, I just couldn't imagine.
Rusty

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I feel bad I haven't been contributing to reptile rescues before this...Imma change that, starting giving a bit every month if I can...

This is absolutely terrible. I can't imagine what I would do if someone hurt my ONE snake, let alone so many animals you've worked and worked with to make them feel happy and secure in your home :(

That is just so sad and heartbreaking.

I just sent them a donation via their paypal account. I hope the word gets out thruout the reptile and animal community so others can pitch in and help.

That's a most terrible tragedy. I hope they catch those kids. Poor Gloria!! :( I wish he lived locally, cause I am about to switch from tanks to racks, and I'll have oodles of glass tanks that I would think are useful. shipping them would be insane!

This is so sad. I wish I had money to donate, I just dont at this time.:sigh2: I hope they catch who ever did it. I dont know what I would do if anyone hurt, let alone killed any one of my animals.:( :mad: :confused:

I talked to a woman who was close with the owner, and yesterday she said gloria was hanging in there so far. I really hope she makes it:( I made a small donation. I only wish I lived closer so I could go and help out in person

Here's a bulletin posted on Myspace from the woman I was talking to:


"UPDATE:
Roy called me today (I'm trying not to call him too much and let him call me mostly because his and Mike's phones have been ringing incessantly!)
He said Gloria is still hanging in there... she was a bit more lively today.... she has urinated a couple times so that's a good sign that her bladder isn't destroyed... she has yet to defecate but let's cross our fingers that she won't have any problem there either and that all her "plumbing" is functioning properly. They are going to wait a few more days before trying to offer her a meal... her mouth is still pretty sore. But she is perking up, which makes me very happy! She is a sweetheart... and beautiful.
Roy also told me that a lady from the Governor's office called him and informed him that the governor is outraged and will be pushing for the maximum fines and sentences/penalties on all charges plus any additional charges they can stick them with. I hope to hell they catch them!! Of course I'd like to see the public have their way with 'em before they are sent to trial! As far as donations go... he wanted me to pass on his sincerest "thank you's" to all that have helped... so far they have pulled in about $900 in donations ... a far cry from the $7000 in damages/losses but still nice to know there are people out there that still have a heart and love reptiles like we do! I am not going to stop until the reptile rescue is back up and running... he is getting a few more snakes in soon and I'm sure I will buy a couple off him... not that I don't have enough with the 27 I do have... (8 of them are babies and I won't be keeping all of them) but that's okay, I love all of them! Even my two :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r: milksnakes... haha ;o)
I will be going to Roy's tomorrow to bring him some cages I have collected and the cash that has been donated to me... I'm not sure if I will get to see Gloria but if there is any current updates I will be sure to keep you posted."


I'm glad Gloria is doing a bit better :)

Thanks for the update:cool:

i'm in tears as i write this. i've made a donation and hope they'll be able to rebuild soon... so they can assist more critters in need.

here's the email address to donate to:

admin@awesomereptiles.com

and remember... every little bit helps! if you only have 5 bucks... that's great, if you have more, then donate more. 10 people donating $10 brings in $100 - so please don't see your donation as small!

i need to go wipe my eyes... :(

Why has their web site gone down? It's been down for a few days now...

Here's another update from Jodi (from yesterday)


Just wanted to let everyone know that I went over to Roy's today with some money and donated caging/supplies... Gloria (the 10 foot albino burmese python) is hanging in there... I got to see her today while we were there. The deepest puncture wound is on the very top of her head... the other stab wounds are still bad but not as ugly as that one.

So far she has urinated twice which is a good sign! We know her bladder is still intact and functioning. She has yet to defecate but hopefully she will not have any difficulties there either.

Her mouth is still very sore so Roy and Mike are going to wait a few more days before trying to offer her a small meal. She has perked up some and is showing signs of liveliness and recovery. *fingers crossed* she is so beautiful... I took a couple of pics of her with my camera phone... going to compare them with my sisters and see whose came out better and then I will supply a new pic of her.

