• Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

  • IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!! About the Google Adsense ads being displayed

    =====================
    Posted 08/15/2025
    =====================


    Yeah, I know. They are a pain in the butt. But they pay the bills to keep my server running. Just a fact of life, I am afraid.

    Want to get rid of them? Simple. Just become a Contributor level member or above and they will be gone. -> Please click HERE."

    Is that too much for me to ask of you to keep this site running? Well, sorry about that. I too wish I could get everything for free. But alas.....

    =====================
    Addendum: 01/10/2026
    =====================


    Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....

When Is Enough...enough?

BALL PYTHON ISSUE

  • SHOULD I KEEP THEM IF HE DOESN'T SHOW UP

    Votes: 10 100.0%

  • SHOULD I KEEP BOARDING FOR HIM NO MATTER HOW LONG I HAVE TO WAIT

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    10
  • Poll closed .
S

sputnik

Chef of Fire
Joined
Dec 3, 2002
Messages
757
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Colorado
Okay, I have been boarding 2 sub-adult female ball pythons for a friend of my daughters for about 3 months now. He had asked me to do this because where he was living (Military housing) no longer allows exotic pets, which of course includes ball pythons.

He was informed that he had to get rid of them. For the last month I have been repeatedly asking him to come and get them as I have now moved house and no longer have room for his animals.

As a result, his are now in containers inside my own cages in order to keep them heated. This of course means my own animals have very little room and one or two are now off their food because of the new neighbors so to speak.

I of course told him to come and get them before I moved. I got the"yeah, okay!" from him.

I moved about 2 weeks ago, maybe three weeks and I am still stuck with them and have once again asked him to come and get them. That was a week ago and still... NO show from him.

I have put about $30 or more bucks worth of mice into each of these animals since I have had them. That I don't mind, but having to pay more and more when he won't show up to get them is getting irritating.

I am at the point where I am ready to (once I get a hold of him) give him 48 hours to get them or consider them gone! I will sell them!

Tired of being told, "I'll come get them," and then another week or more passes by with no show!

Am I wrong to take possesion of his snakes because he ignores being told to come get them or should I just keep feeding them and wait whatever it takes for him to finally get them?

Please use the poll option or comment on this thread.

Thanks!
 
FORGOT TO MENTION

I should point out that he has been asked/told directly, 6 or more times to get them!

He's a good kid, but I cannot keep boarding for FREE for him forever, while he just doesn't show up for whatever reason he is not showing up.

And some of my animals are off their food because of his.

I hate to have to tell him "You've got 48 hours to get them, or I'll take possesion of them if you don't."

Like I said, he's a good kid, but enough is enough!
 
Confront him. Be honest without sounding angry. Explain to him exactly what you've stated here, and make sure he gives you an answer as to if he honestly intends to take them back. Offer him the option of arranging for new housing and also offer to do him the favor of looking for new owners. Make sure it seems like even in selling them off you're still doing him a favor.
 
I would agree with Steven. I think you need to stress the importance of this situation to him. He may figure that since you already have snakes, that it is no bother to you. Be polite, and explain it as you did here.

If he does not have a solution to his problem by now, he won't ever. Offer to take the snakes off of his hands. If he responds that he will take X amount of dollars for them......Inform him of the cost of feed and upkeep for the last three months..
 
POINTS TAKEN

I agree with both of you guys. I'm not angry with him, more frustrated then anything.

I'll put the point across that he needs to get them within a few days (48 hours) or I am going to have to find homes for them.

I don't have the room anymore and cannot keep feeding them for Free anymore. Not too mention the stress they are putting on a few of mine.

If he really wants them back, then I guess he will show up. He's been over to see them twice in three months. It doesn't seem like he is missing them much, but who knows!
 
Steve said it very well. With regards to selling them...I don't know. It might not be viewed very nicely. You incurred in expenses due to boarding them, but selling them for a profit might be viewed wrong. Maybe tell him upfront that if he doesn't want them any more (seems like it) you might be selling them to cover your feed expenses. Hopefully he will understand, if he doesn't well...
 
Is this guy still in military housing? If so, he needs to realize that he can't keep them, and shouldn't expect you to.

I too agree, talk to him, tell him your reasons, and if he doesn't understand that, then, that's his problem. I would at that point, sell the snakes for the cost of what you put into them.

Also, you may want to check into your state/local animal abandonment laws. If you've had them for over that period, then you can claim them as yours.

