That feeling when you're tempted to rescue...

[Snagrio]

Snagrio,

I've been there. I have rescued snakes, and it's been tough at times, but rewarding at times as well. I've had success overall, but not without heartache.

However, it's always expensive. Same with adopting dogs. I've never adopted a dog that didn't need something a vet had to provide as well as some extra love. All my rescue dogs have been worth it, but also I knew what I was getting into (for the most part) and they became family. I also had the money.

I had a college professor who had a son that wasn't caring for his corn snake. She literally dropped him at my door (with my permission of course) and said thank you and left. Luckily, he was a corn snake and ONLY had internal parasites. Got him eating and treated and ultimately, because of my circumstances, found him a good home once he was healthy and established. Did I save his life? Probably. However, there was a cost - both dollars and emotional.

As with dogs, you cannot save them all. We cannot save all the sick and starving children in the world either. It's heartbreaking, but we help who we can and when we can.

Having said the latter, we aren't all saints or prophets, and have to be selective about making sure when we help, we are doing so when it's okay for us. It's important in life sometimes to put on our "oxygen mask," and then the masks of others. In other words, take care of numero uno first or you won't be able to take care of others.

If taking in a potentially sick animal nows means spending time and/or money you don't have and upsetting your family, it's not meant to be and probably not worth the reward. Many things in life come down to that - risk vs. reward.

Finally, keep in mind that taking a reptile that is potentially ill means you absolutely have to proper quarantine. We do that for 90 days with animals from known breeders. You just don't know. In a situation like this, you would need a long and proper quarantine and might still be putting your other BP at risk. Would trying to safe this guy be worth the risk to your other BP?

Anyway, my two cents, given your situation, as you said, wait for a safer opportunity and a better time for you and your family.

It's a harsh truth... One I've surprisingly not had that much of an issue with most times (I'm not a bleeding heart that feels the need to save everything in sight). But something about this one instance got to me, and I don't know why. Maybe it's that visceral, very real feeling of seeing an animal in distress that I could easily physically go pick up and take home to nurture, namely a type of animal that I've been in deep thought over giving a home to in an adoptive/rescue context for some time now.

But, that harsh truth feels that much more real to me now and, it sucks... It really sucks...


There's nothing for it however but to get myself to a point where my own life is in check. That way I'll be more prepared from all angles for the challenges that taking in an adoptee will bring. If anything perhaps, it's further motivation not just to better my own future, but the future of those living with me by extension.