Does the iguana have a cage? It might be a good idea if he just stayed there.

ION, the mouth itching is driving me mad. I think I prefer pain.

Does the iguana have a cage? It might be a good idea if he just stayed there.

We have a tank for the iguana. It's not really big enough, but Friend is unable to come up with an alternative. In fact, *we* had to find the tank and borrow it from someone else in order to have the joy of keeping a reptile for 10 days, because Friend couldn't provide a tank and couldn't begin to come up with ideas as to where we could get one.

Friend said that when people go out of town in his neighborhood and leave their pets at home, the people come back to really really really gruesome tableaux of dead pets. Think Angelus nailing a puppy to a tree. So he can't really just leave the iguana there.

I'm starting to think friend needs a new neighborhood. To which he can come back, and take his many interesting pets!

Steph, I'm so feeling like starting a collection to kennel these pets!

Also, I owe you e-mail, but it's not gonna happen tonight. I'm so sorry.

Tep, you might just want to tell the Boy: "Let's be clear. I need some boundaries and I need you to help set them some time. I understand this is a special and unusual situation, but this has to be the exception and this can't end with more animals living with us permanently. There's a time limit on it, and that's about all I can handle. I understand that there are people in your life that you want to extend this courtesy to. I'm just saying that had needs to be a short list and this is the exception not the rule."

Steph, I'm so feeling like starting a collection to kennel these pets!

I can afford it (not in an "I'm so fucking rich!" kind of way; just in the sense that yes, my bills are much less since moving in with The Boy, so I could feasibly pay for the zoo to go to a kennel), but the problem is what happens if Friend comes home and finds his house unliveable and so he can't pick up his pets? The kennel would have *my* credit card and I'd be fucked even more.

The Boy cares very much for his friends, and is very very very compassionate towards animals. And I love those traits. But I'm so afraid that this particular situation is going to lead to a "Who do you love more -- me or your deadbeat friend's pets?" situation. One assumes the answer would be easy, but I don't think it would be. I *know* The Boy, and he'd say "I love you, but we can't just send these innocent pets off to a shelter to be put down after 3 days!" Which I tend to agree with, except for the part where they're in MY HOUSE as an alternative.

I'm getting way too worked up about this, and shouldn't be assuming the worst case will happen. I don't want to create a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Also, I owe you e-mail, but it's not gonna happen tonight. I'm so sorry.

That's totally fine! I'm going to have a whole goddamn zoo descending on the house in probably an hour anyway, and I'm just going to try to hide in the bedroom, cry, and wish it was 10 days from now.

That's totally fine! I'm going to have a whole goddamn zoo descending on the house in probably an hour anyway, and I'm just going to try to hide in the bedroom, cry, and wish it was 10 days from now.

Oh, honey. Hang in there. I feel for you. I really, really do. I'm dog sitting this weekend myself, and it's going to be interesting (the dog gets bottled water, has a very specific schedule, and "eliminates" rather than pees and poops), but not nearly as interesting as your next 10 days, I bet.

I *know* The Boy, and he'd say "I love you, but we can't just send these innocent pets off to a shelter to be put down after 3 days!"

...and this is why I don't have pets. And register as "cold hearted bitch" on tests and such. Because I would. I mean, sure I'd ask my friends if they want the pets, and I'd put an ad on craigslist, and I'd tell the person whose pets they originally were that this was the plan, and I'd probably give some extra leeway, but...

Yeah. And if the BF were doing it, I'm enough of a bitch that I would say "I put an ad on Craigslist. If the pets aren't gone in ten days, you take them to the shelter. If you can't do that, I move out. I will cry and cry, in my new apartment. Without you."

Cause coldhearted bitch=I still feel, I just let my brain do the decisionmaking, not my heart.

[EDIT: Please note I am not in ANY way saying this is what Steph should do. Just saying this is me, and this is why I am not Steph!!!]

Even if this kid lives in a crack house, it would take a LOT of work to make it uninhabitable for animals. More work than most burglars have the time or inclination to engage in. Animals don't need a pristine environment--as long as there is running water and the windows close, they'll be fine.

Seriously, Steph, where does this guy live?!

I have no good advice, other than to repeat what everyone's already said. And sort of boggle at the fact that he doesn't have a tank for the lizard at home? (Or just couldn't transport it?)