Urgent: concern for Degu well-being

[intrepidus6]

Hello, I have a friend who has a pet Degu, he got the Degu around Valentines day and was told by the people at the pet shop it was a male. on Saturday the degu gave birth to 5 babys, thus telling us it was infact a female.
I have been concerned about the health and well-being of the animal ever since he got her. He keeps her in a ten gallon glass aqurium, with no other degus for company, and in filthy conditions. He never lets her have anytime out of the cage for fear she will "run away" and when I ask to hold her he won't let me "Because she bites" (which only happened once when he scared the poor thing to death.)
I have done some research on Degus on the internet, and I know why she was mistakeen for a male. I asked him what research he had done on the and he said "They like fruit." (When I spent almost 5 months doing research before I got my rats.) Allthough I have read that degus can't digest glucose, so I hope he dosen't give her too much fruit.
I don't know what he feeds her, and he never has let her dust bathe.
I was wondering what you all think I should do about this. Also, I am concerned about the babys, when they get older he said he is going to sell all but a few, which he is going to keep.
Please help me, I am really concerned about the animal.

[intrepidus6]

Please sombody help! he is planning on giving them away to complete strangers who probably know even less about how to take care of them the he does! This is an extremely urgent matter!

[Sunshinemeg]

Put together a page of information to print and give with each degu. that way the babies will be ok. If you can successfully sex aother female, that could be kept with the adult, although given the conditions it is living in I would rather he sent the adult away to a new home as well. All you can really do is point him in the right direction regarding degu care. E.g. NO sugar = no fruit. Daily dust baths, and regular contact with people.

In all respects you could contact the rspca and report him, you can be annoymous if you are worried about your friendship, but they would look at the degus conditions, and take it away if they thought it wasnt looked after well enough.

you are in a very tough position, so my heart goes out to the poor degus and you!

[intrepidus6]

My only concern is that if I do report it, he will know it was me, because I have been begging him to take better care of them.
And, his familly owns a motel, they are planning on giving away the babys to random people at the motel. This is not exactly a 5-star resort... it's the kind of motel that drugies and rednecks stay at, no matter what, the people he gives the degus to will not be good to the animals.

[rupe]

would you be able to take the babys short-term and find good homes for them? i dont know if you have the space/time to do this. maybe you live close to other members of this site and they could help with the rehoming?? stranger things have happened.

my heart is breaking thinking of that poor little momma degu and her babies. does she even have a wheel?

[diet otaku]

my gosh, that is terrible! is there any chance your friend would let you adopt the whole family so that you could rehabilitate them yourself and properly rehome them?

[intrepidus6]

Yes, she has a wheel.
I have told him that if things don't improve I will contact the SPCA. Him and his familly got very mad at me, I plan on calling the SPCA somtime in the next few days.
Doese anyone know how I can get the phone # for them? I couldn't find it in the phone book.
I have talked to him about taking them so I could get homes for them. He was very against this. I have also contacted a Degu rescue service who said they could take them, but he won't give them up. But I lve in Abingdon Virginia, just in case.
When I contact the SPCA, is there a possibilty this is not severe enough for them?

[rupe]

unfortunatly yes...the SPCA has to follow a very stricy set of rules when it comes to taking animals off someone. we had neighbours living opposite us who had a dog for 13 years and i NEVER saw it only heard it the odd time ie it never ever got brought for walks and was often home alone for long periods of time. we rang the ISPCA (Irish) and they said that in some cases it was deemed as 'mental abuse' and they couldnt do a thing except let the owners know they were keeping an eye on them. thats just one example of when the SPCA can't do anything.

i really hope they can help the little guys.

[ra]

I did a search for VA chapter of the SPCA. The only SPCA chapter that lists for VA is Virgina Beach SPCA.. their phone # [phone] perhaps they could make suggestions as to what you can do.

[diet otaku]

intrepidus6 said:

Yes, she has a wheel.
I have told him that if things don't improve I will contact the SPCA. Him and his familly got very mad at me, I plan on calling the SPCA somtime in the next few days.
Doese anyone know how I can get the phone # for them? I couldn't find it in the phone book.
I have talked to him about taking them so I could get homes for them. He was very against this. I have also contacted a Degu rescue service who said they could take them, but he won't give them up. But I lve in Abingdon Virginia, just in case.
When I contact the SPCA, is there a possibilty this is not severe enough for them?

that is absolutely baffling to me. why is he so adamantly against his pets getting appropriate care? why does he care whether you or his parents rehome the babies? why does he even want the poor girl when he obviously cares nothing about her health or safety?

