Post by leosnails on May 16, 2023 21:54:33 GMT
Update (21st May 2023) - A new forever home has now been found for my eight GALS. Very many thanks to SuspiciousBagel for their invaluable help in spreading my plea to a wider 'snail' audience, and to the lovely Cara, who has most kindly given my boys a new home. You are both absolute stars! Many thanks also to the forum (the first that I've ever joined, as it happens!) for making all of this possible and helping me when I needed it most.
Please excuse the long post, but as a newbie to the forum, I felt that I owed it to members to properly explain my cry for help.
I’m desperately trying to find a good, safe home/homes for my eight GALS, after extenuating personal circumstances have sadly deemed it impossible for me to continue caring for them myself.
The snails were originally received from a friend as babies, but are all older individuals now - four are around 9 years of age, three about 7 years and one, less than a year. They already have their own complete set up, consisting of a vivarium (36" x 15” x 12"), heat mat, water/feeding bowls, cork bark rounds and suitable substrate etc.
This has certainly not been an easy decision to make by any means. However, I became a FT carer for my Mum, early last February, following a significant decline in both her physical and mental health - a move that necessitated me living semi-permanently in York, in order to undertake that role (my own home is in Poole, Dorset). Consequently, I was unable to continue looking after my snails and so asked some friends if they would oblige during my absence. My friends have been wonderful in caring for my little charges since that time, but have recently had to return them to me, as they (understandably) no longer wish to look after them long term. Very sadly, my darling Mum passed away on the 6th January this year and, as I am now having to deal with her estate, will therefore continue to be both regularly, and frequently, away in York for another year or so to facilitate that. As such, I am unfortunately no longer in a position to take back over FT care of my snails and, with my friends no longer able to do so either, am now looking to permanently re-home them somewhere safe.
I have already tried contacting animal wildlife parks, rescue centres, rehoming facilities, shelters, the RSPCA, schools and universities, but with no success. I have been reticent to advertise them on platforms such as e-bay, Gumtree, Marketplace, Pre-loved etc. (even though they would be free to a good home), as I obviously would have no control over how they would be treated by any potential new owner and thus could end up putting their health, welfare and comfort at serious risk.
If I’m unable to rehome them, then I’ll have no option other than to try and care for them myself. Yes, I can have a second vivarium set up in York, but I’d still have to subject them to regular, frequent commutes between Poole and York - a 6 hour car journey that would certainly not be ideal in a plastic storage box - plus it’s a further worry that I sadly can do without on top of the already stressful and difficult time that I’m going through at present.
This is why I am now desperate for help and so wondered if anyone here on the forum might be able to assist please? I would be most grateful for any suggestions/advice, but also more than happy to deliver my GALS and their vivarium to anyone offering to take over care - within reasonable driving distance (of course) from Poole or York, or anywhere close to my commute route between the two cities.
With very many thanks for your time in reading this,
Linda.
