Damn florida animal control!!

Dragonfyre · Member Joined: Sep 16, 2007 Posts: 29 Location: Florida

So there is a dog that runs around my neighborhood and always tries to get to my dog when she is in heat. I keep my argentine tegu in my screened in porch. Well the dog ripped a hole in the screen trying to get into my house. So Leo, my 1 1/2 yr old tegu, walked out through the hole. We couldn't find him and while looking for him my neighbor across the street asks what we were looking for.

We told him and he said that his wife found him in her pond sunbathing. The problem was that she had called animal control telling them that there was a gator there. They showed up and thought it was a Nile Monitor. They had no problem catching him cause we have trained him not to attack. I got in touch with animal control and they told me to just come up and get him. Once I got there they started drilling me about needing a permit or liscence for the "Nile Monitor". I kept trying to explain to them that he was a legal-to-own tegu and I have had him since 2007. They called fish and wildlife and was told to keep him until I can show a bill of sale proving he is a tegu.

How retarded are they. They even talked to me about how "Domesticated" Leo is. They are keeping him in a tiny metal cat cage. I'm hoping that he will be okay tomorrow. I am going to try and get him at 9:30am. I am very pissed. This is the first time he has stayed in a small cage and not with us. Well wish me luck. here is a pic of him...

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RON1X · Member Joined: Aug 30, 2008 Posts: 15

that really sucks. I'd be really upset also if I was in your position. I don't really know anything about the Nile monitor but why do you need a special license to own one?

Dragonfyre · Member Joined: Sep 16, 2007 Posts: 29 Location: Florida

something to do with a new law passed and they are considered "a venomous reptile or reptile of concern" dumb stuff!! thanx for the reply.

agallegos37 · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 11:45 pm Post subject:

Oh man I'd be so pissed. How hard is it to see that he's not an effin nile monitor?

angelrose · Moderator Joined: Jan 05, 2008 Posts: 1470

this breaks my heart. this is ignorance at it's best ! I had a nile monitor and you don't need a magnifying glass to tell the difference.

I'll be thinking about you. good luck and let us know.

Dragonfyre · Member Joined: Sep 16, 2007 Posts: 29 Location: Florida

Yeah no kidding!! They got my baby! We just finally got him tamed down to the point he comes when we call his name. Now I hope this doesn't make him go back! I'm bringing in pictures of the nile monitor so they can see HOW DIFFERENT they are. I will update you guys when I get home. Hopefully they give me no problems.

laurarfl · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 6:53 am Post subject:

This is not the first time a tegu has had a case of mistake identity. Last year or so in Jacksonville, someone's tegu escaped from their screen porch and walked over to a Fire Dept. The men 'captured' it in a trash can and kept it at bay until officials showed up. They were pretty convinced it was a Nile Monitor, too. The owner saw the news report and went to claim his tegu.

In Fl, the sensational news media have everyone convinced that any large lizard is a Nile Monitor, and is vicious and poisonous. There have been issues of escaped/released monitors and snakes that are causing controversial environmental effects. Therefore, large snakes and Nile Monitors are considered "Reptiles of Concern" here. You must fill out a questionnaire, be approved for ownership, pay a $100 permit fee per year, and have your animals microchipped to own one.

I don't think it takes much animal experience to be an animal control officer. I had one do a citation at my house years ago and my border collie mix was a lab (surely because he was black and white), and my pure Australian Shepherd was a cocker spaniel mix (huh?). If they can't identify common dog breeds, they sure aren't going to be able to identify exotic reptiles, LOL!

Good luck in your adventure. I don't think I have bills of sale proving any of mine are tegus. Why can't animal control take a picture and email it or look it up on the Internet? Sheesh. Oh yeah...because it's government bureaucracy!
_________________
Laura R (FL)
0.1.0 Colombian Tegu
0.2.0 Argentine B&W Tegu
1.0.0 Red Tegu
1.0.0 Green Amevia (yet another teiid)
8 other lizards
1 little gator
13 snakes
4 frogs
some bugs
and a partridge in a pear tree

Dragonfyre · Member Joined: Sep 16, 2007 Posts: 29 Location: Florida

Okay so I went to the animal control center where they kept my tegu Leo over night in a small metal cat cage to get him. They were trying to make me pay $45 to get him back then they went down to $35 and then after arguing some more with them they went down to $25. I still don't believe I should have paid this to them seeing as he was captured while we were out looking for him. They made me leavve him there over night so they can charge me!!

So I paid them and that's when they told me that Florida Wildlife Control will be coming out to my house to speak with me. I told them that was uncalled for and the ONLY reason he got loose was due to the dog running around the neighborhood. I believe they told them I had a Nile Monitor even after I had brought them my proof! These people are nuts! When I got Leo back he was sooooo scared, cold, dry, and sticky. It looks like they were poking at him, but since I have no proof there is nothing I can do.

