Category: pets

10/08/16 08:57 - ID#60672

Where is Basra?

So last year we sent Basra the tortoise to Phoenix because he was getting too big to keep inside (e:joe,60300).

Since we were around, we went out to see him at the Phoenix Herpetological Society in Scottsdale. It was out by some ranches, in the way north of Scottsdale.

Well anyway, I think we saw him. We sponsored him so they knew what pen he was in but that's all.

Have you ever seen so many tortoises? As soon as they see someone at the fence, they stamped and swarm towards you.

Feedin' time! These tortoises don't give a shit, they crawl over each other sideways like food driven robots. No pathfinding, just a beeline to the nearest green scrap. It makes me think they'd attack you if you went in the pen with colorful clothes on.

Which one is Basra? I don't know. We tried matching from pictures I took. Shell sloped down on the sides, slight pyramiding, curved backside. There were so many that mostly fit the size and shape but who knows how big he is now?

We got a show out of it, too.

I felt bad keeping him trapped inside in Buffalo, but was nervous to send him somewhere random.

It didn't sound good as the other places (e:paul)'s tortoises have gone, but all the tortoises at the refuge seemed healthy and lively. Plus he's outside for the whole year instead of 5 months.

I think he's better off Phoenix. (If he is here?!)

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Last Modified: 10/14/16 12:37

Category: pets

10/27/15 06:04 - ID#60300

See you later Basra the tortoise

Basra is now a resident of the Phoenix Herpetological Society in Scottsdale, AZ after 16 years in Buffalo.

This 4:30 in the morning we dragged him out of bed, put him in a dog kennel, and got him on the flight to Phoenix. The airpot cargo man was pretty strange. It all was so unceremonious.

I felt guilty sending him away - their website even acknowledges how many sulcatas they receive from people who can't keep them anymore. But I know he'll be a lot happier living in warm weather year round. Who knows, maybe he'll even like their other tortoises?

Since we are sponsoring him, he stays in a special area and we're allowed to arrange visits up to twice a month. (E:lilho) you should stop by. It's too bad Phoenix is such a car centric city and so far away. Cross country bike trip there one day?

See ya later beasty!

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Last Modified: 10/28/15 01:11

Category: pets

06/16/15 01:34 - ID#60057

Popular Basra

After the art festival, I decided I'd give Basra an adventure to see the rest of the world (or at least the front lawn). Turns out he's popular. Everyone wanted to stop by and see him and ask questions about our "snapping turtle". Maybe we can charge admission and pay for his ticket to the desert.

Turns out the taste of freedom is addictive because when we were back inside, he climbed over his board and back down the driveway. We only noticed when there was shouting outside and (e:keith) and rode up and saw him.

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Last Modified: 06/16/15 01:46

Category: pets

01/10/15 03:10 - ID#59736

Pet shopping

(e:paul) and I went to Pet Supplies plus to get a new lightbulb for the beast. I think the only type of shopping I do like is at pet stores. Everything there is so cute - look at this shirt for dogs. Its supposed to calm them in thunderstorms.

Animals also get these delicious looking peanut butter cookies, and rodent trail mix. They remind of the yogurt snacks I used to share with my guinea pigs.

Afterwards Paul and I had a bromantic date at Taj Grill where we talked about programming and ate fried food. Yum.

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Last Modified: 01/10/15 03:13

Category: pets

12/15/14 01:14 - ID#59660

Animal errands

Sunday was a lot of errands. (e:paul) and (e:terry) went to go help Paul's parents with setting up their Chrismas tree, and I went to be IT at my parents.

Before we set off we stopped for lunch at the new Balkan Dining restaurant on Kenmore Avenue. The portion sizes were ridiculously huge and cheap. We had leftovers for everything except for my vegetable mousaka.

Sleepy Mid - wiped out from a walk

Ferrets are so freaking cute

After Paul and Terry came back and picked me up, we went to Markham Pets to get Basra hay. The last time I was there in 2003, I was getting a guinea pig and it was disgusting. i remember bugs and fleas everywhere in the rodent cages.

This time it was much cleaner.

Basra's smaller counterpart if he weren't such a dirrrty tortoise. He also had way less space.

Little Meerschweinchen hiding in their house. I wanted to pick one up so bad.

We went to Feel Rite after to use up Paul's scam insurance card. Why can't they just lower the premiums by $250? Anyway,we a got a lot of granola bars and questionable brain supplements. I don't really trust much in the store with the amount of woo - like the homeopathy and steroids. I don't put much stock in these pills except they may give you a little buzz.

The tour finished with Terry getting the Note 4 before we went home. Paul and I brogrammed the rest of the night.

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Last Modified: 12/17/14 12:07

Category: pets

10/26/14 11:14 - ID#59520

Dog days if Tihar

This weekend I dog sat Midnight for my parents. I really miss him sometimes, but even just seeing him I have to shower and change or else (e:paul) is allergic. :( Still my best bud. I probably was at my parent's for 10 hours this weekend, and walked him for 4 or 5.

It was also the day of Tihar, the Hindu dog festival. In Nepal, they celebrate with all dogs, even strays, by feeding them, making them flower necklaces and coloring their schnozzes with pigment. It's a holiday I could get on board with.

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Last Modified: 10/27/14 12:11

Category: pets

08/15/14 11:22 - ID#59305

Like father, like son

The tortoise and (e:Paul) needed to sun themselves today. The only difference was one was covered in poop and flies. Guess who.

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Last Modified: 08/16/14 01:45

Category: pets

06/11/14 12:52 - ID#59072

Basra the battering ram

Basra is a lot smarter than you'd think. I came home to find that he has moved the canoe right up against the wood barrier and started banging it open. Soon enough he'll be able to climb out if we don't reinforce it - he can't be tamed.

He's also a huge bastard. He ripped open this bag of wood chips and spread it all over the yard.

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Last Modified: 06/11/14 12:58

Category: pets

12/16/13 01:34 - ID#58459

Basra's Migration

(e:paul) and I got around to moving Basra up from the basement. He's been so miserable, freezing/hibernating and all neglected down there that we moved him up to the brown room. We started to clean up his carpet and the basement before discovering that the tarp underneath started to mold from the floor's dampness. So gross. Then we set out to search for a new tarp - but Home Depot was closed. We had to drive all the way to Sheridan Drive for Walmart. While we were there we stopped at the Super Bazaar (see (e:Paul,58458)).

After we got back, we set up the new tortoise sanctuary in the brown room. It was so much warmer that he came alive right away. He should, because according to the Killawatt it takes almost $65 a month of electricity to heat him. Other downside, there may be an impending scooter infestation.