If you're at all worried about him taking you to small claims court or anything, you may want to send him a registered (and photocopy one for you) letter, telling him to come get the animals or you will be selling them.

Good luck resolving this!!
 
SELLING THEM

When I said selling them, I'm talking about $25 a piece! That would cover the food I put into them and nothing else.

I don't know if he is still in military housing or not.

The only reason he was told to get rid of them is because he was seen walking around with them outdoors and reported. Showing off to the local girls is what it probably was... he's 18 so I can understand his motives for walking around with them. LOL

He has a few other friends that keep a few snakes as well, so there should not be an issue with coming and getting them and having someone else board for him, BUT, he may not trust these other people!
 
Scott I can understand you fustration I had the same thing happen to me except it was an Iguana told the guy he had 72 hours to pick it up or I was going to charge him $10 a day and talked to his Commanding Officer to get my money.....But one thing I dont understand even if he's in military housing "why" or did they really tell him that he couldnt keep them... the reason I ask is I lived on base in Savannah Ga and I had 5 Boas and 2 Burms that were out on my lawn everyday after work.and never had a problem ...sounds like they were just dumped on you JMHO
 
WHY

Bill,

Apparently, he was told to get rid of them or they would be out... they being him and his mom.

This appears to be a recent military change or maybe it's a new law for the local army base here in colorado... I don't know. All I know is he needed a place to board them untill he moved.

It has been three months. Now I have moved and no way can I keep housing them anymore.
 
Scott ....I just checked with The Army they did pass that law.in July 03....seems that they had a problem at Fort Hood With guys come back from Iraq Whith some cool looking Hots and were flashing them around.and the army flipped out big time so what are you going to do with them?
 
NEED TO CALL HIM

I need to call him and tell him if they are still here on Monday, I am going to find homes for them basically. I'll word nicer then that, just cutting a long story short.


Getting a hold him isn't easy either!
 
Hope You can ......they are starting to depoly on the 17 and on to Kuwait.....if not I may be interested taking them off your hands
 
This appears to be a recent military change or maybe it's a new law for the local army base here in colorado... I don't know. All I know is he needed a place to board them untill he moved.
Click to expand...

Scott, Ft Carson's policy regarding reptiles and on-post housing has not changed... Reptiles have never been allowed. This is why tons of reptiles get surrendered to CoRR from Ft Carson. The First Seargant busts in during an inspection, finds a few snakes, and goes ballistic.

And BTW - You know you've got those Ball Pythons sold, all you have to do is say the word :) I'll cover your boarding and feeding costs....
 
Do you have any sort of written proof that you have had them for as long as you say, and that you have tried to get the kid to pick them up. Also, when you tried to get him to pick them up did you actually get to talk to him. The reason these may be important is that abandonment laws can be pretty specific. I agree with Jennifer, check into your states laws. If you get rid of them and it turns out you didn't follow some part of the law you could wind up being sued.

Steve Schindler
 
Update

Do you have any sort of written proof that you have had them for as long as you say, and that you have tried to get the kid to pick them up.
Click to expand...

No Steve, I don't have written proof, but Mark Berger (also on this thread) knows I have had them this long. He's been to my place on numerous occasions, so he is well aware of this issue. I was just doing this kid a favor untill he moved.

Anyway, here is the update. I have tried calling him again, but it appears his number has been disconnected.

I am now looking into state laws as several have suggested and will provide an update as things develop.
 
Colorado Animal Abandonment Laws

Scott-

FYI- in Colorado, after 5 days that you are unable to make contact with the owner, they are yours. That is, as long as he knows how to get in contact with you and you have tried to get in contact with him via the contact information you were given.

That is how Kiwi (Lilac Crown Amazon) became mine. I filled the "found" reports and after 5 days, the bird doesn't have to leave. Harsh as it sounds, but you have had those balls a long time and he knows how to get ahold of you. Like Mark said earlier, let us know, we will cover your feeding expenses. And you know how to get ahols of us :)

Aimee Berger
 
REPORTS

I filled the "found" reports and after 5 days, the bird doesn't have to leave.
Click to expand...

Okay, sounds good. What reports do I have to fill?... I'd like to get started on this ASAP!
 
CLOSED

This issue is now closed. Robert came by and picked up his ball pythons today.

Finally got a hold of him. Is a relief to see them returned after such a long time.

Thanks to everyone who replied to this thread and for all the advice!

All's well that ends well!
 
Back
Top