This story may offend some reptile enthusiasts and for that I will appologize in advance. I too...love most reptiles. However, I am not a real cheerleader for snakes. I carry them in my store because they are popular. But I can't bond with an animal that doesn't have the ability to bond back...and will be inclined to snatch my hand on occassion just because I moved in a way that reminded him of food.

When my daughter, Candice (who is now Dr. Candice Andrews DVM) brought home a King snake as a pet...let's just say I was not enthused. Nor was I amused...in any way. She was in college beginning her arduous struggle to become a vet so I tried to understand that this was part of being the mother of a blossoming veterinarian. I'm sure Steve Irwin's mother probably had an interesting time raising him as a child, as well. My girls also turned a kiddy pool from Walmart into a turtle sanctuary---IN THEIR BEDROOM when they were growing up.

Candice has always loved cats and at the time we had a cat named "Idget" that was of abysynnian descent. Her name didn't start out as "Idget" but that was the name she ended up with because my husband was always screaming, "Someone get that idiot cat!"...idgiot..cat...became her name. She talked incessantly. She was extremely destructive and very cocky about it. She "allowed" us to live with her. I had never been close to Idget because I'm a dog person. However, Idget and I had a common understanding...we neither one trusted the King snake. I'd catch Idget's eye occassionally as she looked into the critter cage...she was formulating a plan.

We had the snake for over a year. The snake ate ravenously and was growing by leaps and bounds. I really worried about what we'd do when the snake was 5 feet long. I really didn't know if I would be able to sleep at night.

Then it happened...Candice came home from college and the snake was gone. Gone as in....to heaven gone. It was torn to shreds in it's cage. Idget was stretched out on the sofa, one leg extended high in the air as she groomed herself...very non-chalant. She wasn't owning up to anything...

I think she realized that eventually ole' snake would be looking at her like she was food....she saw what the snake did to the rats we were bringing it and she decided to take him down before he got too big to make it difficult.

Can't say I blamed her....

But I did try to be a little sympathetic to Candice as she mourned the loss of her pet snake....I was trying for an academy award for best actress.

Later that evening...Idget and I cuddled on the sofa together for the first time.

I've been a cat person ever since.........

There's a lot going on in that cat's brain....very interesting stuff---I've found. Don't ever under estimate them.

Talk to you all soon! Come see me at the store!

Debby

Depression & Self Mutilation

Birds are the most common pet known for depression and self-mutilation. It is normal behavior for a bird to preen themselves to remove dirt or feather distortions. However some birds have an obsessive compulsive disorder where they preen themselves to the point of having very little, if any, feathers left. Some go as far as to pick the skin once the feathers are gone and can cause life threatening infections. I have such a bird....

Self mutilation can be the result of either:

1. hypothyroidism (a pretty rare occurrence)
2. inadequate nutritional care
3. depression

Seeing a veterinarian to rule out thyroid problems is important. Increase the birds cage size. Make sure the bird is located in a room that is where the family socializes, making it feel a central member of the family. Provide the bird with a variety of foods. A good pellet food should be the main course, but activity foods such as treats, fruits, corn on the cob, carrot sticks, and nuts in a shell can offer new texture and taste to prevent the bird from being "bored". Have a selection of toys on hand that can alternate in the cage. Birds like variety. Try different genre' of music and see if the bird responds positively.

I rescued a bird that had previously been owned by a woman who was murdered by her husband. He is a senegal parrot named "Baby". When I took him in he had a severe case of self mutilation and screamed constantly. He also would make the sound of a police or ambulance siren whenever he got upset. It was obvious he was suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome.

Over time, he has improved. His feathers are growing back, although he has days where he gets upset if I'm gone too long and he'll backslide. I was late coming home from work last week and when I walked into the living room it looked like someone had destroyed a feather pillow...feathers everywhere.

The screaming is still a problem, but I have found one radio station that he loves which calms him down. It's on sattelite radio..of course..he has high standards.

It continues to amaze me how animals and humans share many of the same emotions and problems. Animals form attachments with their human families. Grief, despair, and depression are real things that they feel when a tragedy occurs in their lives. This is why the work of animal rescue is so important. Many of these animals have suffered from neglect or abandonment. Some of them lost their homes and loved ones to tragedy, such as Baby's story.

It is very hard for these beautiful creatures to tell their story to us since they don't speak our language. That's why it's important that we "listen"....listen with our hearts.

God Bless....and Happy Easter Everyone.