Help/advice/thoughts? (LONG POST w/PICS)

[xFenrir]

Well haven't seen the kids since that day. Hopefully they'll come around today because they wanted to see me feed my boa, and I can ask them for an update on the little guy. I'm holding out hope that the parents took the advice I gave to their kids and don't just brush it off. There's a lot of people that get very defensive when you're "up in their business", even if it's just because you're worried about the welfare of another. I see a lot of stubborn people with animals, that know they're doing something wrong but get defensive because they don't want to admit it. It's really sad and frustrating.

I guess the parents have good intentions at heart with enabling the kids to buy snakes, but from what they explained to me they just did NO research themselves and just took the instructions of the pet store. Unfortunately, the poor snakes are the ones that pay the price.

[4Ballz]

I hear you on that one. My parents dog is nasty, and bit me 3-4 times, blood too, and my mom got very defensive about it, and even said it was my fault...

try your best to help that blood. pics are so shocking :-( let us know how it goes...

[xFenrir]

Since I don't know the kids that well, and don't know their parents/whoever they live with at all, I feel like just going up there and knocking on the door to say they're keeping their pets wrong will get me the immediate boot and a "mind your own business". It sucks knowing the poor guy is suffering and there's nothing more I can really do until they come find me again. Even though he's not my pet, I worry about that snake every day.

[Kaorte]

Since I don't know the kids that well, and don't know their parents/whoever they live with at all, I feel like just going up there and knocking on the door to say they're keeping their pets wrong will get me the immediate boot and a "mind your own business". It sucks knowing the poor guy is suffering and there's nothing more I can really do until they come find me again. Even though he's not my pet, I worry about that snake every day.

I totally understand. I had a friend who was at their friends house and noticed a "unique" setup for his pet ball python. It was in a glass tank FILLED WITH WATER. All the snake had in terms of land was a turtle landing. I saw one picture and it was the saddest picture I've ever seen. I told her to give him my contact info and I would gladly help him make some changes, but she said he refused to believe anything was wrong with his setup. Such a shame. I'd like to help them all, but some of them just don't want to be helped.

[xFenrir]

Sad ending to this story... One of the kid's friends came over today to see me feed Satin, and he told me that when he went to see his friend who owns the Blood but he wasn't home, he noticed a rock over in the bushes. He looked under it and the little Blood was buried in a hole under it... I can't say it took me by complete surprise but I was holding out hope that something could be done...

R.I.P. little Blood Python... Hope you're in a better place.

[Kaorte]

That is really unfortunate. Although I can't say I didn't see it coming... poor little guy! Thank you for trying to help him out!

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[Libby]

I'm so sorry you weren't able to save the little blood. It's wonderful that you are acting as a resource for the kids, though. You sound concerned about meeting their parents, but speaking as a mom, showing up on the doorstep is the very best possible thing you can do in this situation. I know that if my son came home and told me he had been inside the home of a person I didn't know, I'd be very, very concerned and upset.

If you just go over and introduce yourself and say that you own snakes and were answering some of their kids' questions, so you just wanted to let them know who you were and let them know where you lived, that *should* warm them up to you. I wouldn't even offer any unsolicited advice the first time over, just give your contact info, and let them know you'd be happy to help.

Good luck, and both the kids and their pets are lucky to have met you!

[DooLittle]

Well, that's just sad. Poor little guy.

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[xFenrir]

@Kaorte: I kind of felt that his time was up when I first saw him... I was just hoping that I was wrong.

@Libby: You are absolutely right, and I'm upset at myself that I didn't ask. I'm not sure where the kid lives though. When I saw their snakes for the first time we went to two apartments, but the kid that came over today said he had no snakes, and both places they went to had snakes (I think). Should I really go to both places and ask if he lives there then introduce myself? Should I just go over to the area they were at and see if I see them? Or should I just wait and see if I see them around the neighborhood then ask if I can meet their parents? I don't want to come off as if I'm stalking their children or something. If he comes around again I will be sure to at least send my number back with him, or ask if I can meet his guardians just to touch base. I feel really bad that I haven't, since both my boyfriend, roommate and I were talking about that we are responsible for the kids if they do decide to come visit. I have to say though, he was a very good kid. Knocked on the door, asked if he could see the snakes eat since it was feeding day (since we had told them they were getting fed today), played some Mario Kart with us and played with my roommate's dog while we waited for the rat to thaw and at 8 o'clock sharp said he had to get home and left. Very polite kid, which is more than what I can say about some of the teenagers around here. :/

@DrDooLittle: Yes, it's a sad ending for the little guy. I just hope he wasn't suffering for long.

[Tim Mead]

Since I don't know the kids that well, and don't know their parents/whoever they live with at all, I feel like just going up there and knocking on the door to say they're keeping their pets wrong will get me the immediate boot and a "mind your own business". It sucks knowing the poor guy is suffering and there's nothing more I can really do until they come find me again. Even though he's not my pet, I worry about that snake every day.

Take pride in knowing that you yourself gain knowledge before stepping out..Heres one for ya, in the neighborhood a individual gets a puppy..Puts it on a cable tie out, Sometimes shade, sometimes not..A plastic coffee can for water..NO dog house or shelter of ANY sort..When dealing with humans sometimes your not dealing with much intelligence.. Sorry to say..