PJ@PJCReptiles
New member
I had a knock on the door Friday night from a mom of young man we know from school. She was upset by because someone had flagged them down on the road and asked them if they wanted an Iguana and a turtle. They had said "no" and drove home. Once at home, they noticed that the teenaged boy had placed the plastic bin on the roadside with a sign that said "Free Sh*t". The father went to check it out, they couldnt believe it was the reptiles they saw a half an hour ago. Yup, it was! He was covered with sheet rock from a cover tied with a thick strapping.
She asked me to come see them and advise them on what to do now. I went over with Ashley and we were surprised that they were at least providing them with fresh food and water and some heat. They asked if the Red Ear Slider could be set free here locally at a pond, but I told them no. They are not native to Maine and it is very much against the law. I told them of a few pet stores that do have turtle tank setups and take in unwanted sliders. I checked out the iguana. He was subadult male, seemed to be ok with some gentle handling, but again, very illegal in Maine!
They told me that one of the animal shelters said they would take the iguana and keep it as a pet at the shelter. I told them a major pet store chain was unable to keep theirs so they better ask if the shelter had a permit to keep the iguana before dropping him off there. Once again, they didnt, and were willing to illegally house an iguana!
I gave them all the information and directions about NERD/Zoo Creatures. They would so happy and drove him down to New Hampshire on Saturday morning.
It was nice to see people wanting to help and doing the right thing for the reptiles. The people at NERD were very good to them and happy to see animals arrive in good health. It is sad that they were being cared for fairly good from the condition they were in but why just drop them off on the roadside?? Sometimes I feel like I need to start a reptile shelter! I sure hope that kid never gets another animal!
PJ
She asked me to come see them and advise them on what to do now. I went over with Ashley and we were surprised that they were at least providing them with fresh food and water and some heat. They asked if the Red Ear Slider could be set free here locally at a pond, but I told them no. They are not native to Maine and it is very much against the law. I told them of a few pet stores that do have turtle tank setups and take in unwanted sliders. I checked out the iguana. He was subadult male, seemed to be ok with some gentle handling, but again, very illegal in Maine!
They told me that one of the animal shelters said they would take the iguana and keep it as a pet at the shelter. I told them a major pet store chain was unable to keep theirs so they better ask if the shelter had a permit to keep the iguana before dropping him off there. Once again, they didnt, and were willing to illegally house an iguana!
I gave them all the information and directions about NERD/Zoo Creatures. They would so happy and drove him down to New Hampshire on Saturday morning.
It was nice to see people wanting to help and doing the right thing for the reptiles. The people at NERD were very good to them and happy to see animals arrive in good health. It is sad that they were being cared for fairly good from the condition they were in but why just drop them off on the roadside?? Sometimes I feel like I need to start a reptile shelter! I sure hope that kid never gets another animal!
PJ
