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Post by IguanaKing on Aug 10, 2004 17:25:32 GMT -8
Just wondering if Lewis was found? The way this post sounds he came home after 3 weeks? But I didn't see any posts by LovingLewis confirming that? I hope he came home so you can stop worrying! We don't know yet if Lewis is back. Kerrydaktyl was talking about my female iguana who was missing for 3 weeks when she was a baby (I mentioned this story earlier in the thread when I was making suggestions for how to entice Lewis to come back home )
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Post by lovinglewis on Aug 11, 2004 21:47:48 GMT -8
It's Day 15. Is there any chance Lewis will just crawl on back into my room? Or does his fate depend on whether or not I find him? No, this isn't giving up, but I mean, wow, over 2 weeks now. This is incredible.
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Post by Tesa on Aug 12, 2004 5:21:01 GMT -8
I'm sorry to be so pessimistic, but frankly I think chances are slim to none that he will just come waltzing back into view. I also think it's unrealistic to believe that he has or will continue to survive with no food or water in a house where there are dogs and a cat roaming around. I know you want to believe that the cat gets along well with him, but it's instinct for the cat to consider him to be prey. (dogs too) I'd like to tell you that I think everything will be ok and Lewis will just show up eventually, but I'd be lying. If Lewis is still alive you have GOT to find him. He is running out of time. By the way, nothing would make me happier than to see a reply from you saying I'm wrong and that Lewis has been found.
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Post by IguanaKing on Aug 12, 2004 10:44:20 GMT -8
True, you should not give up trying to find him because of all of the possible dangers to him. I did the same for my missing female, Mercury, and there was a cat in the house who had already killed one of my birds, so I furiously searched to no avail. After about 3 weeks, I decided that she was dead and I stopped searching. 2 days after I stopped searching, I came home and found her sitting right on the lamps that I had sitting outside her aquarium (she was just a tiny thing then, so she lived in a 30 gallon aquarium). I had taken her out of it to interact with her and put the lamps on the floor next to the aquarium. She suddenly leapt from my hands and scrambled behind a desk, but when I moved the desk, she was nowhere to be found. Don't give up searching, but they do have the ability to walk back to their lights, even in the presence of predatory pets, that was how I got Mercury back...she came back on her own. If Lewis had been killed and eaten by a dog or cat in the house, there would most-likely be evidence of that somewhere (blood, etc.) If he can't come back on his own, he is probably stuck somewhere and is running out of time, so Tesa is definitely right, keep searching for him. Mercury grew up to be a very strong, healthy ig, who actually enjoyed my company (in fact, she didn't like being away from me. She died about a year ago after suffering a fatal concussion from falling and hitting her head. I still miss her.) Keep your spirits up, but be prepared to accept the worst.
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Post by lovinglewis on Aug 12, 2004 19:30:11 GMT -8
Oh god Yeah. Bad news. I know. No, Tesa I agree with you 100 percent. I honestly do. There is no evidence of any blood or disturbed matter, anywhere. The escape was clean. The dogs are forbidden on the 2nd and third floors. The only way Lewis would have had any contact would be if he climbed *down*. The instincts are too go *up*. As for the kitty, she is all white, her fur isn't stained or disturbed at all. I doubt she could fit a pudgy 30 inch long iguana in her mouth. Ugh. This has been really a heartache for me. You see, when I got Lewis he was cared for TERRIBLY and had MBD among other things. I fought for him and got him the care any iguana deserves. The money I put in was outstanding, but worth it, seeing how much he improved. He has so much potential and I really aw a future for us. Time is very short, I've got to find him. I'm going to look again now. Day 16 Dear God I hope he is protected
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Post by lovinglewis on Aug 12, 2004 19:52:30 GMT -8
I was wondering what happens now. I mean, I hate hearing stories about how someone loses a pet and than they immediately go and get another one. I do not know if I "deserve" another iguana. All I know if that Lewis filled something in me, which is now lost. Something that I would hope to get back owning another iguana. Is that wrong?? I mean this won't be anything soon, as Lewis might come back or I'll find him. But as Tesa sad, chances are very slim. I agree. I would *LOVE* to adopt. I just can't seem to find anywhere to. The local shelters house furry creatures. I used to volunteer at one. From what I have read in the past, most websites won't ship iguanas with understandable reason. I just want to adopt one and do the same great job I did with Lewis. Only this time no free roaming Ugh. The aftermath. I mean, it's hard to believe any creature can go without food or water since July 31st. I do not know what the heck I am supposed to feel
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Post by Merlin on Aug 13, 2004 4:39:44 GMT -8
You are supposed to feel exactly what you are feeling. Loss, confusion, maybe a bit of anger toward yourself. Even though Lewis is a reptile he is still your beloved pet. And anyone that gives you that "its just a lizard" crap deserves any type of rebuttal you deem fit! ( My vote is for chastising severely about the head neck and shoulders!)
