Appalled buy what I saw!!!

[Pythons Rock]

A few nights ago I was called out to a local person who told me they had just got two Boa's that were in terrible shape and needed help to get them back to health. My girlfriend and I went to there house and I couldn't believe what I found. The first Boa was a common RTB, approx 7ft and looked like a moving skeleton, I detected an obvious RI infection, multiple old scars and severely under weight. How this animal was alive I don't know. Luckily these people are snake owners and had taken both of them out of the situation they were in. They took them to the vet and had a bottle of Baytril and a grip of needles sold to them. They had never given injections or dealt with these types of problems before but to them anything was better than where the snakes were before. That's why they called me, I showed them proper injection amounts and how to give it. I weighed and sexed the first one. That one is female and 9lbs. I have a 7ft common boa in my collection and she weighs in at 20+lbs. I made up a feeding routine and had them follow the doctors medication times. After I showed them how to inject the animal they are now comfortable doing so.

Now the second one was worse off, it looked like a mass of moving ribs, these two have been housed together (now separated) and obviously competing for food, this snake being smaller got the short end of the stick. It appears to be either an argentine or sonoran Boa. 3-4ft and female. Both have very docile dispositions just not treated right. I made a feeding routine for that one also. Hopefully with my help and these peoples care for these animals they will make it. I wanted to share this because it makes me upset to see these beautiful animals treated this way. To top it all off the snakes were aquired from a local business that supplies feeders and other things to local pet stores.

Okay I'm done venting, just needed to get it off my chest, I will keep informed on the progress of these animals and provide updates. Thanks for listening.

[frankykeno]

Personally Brian I'd contact local Humane Law Enforcement. That anyone allows a living creature to come to this shape is disgusting, to know that this person runs a business that's based on the sale of living creatures is even more so. I'd go back and take pictures immediately, note the vet's name and have the rescuers request a copy of the vet's findings, meds given, length and weights on each snake at intake.

A friend of mine just rescued a terribly emaciated young Iguana (this one from a private owner). This is what she was instructed to do when the officer came to her home to examine this poor lizard. Not all areas will file charges but I think you should encourage them to report this business and insist it at least be inspected due to the condition of the snakes coming out of that business. If they'd starve snakes then one has to wonder what other creatures are suffering under their dubious "care".

[Pythons Rock]

Good point, I do a lot of rescues and surrenders in my area and I work closely with, Police, Fire, and animal control (they call me with anything to do with snakes) and I am a halfway houser and member of the Pacific Northwest Herpetological Society. I am going to follow up on this. First I am going to visit the place of business (as a customer) and see for myself and take it from there. I will update as it happens!

[Schlyne]

I'd be sure to get some photo documentation showing the shape that they are in. Things like that can really prove your point.

[Pythons Rock]

I went into the place of business yesterday and found really nothing in question. I did say to an employee "didn't you have snakes?". She replied with "Yes we did but we got rid of them because they weren't being cared for". That sunk my boat right there, but I also felt relived because there aren't any others. I checked out the rest of the place (I know I went in a few places that customers aren't supposed to be, my bad) and found that the place has been cleaned up and they are doing the feeder/supply thing and that's all. I am going to recheck it in a month but I think someone has either done or said something before I did. In any case there are no animals being treated wrong there anymore and that's what I wanted.

Update: The two sick snakes are doing fine, the RI in the one is getting better and the other I did find a small case of what will become mouth rot and it is also being treated. Both are eating small meals and having Pedialyte in there water.

[frankykeno]

I agree with you that casually dropping by in a month or two to see if they are really doing the right thing by the animals or just cleaned up because they heard they'd get reported is a good idea Brian. Glad to hear the snakes are doing better and are with people that will truly care for them properly.

[Ginevive]

Wow, I am glad you helped get the poor things out of that situation. There should be more people like you out there; glad that you'll be keeping an eye on that store; too. Maybe if things go good, they'll realize thwy don't know how to care for snakes, and not get anymore in; we can hope.

[recycling goddess]

please keep us updated on the two snakes... our hearts are with them.