Tell me a little about BP rescue

What kinds of ailments/ illnesses / injuries do you see most... where do you find out about animals in need?

I'm new to the BP thing, but I'm not new to rescue... the more I learn about BPs, the more I realize that many other people just listened to what the pet store employee told them and don't get out there and really try to understand their needs the way the people here do... and I wonder... what becomes of their snakes? I'm sure more snakes than we care to consider die in incapable hands (or just hands of the ignorant or whatever) but there have to be others out there that can still be helped... I don't want to start a snake rescue by any means, but I feel I'd be a good foster parent if there were needy snakes around me...

Anyone here do rescue and have any info for me? I'd sure appreciate any discussion on the subject... thanks in advance... :wuv:

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Originally Posted by gibbrishclown

What kinds of ailments/ illnesses / injuries do you see most... where do you find out about animals in need?

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Burns, mouth rot, scale rot, mites, rat bites, stuck shed, starved, URI, broken ribs and backs, infections in the mouth due to lost teeth from aggressive feeding or biting people ect. These are just a few of the things I have seen at my local rescue. Rescues can be really bad or they can just be animals given up by people that don't want them any more

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

Burns, mouth rot, scale rot, mites, rat bites, stuck shed, starved, URI, broken ribs and backs, infections in the mouth due to lost teeth from aggressive feeding or biting people ect. These are just a few of the things I have seen at my local rescue. Rescues can be really bad or they can just be animals given up by people that don't want them any more

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Wow so there could be reasonably healthy but unwanted snakes to snakes who'd cost thousands to repair, huh? Can you fix broken ribs and backs?

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Originally Posted by gibbrishclown

Wow so there could be reasonably healthy but unwanted snakes

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yea I got two of my breeder female for free that way the rescue knows I take great care of them so any females in great shape I get for free .;)

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to snakes who'd cost thousands to repair, huh? Can you fix broken ribs and backs?

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Broken ribs depending on how bad aren't a big deal but a broken back can be aloud to heal and with careful love the animal will live but most have to be put down.

Is there like a network of reptile rescues or are most of the private individuals doing what they can?

I think most people are doing it on their own. If you decide to do this, be sure that you have a separate quarantine area and strict quarantine practices.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

I think most people are doing it on their own. If you decide to do this, be sure that you have a separate quarantine area and strict quarantine practices.

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And the ability to decide which one are worth saving and not. Its hard sometimes but in the end it can be better for the animal.

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Originally Posted by gibbrishclown

Is there like a network of reptile rescues or are most of the private individuals doing what they can?

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Most are private people that just have a passion for animals.

:( I suppose I won't be ready till that actually happens...:(

A quick search and I found this



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

There are many various rescues, but it takes time and dedication as well as money if your doing it on you own.

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Originally Posted by ivylea77

A quick search and I found this



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

There are many various rescues, but it takes time and dedication as well as money if your doing it on you own.

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Dang, only iguana rescues around here... I'm definitely not equipped to help out the iguanas yet... *sigh* Thanks for the link!

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Originally Posted by rabernet

If you decide to do this, be sure that you have a separate quarantine area and strict quarantine practices.

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Best advice to rescuers.

Kingsnake.com also has an adoption area. You can check there as well.

What causes them to be kinked? I stopped at a petstore today and the 2 balls there had stuck shed all over them, looked like hell, and one (lighter more yellow color normal lookin' guy- I know nothing of morphs) had a kink in it... what does that mean? I left my name and number with the store and asked them to please call me when they found out what the deal was and if they needed him placed... (she said they were currently not for sale till they soaked them and had them checked out)

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Originally Posted by gibbrishclown

What causes them to be kinked?

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A kink is a spinal deformity that causes the spine to form or fuse and restricts movement depending on the severity of the kink. It can be slight or it can make them look like pretzels. Slightly kinked snakes can make good pets but breeder tend to steer clear of them.

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

Most are private people that just have a passion for animals.

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Here, Here.... I think almost all of us have done a part in rehabbing, fostering, rescuing, getting into a better situation, placing, etc... & not only snakes. As Robin mentioned, a quarantine area is very important! I have some BP's in my bedroom that wound up at a pet store after being bounced around... they are being watched closely for RI's, mites, etc.... & will be for a long time before they are moved into "the room"... lol So far, they are all doing great and have eaten!
Also, keep in mind that alot of the BP's that you see in a pet store are imports... I've been standing there and have seen some BP's in sad shape come out of those bags.... :( I've also seen some that are absolutely stunning!!!

Mike and I never planned on rescuing a snake but you sort of end up doing it. You hear about a snake and you just do what you can really. We've been blessed that with the help of an excellent herp vet, the wonderful folks at BPNet and our own stubborness that we've had a few successes. Guess it's best to let the snakes tell the story themselves...

This is Brannagh. A very lovely female normal BP that we found in a pet store. Not truly a rescue as we did have to buy her but she was sort of thrown in with the purchase of another female in the store at the time. The pet store employees were scared of Brannagh and although she was in good body weight and health, she was quite simply the most aggressive snake I've ever seen. Mike and I couldn't leave her in that pet store, at that time in her life she would have made a very bad choice for a pet. We only hoped that with good care, patience and firm but gentle and consistent handling she might stop trying to eat everyone's face off (note the gloves lol).

