Hey from Patsy in Mississippi

[K9KidsLove]

Hi, I am new to your forum but definitely not new to reptiles.
Until 2 yrs ago when I became too disabled, I worked for 8 yrs for a vet who is also an exotics specialist.None of the other techs were interested so he trained me.Held my first ig there,then rescued 9 in 8 yrs. Rehabbed then found new parents for all but one.She won't go to anyone. All but 12" of her tail was amputated after infection from alligator bite.They were housed in the same space.First lizard was a pair of bearded dragons. Now have 4.7 adult & 4 baby beardies.Also have 4.7 Leopard geckos & 1.3 Mali Uromastyx & 1 Gopher tort egg in incubator.Someone dug it up during construction.My turtles are my favorite.I rehab turtles for the hospital.Have 3 Gulf Coast Boxes about 1" dug up during construction, but was too cold for them to find new housing. Will release them on my 5 acres in spring.Also have a 4" Box named Billie with 1 eye because of a dog.I'll keep him.Also rehabbing 12" Gopher,Gertie, with several holes chewed clear thru her shell by a dog.I have a rehab permit thru the hospital.There's an x-large fine if caught with no permit.Have 3 Russians named Roger, Rita,Rhonda;2 Sulcatas,Sara is 8",Sam is 4";2 Leopard tortoises 4" no names cause don't know sex, & 1Redfoot named Rosie.Right now everyone is inside cause it is too cold, but have corrals outside for summer.Will start making secure buried fencing this summer.Also have 7 adult Chihuahuas.Smallest is 1lb 9oz,2 are 2 lb,2 are 3lb,1 is 4lb, &1 is 5lb.5 were rescues,one has 3 legs.4 of them sleep with me.And I have a truck driver husband who thinks I am crazy for having such a menagerie.Look forward to conversing with other tortoise owners.

 

[jlyoncc1]

Hi Patsy! That's quite a busy place you have there. Glad you found us. We all love pics!

 

[cvalda]

What a zoo! Sounds divine!

 

[K9KidsLove]

Thanks...I'm not very computer literate so will have to figure out how to do the pics, plus my camera needs a new battery that I have to order.Will do that in a couple weeks.I can't transfer pics from a cd can I?

 

[JustAnja]

Welcome Patsy! You should fit right in around here. If you go to www.photobucket.com and start a free account you can upload the pics from the disk into photobucket and post them here. Just use the IMG tag below the picture. Copy and paste it into your forum reply or new thread.

 

[K9KidsLove]

thanks. I will try tomorrow. It is 2:15 am & I am dozing off while I am reading!!
Patsy

 

[Jacqui]

Welcome! I too have a truck driver husband...and a zoo...lol. A couple of weeks ago we rescued a puppy in AL and took him for his first vet visit to a nice vet in MS...small world.

 

[K9KidsLove]

Where in Mississippi did you take the pup? Was it Saucier Vet on Hwy 49? That is where I used to work. Where do you live? I haven't found many on the forum that aren't from the west coast. None from the Gulf Coast.
I haven't read about anybody on the forum talking about going to Reptile Shows/Expos. Usually there are a couple a year near New Orleans. Wish there were more that were close by. I think Birmingham is next closest...too far for me! I LOVE going to them, tho sometimes I get irritated when 10 or 12 6" - 8" turtles/tortoises are piled on top of each other in a small tote. Sometimes they aren't even the same species. I aquired an iguana from a show a few yrs ago that had major MBD and gout and was in a 10 gal tank. Previous owner was feeding meat products. His back was curved & his nose-to-vent length was maybe 8". He was 7-8 yrs old. She was trying to sell him. I told my vet about it & begged him to go make her give it to him so he & I could make him more comfortable. She did and I had him for 8 yrs. He neutered him to help with the attitude. Also have gotten Leopard geckos & Bearded Dragons for $10 - $15 cause their tails were nipped. Also got all my tortoises at shows. I did lose one but I got him cause he looked kind of poor. I figured with my vet's help I would be more apt to get him well than most show people. He was just too dehydrated & had severe parasites.
What do you have for critters? My plan this summer is to start making outside sanctuaries. Right now I just have a puppy corral in a circle around a tree, that is about 10' across. I take turns putting turtles/torts outside in the summer. I want them all to be out more. Anyway thanks for the come back...Patsy

 

[TestudoGeek]

welcome Patsy. I'm glad you found TFO.
let us know if you have trouble posting those pics.

 

[barbie69]

Welcome!! Your house sounds like a lot of fun to me!!

 

[K9KidsLove]

Welcome!! Your house sounds like a lot of fun to me!!

Thanks everyone for the welcome. I love this site. I get so involved with reading everything...even the older ones...that I forget the time & stay up tooooo late! I love learning new "stuff" about my babies...making sure I have evrything as close to right as possible.
I sooo do enjoy my lizards & turtles & tortoises & Chihuahuas. There have been quite a few days in the past couple years that they were the only reason I was able to get myself out of bed. I have no cartilage in my joints so I have lots of pain when bone rubs against bone with every movement. Got a little better last year after replacing both my hips & a knee. I will get the other knee done in March. I am not THAT old, ie, 57! Vet, whoops, doctor says this is unusual for my age. My babies have been my most important healing factor. Many times my critters make me laugh. Most of them see me coming & come to the front of their enclosure. My Russians put their front feet on the walls like they are puppies. Even my baby Leopards are starting to come to the front of their tub sometimes when they see me coming. It is so cool. They are only "maybe" 2". Rosie Redfoot loves for me to pick her up & massage her neck. She pushes her neck against my finger. My 5yr od granddaughter gets such a kick out of it when she picks Rosie up & she rubs her neck like that. Rita Russian potties on me and my granddaughter every time we pick her up. Don't know why cause except ofr that, she doesn't act like it bothers her for us to pick her up. Likes to be rubbed on her neck. Changed bandages on Gertie Gopher a while ago. She is healing so nicely. I've haad her for about a yr now.Has a good appetite now. Vet said she should be able to be released toward the end of the summer...always a sad/happy time for me. Usually isn't long before I get a call to take on another one. Out of 6 Gophers, only 1 has died, but the vet kind of new he was going to. We always give them a chance. Even if they are a little painful for a while, if there is a chance they will live, we try. Gosh I would have hated it if just because I was in agony with pain a couple years ago somebody would have decided to euthanize me!!! Will get pics soon, I promise!

 

[Crazy1]

Patsy, Welcome to the forum so glad you found us and have become part of our big extended family. Glad to hear you are feeling a little better this year. I can only imagine what the pain must be like. I have a 14 year old grandaughter with Arthritis. I shutter to think..... My little Sulcata (foster) "Squirt" urinated and pood on me everytime I picked her up. That's how she got her name. Now she is getting shots daily and only urinates when she is fliped on her back for her shot. Again welcome

 

[K9KidsLove]

Patsy, Welcome to the forum so glad you found us and have become part of our big extended family. Glad to hear you are feeling a little better this year. I can only imagine what the pain must be like. I have a 14 year old grandaughter with Arthritis. I shutter to think..... My little Sulcata (foster) "Squirt" urinated and pood on me everytime I picked her up. That's how she got her name. Now she is getting shots daily and only urinates when she is fliped on her back for her shot. Again welcome

Thanks for the welcome. Why is Squirt getting shots? I always hate when I have to do that.I swear it hurts me as much as them!! You may have already said why, but my short term memory sometimes short circuits! Plus I have been reading this forum for a few days so i forget who goes with which baby!
Patsy