Catastrophe

[HerpIsAhobby]

Today is a sad day for me in this hobby. I went to the Hamburg show this morning and spent the majority of the day sitting in traffic but the show was worth the wait. Got to talk to a bunch of great people and saw some awesome morphs. However the day took a very tragic turn when I came home and noticed the door to my snake room was open and I saw the probe for my thermostat sitting in the middle of the room. I started quickly opening tubs my pinstripes' tub was first and she had most unfortunately passed. I started pulling tubs quickly and it would seem that one after another I was pulling out dead snakes. In total I lost 7 of my animals to this disaster. 4 of the losses were animals I received in my first shipment of morphs that got me into this hobby.

I must say I am thankful that a large majority of the group made it out with their lives and will now be closely monitored in the weeks to come to make sure they didn't sustain any long term damage. These animals were in my care and I take full responsibility for their deaths and that makes it hurt just that much more.

The what if's have already started. Maybe I shouldn't of gone to the show. Maybe if I came home earlier I would of seen it. Either way these animals are gone and it's going to take quite awhile before I start feeling any better about it. My back up T stat probe had failed just the day before and I was going to be buying the replacement tomorrow. I figured its a back up and one or two days what could happen?

In the end I can only speculate as to the reason for the probe moving so dramatically but it points to my dog most likely. I use a baby gate on hot days like today to keep him out of the room so the door can stay open to allow for more air flow but he must of scaled the gate somehow. Hes tiny so he probably started wandering around and got tangled up in the probe, panicked and pulled it out. Lessons have been learned but they were learned at the expense of animals I cared for dearly. Sorry this has been so long but this has been a terrible night for me and I really feel that this group would best understand the pain I feel right now.

Thanks for listening and sorry this has been so long and disjointed but it's all still fresh.

[DooLittle]

So sorry for your losses.....

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[John1982]

My condolences, that's a tough blow

[Royal Hijinx]

Wow, that is awful. Sorry to hear that.

[Pyrate81]

Sorry for your losses. There probably isn't much anyone can say to make you feel better. But some have been in a similar situation and can say there is understanding for what you are feeling.

[Sama]

Oh wow, I'm so very sorry this happened to you. Words can't express. :' (

[notmyfault]

Wow. I can't imagine how you must feel right now. My condolences.

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[mr.spooky]

that does suck,,, I keep my reptile door closed at ALL times, and adjust temps in the room as necessary by whatever means to keep a more stable enviroment. We have 2 dogs and a cat in the house also, and even when were working in the room, there are no other animals allowed in the room. ALso have door sweeps on the door to make sure that IF there is an excape, it wont make it beyond the snake room.
Even with all the defence in the world though, sometimes things just hapen that we have no control of. Its not your fault, live and learn.
spooky

[rlditmars]

I am very sorry for your loss. In reading through your story, it is hard not to recognize how many random events had to occur simultaneously or at least consecutively to culminate in the conclusion that you experienced. There is no way that you are responsible for all of them, and the removal of any one could have changed the unfortunate series that played out. Allow yourself to grieve, but do not beat yourself up too long for this.

[luluizzi]

I am very saddened by your loss but I agree with riditmars and mr.spooky. Even as parents just as with being responsible for our pets you cannot always account for the the catastrophes in life, you can only do your best and hope that is enough. You cannot blame yourself as you seemed to have done everything you believed to have been right. Learn from your experience and improve. My condolences for your losses.