If it comes to it that you must accept the fact that he's not coming back I would give yourself a bit of time to grieve and think about whether you really want to start over with another iguana. They will not be the same and trying to "replace" Lewis will be impossible. There will never be one that measures up to those standards so don't even try. If you start to compare one to the other you will be disappointed. And it will get worse as time goes on. However if you do decide to give it another go then by all means GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't beat yourself up so much. Even experienced keepers make mistakes! All you can do is learn from the experience so that it doesn't happen again. From the words you post it is plain that you love him dearly and that love would be well put to use with another iguana, but only if for the right reasons.
I am still hoping for a safe return but it isn't looking good. A healthy ig can go without food for a considerable length of time but water is another matter.
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Post by Tesa on Aug 13, 2004 4:52:29 GMT -8
I can't think of a thing to add to what Merlin has said. I totally agree. (Isn't he a sweetie?)
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Post by lovinglewis on Aug 13, 2004 9:27:28 GMT -8
Yes Tesa I agree. Merlin is quite the charmer I have already done my "ritual" for the day. (Ex: setting up the heat lamps, cleaning the old food and putting new ones in.) It will always bother me to no end what ever happened. Perhaps I wasn't meant to have him. Such a sad sad situation. I dreamt of him last night. I dreamt he came back but was terrible looking. It was more a nightmere. I have decided to lay low for a while. Perhaps one day when I am strong enough I would love to adpot an unwanted iguana. In the meantime , I think I'll just direct my love to my rodents. It's so funny because I kinda "forgot" about them when Lewis came in my life. I didn't adbandon or neglect them, but Lewis was such a huge part of my life, they didn't get pampered as much. I think I'll just focus more on those little guys for now. If I really need a reptile fix, I'll settle for a wittle anole.
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Post by WillemsMom on Aug 13, 2004 10:20:57 GMT -8
Dear Friend...I ache for you. I know we feel the same way about our igs. I'd be lost without Willem. You have some received some very excellent posts. I was especially touched by IguanaKings's post that as he gave up, his ig came home. Priceless and the way I think some things happen.
In addition to the many good tips you've received, here's another thought. 'Expect a Miracle'. Be confident that you will find him, ask to be guided to him and failing that, ask that Lewis will have the strength to find his way home. And then, 'Don't Give Up Before the Miracle'.
You know there may be a Higher Plan here. Lewis was well loved while he was with you. How Blessed he must have felt and maybe he decided he could leave us now. Maybe he knew there was an ig just waiting for your kind of love. There is an Adoption Board on the Green Iguana Society Board. Gives the locations of the available igs. But, I agree with Merlin. Wait. You'll know when the right time comes. In the meanwhile...expect to be with Lewis again. Picture it in your mind.
I lost Will once when he was small. Still in a tank. Piece by piece I was removing things from his tank in order to disinfect it. Cave, bowls, vines, his artificial basking log. But then, OMG..where was Willem? Not in his tank! I was scared to death. We have 3 golden retrievers and I feared the worst. Long Story Short....We turned our home upside down. No Willie anywhere! I felt totally lost and defeated. I did what I suggested to you and guess what... Willie's hollow basking log was on it's side and Willie had crawled inside it. We just saw his little tail sticking out. This was like a miracle as I usually took his log outside to power wash it. If I had done that this time..my little guy would have been gone for good.
Try to stay positive, keep your chin up and I'll join you in prayers for Lewis's return.