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...thbrannagh.jpg
This is Brannagh today. Just over 3,000 grams and one of the calmest snakes in the collection. From a snake that couldn't even have her water dish safely changed, to a snake that children can now handle. Brannagh taught Mike and I a lot about dealing with striking/biting and how a fearful snake can ball up or fight back and you just deal with it calmly.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...naghFeb071.jpg

Orlah, another lovely normal female BP. Again not a pure rescue as we purchased her (with Brannagh though from seperate homes...both snakes had been dumped at the pet store within days of each other). I included Orlah to show how poor care can end up permanently scarring an otherwise flawless snake. Orlah was healed already when we got her but this sort of injury can be very life threatening from shock and infection.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...lahMay2006.jpg

Kyna (originally named Punkin by her previous owners) came to us through a couple that although they loved her they followed some very poor advice from a pet store. Consequently Kyna was, at age 18 months, barely bigger than a 8 or 9 month old snake.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...fromprevow.jpg

Kyna today. With good and consistent feeding and the appropriate volume of prey she's nicely caught up with females of her age range.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2.../KynaAug06.jpg

Saoirse, our scariest rescue, we just didn't know if we were going to be able to save her or have to make the sad decision to put her down rather than watch her continue to starve herself. She came to us as a confirmed wild caught adult female who ended up in a pet store in southern Michigan. From there she went to one owner who though he got her internal and external parasites and large wound on her side treated, never got her to eat. She went to another owner who also could not get her to eat. Finally she came to us. At that point we know she was at least 8 or 9 months without any food but really have no idea how long it had been or if she ever ate in captivity (the pet store had originally lied and said she was captive born). She was an adult but only weighed 600 grams. This picture actually makes her look much, much better than she was in our hands. Just skin, bones and a tight ball of terrified snake.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...wegother-1.jpg

Adam Wysocki in particular is Saoirse's angel. He spent a lot of time helping Mike and I set up a special tub for her. He explained a lot of things about wild caught adults, helped us face the facts that she might not make it, took many a phone call about multiple stuck eyecaps, etc. We are blessed that Saoirse did settle in and started to eat for us. She's still on a slow road and may never be a breedable female but at this point we don't care....Saoirse's here to stay. :)

Saoirse today (her name is celtic and means "freedom and liberty" to honor her wild born roots).

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...oirseAug06.jpg

One very special rescue. Rauri (now renamed Sonja as it turned out he was a she LOL) and living in her forever home with Becky in Texas. A snake we didn't want to rescue having at that time no experience with almost 6 foot long boa's. We took her because there was simply nowhere else this snake had to go. A pet store sold this lovely big snake to a girl with NO snake experience who was by the way terrified of rats (pretty much what a snake this size needs to eat). This girl drove this lovely snake around in a car, loose with the windows down, refused to remove the huge heat rock and basically in one month drove this snake so far downhill the poor thing was black with stress. You couldn't even tell her saddles from her base color and she had a bad case of belly rot brewing. So home she came with us and our love affair with boa's began. Rauri aka Sonja will always have a very special place in our hearts. Part of rescue is that a piece of you goes with them when they leave and you never forget them.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...groommay06.jpg

Sorry for the book length post but I wanted to show you this way that rescue is a lot of things. It's wonderful and fulfilling and scarey and can break your heart or your bank account. You need to know a great vet (ours gave us a rehabbers/rescuers discount), you need to friends to talk to and get advice from and you need a lot of patience and determination. You need to know when enough is enough and to give the snake peace (a decision that we contemplated with Saoirse). You need to follow quarantine like your life depended on it (the snakes lives surely do) and you need to know your own limits so you don't take on more than you can realistically help.

We loved helping these snakes. We're glad most of them will always be with us and thrilled that Sonja is in a wonderful home. :)

Joanna...... :bow: I knew I loved you!

I sure wouldn't have this girl without you and Mike, Jo.

Here's a recent pic of Sonja, who currently weighs a bit over 20lbs and is around 7.5' long.

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...y/PICT0021.jpg

Becky... that pix ROCKS!!!!!!! Wow, she is such a very serious looking girl! So pretty and Regal!

You should have seen her watching hockey....now that was intensity! LOL


Shhhhhh! Game's on!

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...I/GameisOn.jpg

She even has her own number built into her pattern.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...I/number81.jpg

Try getting a puck by this big girl.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...layingGoal.jpg

Boy we miss her Becky! Give her a big hug and a big rat from us please.

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

I sure wouldn't have this girl without you and Mike, Jo.

Here's a recent pic of Sonja, who currently weighs a bit over 20lbs and is around 7.5' long.

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...y/PICT0021.jpg

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That snake is so cool. :cool:

I'll try to get a full body shot of her soon. It's getting warm outside now and she'll like playing on the swingset we have. Maybe her fat butt will get some exercise!(not that she's fat but still! haha) She's such a pretty girl, but is definitely a 2-person snake if you want to get anything done in her tub. She's too much of a busy-body :)