Absolutely Disgusted

[Melicious]

I'm a college student at VCU studying for my Bio-Ed degree, and I encountered something that pushed me to tears. I'm taking Biol-152 in one lab that has a rescued ball python. I think the world of people who rescue these beautiful animals from certain death. I do. He's still go scarring from whatever he'd encountered before he was rescued. Poor guy. Anyways, last thursday was my first day of that class and I saw him in his tank. It was covered in feces and old shed. Okay. So, maybe he just pooped, right? I get into class today, and again. Feces and shed. They have a HEAT ROCK in there, no thermometer, no uth, no heat lamp. Fifty gallon tank. -Murmurs.- I went and spoke to the woman who supposedly took care of him. "We've had that heat rock in there for four years, and he has a better amount of room to feed." "That tank's too big." "No. He's fine." "Is that heat rock all he has for heat?" "Of course." -Rolls eyes.- "I want to volunteer to help." "The Bio department says you'll be a liability. You might get hurt." "I won't sue. I'll sign a waver. I'll do everything in my power to take care of him and give him a proper enclosure." "He's fine." I walked away, with tears in my eyes. Anyone with half a brain can google a caresheet. I'm going to be e-mailing the dean with my request and I will sign a waver to help him.

I just can't believe that a group of trained biologists who claim to be so intelligent could be so negligent with such a beautiful animal. I mentioned BP.Net, and she rolled her eyes. I briefly mentioned my hour long conversation with Adam and she blew it off.

What to do? I'd really appreciate suggestions for how to be diplomatic in my e-mail to the dean. HELP!

[recycling goddess]

you always get a better response when you are gentle and kind in letters and requests.

explain in the letter that you are herper and how much you love your snakes. the support you have (adam and bp.net) and the knowledge you hold.

explain that it would be an honour to be able to care for such a beautiful snake...

and IF that doesn't get you what you want... then get into more details about how the care is wrong, show proof and see if you can make changes.

but... in my experience... when i go in gently first... i always get what i'm after!

[Melicious]

It's hard to be sweet and loving when I see him/her in that sort of situation. Oh. Yeah. They told me it was "unethetical" to probe...

[brainman1000]

It sounds like what you are going up against is their pride and ego. They think that because they are biologists they can properly care for any animal. People like that don't like being told that what they are doing is wrong and may not be open to suggestions.

[sidhe]

My thoughts exactly. Good luck, It's nice to know someone cares enough to get that BP the environment he deserves. Please let us know how this turns out for you.

[Rhapsody]

Thats horrible Start off with the e-mail describing your experience with snakes and ask if they would allow you to help (waiver and all). If that doesn't work, get more forceful describing the poor conditions (and the danger with that stupid death rock) the snake is in. If that still hasn't pushed them, try going to see the dean in person with photos, information, anything at all that he/she can see with his/her own eyes.


Good luck, let us know what happens...

[Melicious]

His only source of heat is that heat rock, and the classroom temp is between seventy and seventy-five. I swear, they're trying to kill him...

[snakey68]

His only source of heat is that heat rock, and the classroom temp is between seventy and seventy-five. I swear, they're trying to kill him...

that is ridiculous , I would include several care sheets in your letter to the head of dept.

[Melicious]

These care sheets took me approximately one minute to find. I briefly read over them, and there's some varying suggestions, but they've got the same information. These don't even include the BP.Net caresheet...

http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/pytho...lpythons_2.htm

http://www.kingsnake.com/ballpythonguide/

http://www.newenglandreptile.com/CareBall.html

http://www.wnyherp.org/care-sheets/s...all-python.php

http://www.reptileforums.com/care_sh...ballpython.htm

http://www.repticzone.com/caresheets/Ballpython.html

[Glaedr]

THat's terrible!!! Good luck in convincing those stupid biologists