Sadly, Roy informed me that the people that attacked these reptiles also stole about 30 baby red eared slider turtles... not to mention the ones that they destroyed the shells of by throwing rocks at them. :(

It's going to be a long road to get the reptile rescue up and running again... and it will take a lot of money to do so... I am devoting my free time to collecting donations and supplies for them.... I will keep everyone posted on the condition of Gloria and the financial status of the reptile rescue. For those of you that live nearby, please remember that caging/supplies/donations can be dropped off to me at the bar where I work...

If anyone wants to forward the story from the rescue's homepage or make a donation/call to the rescue here is the link:

http://www.awesomereptiles.com/lcrr/tragedy.html

Take care!!

~xo~

Jodi

This is so sad, we sent a donation as well to help out where we can.

It is sad to see so much wasted youth out there!

I see kids like these all the time skipping school, doing drugs around the community pool/parks, doing absolutely nothing but looking for some trouble! What is even worse is, these are middle & upper class kids thinking it's cool to be scum! Kids who's parents drive BMW's and Mercedes, living in $500k-$1MM homes, yet these kids are breaking into their neighbors houses for beer and vandalism!

A few weeks ago I saw this guy, maybe 17-23yrs old running out of a gas station as he stole a 6pack of beer. As he ran he jumped in his buddies $50,000 Corvette!

i've contacted Roy Thibodeau to see how Gloria is doing... and they've caught the two boys responsible but in New Mexico it isn't illegal to harm a snake as they "don't have feelings" so they can't be tortured.

Quote:

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Here is some interesting news for all of you: in the state of New Mexico reptiles are
specifically excluded from the list of animals that warrant charges of animal
cruelty in such cases as these. In other words, Reptiles Must Not Have Feelings
Or Experience Pain! Isn't that a load of hog-wash!!!??? We at the LCRR are interested
in pursuing getting the laws changed here in New Mexico. As most of you know, reptiles feel
pain and suffer just as much as any other animal, and not being able to charge someone with
animal cruelty if they torture or kill a reptile is absolute nonsense.

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Roy shared this with me:

Quote:

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She (Gloria) is doing much better, healing well. She actually ate her normal meal today for the first time, an 8 pound chicken. We're slowly putting our rescue back together. Thank you again for your generosity, we greatly appreciate it.

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there is more updates on their site: http://www.awesomereptiles.com/lcrr/tragedy.html

and if you made a donation and will allow them, they would like to put your name on their thank you page - so email them and give them permission.

I'm so glad to know they caught those little :cens0r:

but they can't really do anything? what a load of crap!!
thanks for the update

i'm glad to hear gloria is healing... that IS good news!

indeed it is great news. I hope we get some pics eventually :)

Thanks for the update.Even though i sold that corn snake to raise funds to donate to them.I am unable to give them my name or his because he donated it anonomuos(spelling),he even gave them more then i requested for the corn snake.Its great to hear Gloria is getting along fine :) .

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nathanledet

but they can't really do anything? what a load of crap!!
thanks for the update

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I don't think Aleesha said they "can't do anything"....they just won't be charged for animal cruelty. (Which they should...it's a stupid loophole in the law!) However, they can still be charged for vandalism and malicious destruction of personal property...and given the amount of $$$ involved, those can be some very serious charges. Here's hoping.

EDIT: And thanks for the update Aleesha! It's very good news to hear that the burm is recovering so well...and that the idiots responsible were caught!

Reptiles exempt from animal-cruelty laws? OUTRAGEOUS!!!

Wonder why that is? Possible that they have Texas-style rattlesnake roundups down there that would be endangered by such a law? Even if that's the case, there ought to be a way to write a statute to allow that but still protect bearded dragons, BPs and other reptiles kept as pets--after all, it's illegal to harm a dog in most states, but you can still go deer hunting.

I'd be curious about the reaction that the story got down there. Normally, if a paper runs a story about a dog or a cat being harmed, the result is tons of letters from readers, and everyone demands that prosecutors hammer the perps. Wonder if that's the case when snakes are involved...

i was glad to hear gloria was eating again and is thriving. i've been worried about her... sending healing thoughts to her... and the other day i just decided to contact them. when i sent the email to them, it came back undeliverable. but it seems, it was delivered cause he answered me LOL weird email glitches!