Your Friend and Willem's Adoring Mom, Nance
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Post by IguanaKing on Aug 13, 2004 11:33:28 GMT -8
Hi LovingLewis, I'm really sorry to hear that Lewis hasn't come home yet, I'll pray for his return also. If he doesn't come back and, when you're ready, CoRHS has many wonderful, unwanted igs who need good homes. I'm not sure where you live, but they handle many out-of-state adoptions (not sure about how they transport the animal, but I can assure you that the staff at CoRHS is very conscientious about protecting the well-being of the reptile). Here's a link to their web-site so you can have a look when you're ready, www.corhs.org. I personally recommend Brutus, she's an iguana that seems to think of herself as a person rather than lizard as it is the company of people that she prefers. Whenever I do volunteer work there, she is always seeking us out to interact with us. I love her dearly and would really love to adopt her, but I can't provide the ideal home to her because of my current situation with Hercules and his particularly violent season. I'll say the same thing others have said, don't beat yourself up over this, just learn from your mistake because many of us have had the same thing happen and it was never due to a lack of attention or caring...it just happens sometimes. Best wishes and prayers to you, Sean
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Drako's Mom
Senior
"It's.....it's.......green!"
Posts: 145
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Post by Drako's Mom on Aug 13, 2004 13:07:29 GMT -8
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Post by lovinglewis on Aug 14, 2004 19:29:20 GMT -8
Willem'sMom, I am especially touched by your posts. Maybe I wasn't really meant to have Lewis. Maybe he wasn't happy with me....... I unfotuneatly have some bad news, after physically removing the washer and dryer instead of eyeballing it I noticed some fairly larged sized holes in the wall. This is a very old house. However, inside our walls there are slats in which a creature could climb up and out of if they wished to do so. I mounted a light so it could hang mid air over those holes, I am hoping if he ended up there he can see the light. It's been over 2 weeks. I don't think an iguana can survive longer than 2 weeks without any water. Thank you so very very much for the link IguanaKing. I have bookmarked it. I live in New England, Massachusettes to be exact. When the time is right I plan on adopting. When the time permits, I don't see myself with another iguana pal soon, though One thing I noticed since this whole fiasco. My sleep is SO disturbed. Every 2 hours I am wide awake. It's so weird. I honestly feel inside I have lost a child I have gave birth too!!! I will pray and put my brain to work, even if I find Lewis, and he is passed, I just want an honorable resting site for him. Iguanas are not meant to perish in man's home. If only us humans could just leave them be to enjoy their natural habitat. Oh so devastating. But I must say, there's alot of talk about how wonderful dog and cat owners are. Iguana owners are BEAUTIFUL!! This board has helped me out so much, make me understand. Thank you.
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Post by WillemsMom on Aug 15, 2004 9:29:03 GMT -8
Dear, Dear Lewis's Mom, NEVER for even a second have I thought you shouldn't have had Lewis or that he wasn't happy with you. Just the opposite!. And I think what I think because of the depth of feelings you have for Lewis. I think your despair has touched us all. I have a different belief system from many people. I don't know if this will make any sense to you at all, but I'm going to try. I think there was a reason why out of all the igs available to you, you were Lewis's Mom. He had a special need for just you and you had a special need for just Lewis. You both had a need and something to give each other. I know of the healing love you gave him and I know he gave you a great deal in return. It seems in our lifetimes we alternate between being a student and being a teacher..I wondering now if Lewis didn't come to you as a teacher as well just an adorable ig. I don't want to go any farther out in left field, but I believe there is a greater picture which always helps me to look at.
You and Lewis shared someting indelible. It can never be erased. There is reason behind his coming and his going. Maybe you know because you two were so bonded.
I would like to add one other thing. I believe our igs communicate with us. Choose a place that seems right to you, sit in it quietly with a peaceful mind. I think Lewis may communicate with you.... maybe with a picture or words. Let him choose and be open. God Bless.
And BTW, if you found a way the Lewis might have gotten out..I think that could be good news. Perhaps he has found water and something to eat. I know many posters here are excellent with tips on how to find an ig that escaped to the outside. I hope they find your post soon. Have you started looking outside yet? Up in the trees?
You and Lewis remain in my prayers. Nance
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Post by CCP1083 on Aug 18, 2004 18:22:07 GMT -8
Haven't heard any updates in a couple days. Just courious to hear if Lewis was found. You both are still in my thoughts and prayers---this is the first post I check when I come on. Good Luck!!!
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