I'm attending college full time and they think I have the time to deal with FWC! It's bad enough I had to miss my classes this morning because they are ignorant! It's not enough that they took my money, but now they want to put us through more stress!! I gave Leo a bath as soon as we got home and gave him a juicy rat. He is acting sooo tired and sad. As soon as I got him in my arms he climbed up to try to sit on my head like he used to when he was smaller. Now that he's a lil over 3' it's not as easy. I'm glad I got him back home. Hopefully FWC won't cause me any problems.

Now the funny thing, they arent going to do anything about the dog running around even though it is causing damage. I know someone up the road owns him but I havent found their house yet. What a messed up week so far.

Greenmanbacchus · Member Joined: Jul 29, 2008 Posts: 43

Hey Dragonfyre

What a nightmare

I'll make a suggestion, if I may...just my two cents...you must of course handle this situation as you see fit. I had a similar issue with a neighbors dog when I had a female in heat. ([b] By the way, your female is allowed to be in heat, their dog is not allowed to roam at large unattended, let alone trespass on your property and destroy your property)[/b]What I suggest is that after you are quite certain of the dog's address, do not go talk to the dog's owner. Like as not, they're not going to suddenly become responsible dog owners because you talk to them. Instead, call animal control and sign a formal complaint, citing property damage and danger to your own household pets. After all, God forbid, it could have turned out that you came home to a dog-mangled Tegu.
Press the issue, don't let it go, go to court if need be. Your rights are being taken from you and your household's safety is being put at risk by this negligent dog owner who IMO will NOT change their behaviour just because you tell them about it. Apparently you don't know these folks, so there's no danger of ruining a friendship, right? If I'm sounding a little harsh or a little cynical, please know that I've spent many years running a kennel and maintaining exotics of many kinds. I know how people are and I know what works and what doesn't work.
Dragonfyre, I'm so glad that your Leo got through this adventure alive and unharmed

Keep us posted

GMB
_________________
" Be mindful of your thoughts.
Thoughts crystallize into habit and
habit solidifies into circumstance."

laurarfl · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:47 pm Post subject:

I would definitely file an animal control complaint against the owner of the free roaming dog.

FWC won't be a big deal, they just have to investigate calls they get from other governing agencies. They'll likely call you to set up an appt. When they come to your house, make sure your tegu is an appropriately sized cage, absolutely clean, no poo and no odor. I'm not saying your dirty,

, I'm just saying that some officers are really against poo of any kind. Maybe it's from dealing with it in the office all day (BS y'know). Just be very polite and do not be defensive. Don't be angry at animal control or at the dog owner, and just answer their questions. If they really get picky, the worse you have to do is file a free reptile pet owner permit. If you have any other reptiles, snakes, etc, make sure the cage size is legal and everything looks clean. They can be easy to work with if you don't come across mean and angry. Then they look for anything to aggravate you with, from what I hear. Honey attracts more flies, and all that.

By the way, do you know the legal cage size requirements for lizards, etc in FL? I can send you a link if you need it.
_________________
Laura R (FL)
0.1.0 Colombian Tegu
0.2.0 Argentine B&W Tegu
1.0.0 Red Tegu
1.0.0 Green Amevia (yet another teiid)
8 other lizards
1 little gator
13 snakes
4 frogs
some bugs
and a partridge in a pear tree

Dragonfyre · Member Joined: Sep 16, 2007 Posts: 29 Location: Florida

I keep leo free roaming in my house. He sleeps on the bed as you can see above. I take him to the porch to use the bathroom and to sunbath.

laurarfl · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 8:02 pm Post subject:

Well then, I guess your enclosure is plenty large enough!

The only issue I can think of that they will pose is the possibility of escape from the porch. Of course, it was the dog's fault and not yours. I really wouldn't worry about it too much. I would file the complaint to cover my butt.
_________________
Laura R (FL)
0.1.0 Colombian Tegu
0.2.0 Argentine B&W Tegu
1.0.0 Red Tegu
1.0.0 Green Amevia (yet another teiid)
8 other lizards
1 little gator
13 snakes
4 frogs
some bugs
and a partridge in a pear tree

fastbaz · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 1:55 pm Post subject:

good luck keep us posted......dont have that kind of problem here in england thank goodness just that many people have never heard of tegu's ,,,,,,,,
_________________
1 argentinian B AND W tegu
1 male beardie
1 female beardie
lots of fish in the pond
1 wife
2 teenagers
oh and a mother in law

Dragonfyre · Member Joined: Sep 16, 2007 Posts: 29 Location: Florida

So it's been a few days and still no word from FWC so hopefully I won't have to deal with them. Leo is doing a little bit better from the whole ordeal. He has been sleeping in bed with my girlfriend and I until last night when I put him in his sleeping bag he usually sleeps in. I'll keep you guys up to date as the week goes on.

laurarfl · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 12:10 pm Post subject:

I'm sure FWC has more important things to do. I wouldn't sweat it.
_________________
Laura R (FL)
0.1.0 Colombian Tegu
0.2.0 Argentine B&W Tegu
1.0.0 Red Tegu
1.0.0 Green Amevia (yet another teiid)
8 other lizards
1 little gator
13 snakes
4 frogs
some bugs
and a partridge in a pear tree