Reptiles rescued from rescue!

[prettykttkat]

Hi everybody, some of you know I work for a reptile rescue here in Colorado Springs, CO. I have worked for them for about a year taking in sick reptiles and rehabbing them. I also would do educational programs with them around CO where they would receive donation money in return. In recent light of events I no longer work for them. Apparently a call was made to DOW and when they went there it was such a horrible scene they contacted the Humane Society and they went in and seized many reptiles that were sick and dying. What was found at their house was truly horrifying. I heard first hand what was found and I am not sure I am allowed to speak of it because they are still under investigation and animal cruelty charges are pending. What I can say is that there were many dead reptiles in different stages of decomposition. Conditions were filthy with no UV, heat, food or water for the animals. Many sick and dying. There are so many animals the humane Society could not take them all or the shelter would have been overwhelmed. The animals in ok condition were left there and will probably be seized at a later date as the investigation continues. There was a vet on scene to assess the animals and some are at her vet clinic. I know this vet personally because I was taking not only my reptiles there but also the reptiles I was rehabbing for the rescue(BTW I was never rembersed for anything). What is most upsetting is that some of the animals I rehabbed and gave back to them so they could be put up for adoption are now dead. I also had given them a baby White Lined gecko that was bred and born at my house that they asked me for. This gecko is now dead. I have just been bawling my eyes out thinking of the horrible death they most likely had. I do not understand how they could have taken all that donation money and not taken the reptiles to the vet or given them proper care. I saw the animals taken and almost all were dehydrated and starving not to mention many had medical issues on top of this. How could anyone be around them everyday and ignore their hunger,thirst and need for a vet. Meanwhile go around everywhere and teach people about reptiles and lie about how they were living at their house, and get money for it! Taking in people pets, telling them they would be fine and then letting them starve to death in horrible conditions. I have probably said to much but I thought everyone should know what is going on. Please do not give them any animals and tell everyone you know about this. They are called Mountain Aire Reptile rescue and Sanctuary. It was on the news here last night and if you want to view a short report here is the link to their website http://www.koaa.com/aaaa_top_stories/x168959562/Reptiles-rescued-from-rescueKOAA.com - Reptiles rescued from rescue

 

[hallenhe]

That's very, very sad, and gives a bad name to all the many legitimate rescue organizations and rehab people like yourself; I'm very sorry to hear about it. At least the remaining animals have a new chance.

 

[ColorCham427]

It's OK, its healtheir to let it out, and this place is straight for that because I think we all care about reptiles!

It's very sad, and truely frustrates me, theres always stuff like this going on, and its sick. People like that deserve prison time!

 

[Redeye]

it's always a bunch of tweakers...

 

[Syn]

I am so sorry about your gecko.. it breaks my heart. I have such a soft spot for reptiles, especially geckos!!

 

[Pure]

Just wow..that is sad. I hope they burn.

 

[Howdyco]

I am sorry to hear that they did this prettykttkat.
I know how hard you were working to rehab animals for them and help them out.
If you need an ear, please feel free to call me anytime for support.
Howie

 

[prettykttkat]

Thanks guys for your support. It's been really hard for me thinking of all the poor reptiles that suffered an untimely death. I will never be so trusting again that is for sure. In the future when working with any rescue group I will demand to see their facility and their credentials if it applies. I encourage every one to do the same before surrendering an animal or adopting it from somewhere. I always thought it was strange they always refused me to come over and always had an excuse. I never pushed it because they have 6 dogs and my son is allergic. Now I feel really bad about it. I am happy about the great response from the community about this. So many people are helping and I think all the current animals will get new homes. So far I only know of one death (at my vet's clinic) which is good considering the shape all the animals were in it could have been more. They are not all out of the woods yet though. Now my main concern is the animals still at their house because if they get taken too, they are very large and I'm afraid they will not be able to be placed. I will do my best at trying to find homes and take animals in as a last resort before being euthanized.

Yes I am very upset about my little gecko You know when you breed and raise it yourself before going to it's new home it becomes your baby. I loved that little guy. He was a special one too because when the female laid her eggs on the glass she laid one on top of the other and the bottom one couldn't get out. The first hatched and I waited 24 hrs and still no sign of coming out so I broke open the egg and saw that because of the way the eggs were laid, he had a smashed nose and couldn't use his egg tooth to get out. He would have died if I didn't get him out. Then he had trouble with his first shed and I sat there for an hour with a wet Q-tip getting it off(very hard to do since he was tinie tiny). After this though he was fine and was completely healthy. His nose grew normal and you couldn't tell it was smashed in the egg. He was very pretty and spoiled rotten. Loved to lick applesauce of your finger. Here's some pics of the baby and then one of the mother and one of his siblings on me.

Here are both the parents

It also breaks my heart to know the animals I rehabbed and gave back are now dead. I feel really bad about it. It was hard showing their pictures to the shelter and my vet and having them tell me they weren't found or they were found dead in a pile of dead reptiles. I hope all you guys out there learn from this as I have. Always beware of everyone no matter how nice they seem.

 

[hallenhe]

It also breaks my heart to know the animals I rehabbed and gave back are now dead. I feel really bad about it. It was hard showing their pictures to the shelter and my vet and having them tell me they weren't found or they were found dead in a pile of dead reptiles. I hope all you guys out there learn from this as I have. Always beware of everyone no matter how nice they seem.

Could we have any hope that the ones that weren't found have been safely adopted out?

 

[prettykttkat]

I would have heard about it if they did I always asked about them after I gave them back and they would tell me they were fine and doing good. So since they were not found this means they are most likely dead because the ones that were found that they told me were good were in the pile of dead reptiles. The same with my gecko. They told me this whole time it was fine and doing great but he also was never found. The only animals I know were adopted out were to other volunteers and that consisted of a leo gecko, a couple beardies and some large snakes. That's it for the whole time I've known them which has been a year and a half. There were people who wanted to adopt other animals during this time but they never let them because they always said there was something wrong with the person. I truly believe these people were hoarders as well as other things. I'm upset I ignored the little warning signs here and there because I thought they were nice. I can't believe how they lied to me and everyone.