[intrepidus6]

to show you how crazy this guy is this is an IM conversation between us:

ok says:
hi
ok says:
igot to go
vulcanus says:
hey
vulcanus says:
ok...
ok says:
bye
vulcanus says:
bye then
ok says:
ok
ok says:
are you still going to be mean to me agin
vulcanus says:
of course not
ok says:
you were
vulcanus says:
no, I just m concerned about your degus
ok says:
why
vulcanus says:
they aren't happy
ok says:
i changed there cage
vulcanus says:
what are they in now?
ok says:
that same cage
vulcanus says:
oh
vulcanus says:
it's to small for one degu, let alone 6!
ok says:
we are saving up money ive been sick and we spent it on the doctor bill
vulcanus says:
ok...
ok says:
for the shot
vulcanus says:
what shot?
ok says:
for my poision ivy
vulcanus says:
ok...
ok says:
and pills for my sineses
vulcanus says:
i have never heard of somone getting a shot for poisen ivy....
ok says:
well they do
vulcanus says:
ok
vulcanus says:
I have to call the SPCA though
ok says:
why
ok says:
i a geting a biger cage
vulcanus says:
all they will do is come and look at them, and tell you what you need to do to improve, and if you don't improve, they will take them and give them to a new home
ok says:
soo i all ready no
ok says:
jordan
vulcanus says:
you know what?
ok says:
wat
vulcanus says:
??
ok says:
you said you no wat
vulcanus says:
what do you alrady know?
ok says:
they like fruit
vulcanus says:
oh my god....
ok says:
they like to be out of there cage
vulcanus says:
shane it's not funny...
ok says:
they like to play
vulcanus says:
i'm serius here
ok says:
i not trying to be
vulcanus says:
anyways, they can't digest glucose
ok says:
wat
vulcanus says:
degus can't digest glucose
ok says:
i do not know wat that is and why would i feed y ani als so t ng i dont know
ok says:
that they dont need
vulcanus says:
glucose is the suger in friut
vulcanus says:
it's in all fruit
vulcanus says:
and some vegetbles i think
ok says:
they said they like staw barries
vulcanus says:
yes, very rrely as a treat
vulcanus says:
not often
ok says:
but your not soupposted top give the a holle lote aND EVERY SO OFTEN
vulcanus says:
yes
ok says:
I ALREADY NO SOME PEOPLE THAT WANT ONE
ok says:
OR TOW
ok says:
TWO
vulcanus says:
who?
ok says:
MY FRINDS THAT ARNT MEAN TO ME
vulcanus says:
I'm not trying to be mean to you, shane
vulcanus says:
I'm trying to help the poor degus
ok says:
AND WANT CALL THE LAW ON YOU
vulcanus says:
I am doing this because I care about animals
vulcanus says:
it is nothing towards you
vulcanus says:
belive me, this is hard for me to do!
ok says:
WHY I WANT HAVE THEM LONG
vulcanus says:
what?
ok says:
I WILL GET READ OF THEM QUICK
vulcanus says:
but how do we knwo the people you give them to will be good to them?
ok says:
IM NOT KEEPING THEM
vulcanus says:
even the mother?
ok says:
IM GETING READ OF THEM ALL SOO YOU WILL BE HAPPY
ok says:
THE MOTHER
vulcanus says:
oh shane...
ok says:
WAT
ok says:
YTOO
vulcanus says:
that won't make me happy
vulcanus says:
this is not about making me happy
ok says:
IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WOULD
ok says:
SOO THATS WAT IM GOING TO DO
vulcanus says:
but the people you give them to, how do you know they will be any better to them?
vulcanus says:
I've talked to a person who will take them
vulcanus says:
this person has a degu rescue servuce, they will be good to them there
ok says:
MY TEACHERS WANT THEM AND THEY WILL BE GOOD TO THEM
vulcanus says:
and they will get them good homes
vulcanus says:
how do you really know that?
ok says:
SOO WILL MY TEACHER
vulcanus says:
how do you really know that??
ok says:
AND THAT WILL MAKEYOU HAPPY\
vulcanus says:
no
ok says:
OH YESS IT WILL
vulcanus says:
this is NOT about making me happy
ok says:
HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE TO WAIT TO GIVE THEM A AWAY
ok says:
HUH
vulcanus says:
I think untill they are about 7 weeks, I don't know for sure
vulcanus says:
you should know
ok says:
NO YOU SHOULD KNOW BEACASE YOU SAID YOU KNEW EVERY THING
vulcanus says:
when did i say that?
ok says:
WHEN YOU SAID ILL TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEM
vulcanus says:
what?
ok says:
YOU SAID YOU KNEW EVERY THING ABOUT THEM
vulcanus says:
no id didn't
vulcanus says:
i never said that
ok says:
YOU CAN THINK WAT EVER
vulcanus says:
I know i didn't say anything like that
ok says:
BUT A FEW MOR WEEKS AND ILL GET READ OF THM
ok says:
THEM
vulcanus says:
Shane....
ok says:
I WANT WAIT THAT LONG ILL GIVE THE MOTHER TO MY FRIND AND THE BABIES TO
vulcanus says:
Shane... please
ok says:
IS THERE ANY THING ELSE YOU WANT ME TO GET READ OF
vulcanus says:
no
ok says:
HUH
vulcanus says:
NO!
vulcanus says:
shane stop acting so immature
ok says:
IT SOUNDS LIKE IT
vulcanus says:
what?
ok says:
IM NOT
ok says:
I AM GETTING READ OF THEM ALL
ok says:
AND I MEAN IT WAIT TWO WEAKS AND YOU WILL SEE
vulcanus says:
Shane...
ok says:
NO LIE
vulcanus says:
how do you know that who you give them to will be any better to them???
ok says:
I DONT KNOW AND I JUST WANT TO GET READ OF THEM TO MY TEACHER
ok says:
FOR I DONT HAVE TO LISEN TO YOU WINE
vulcanus says:
why didn't you give them to me back when i was going to buy them?
ok says:
I DONT KNOW BUT I JUST FOUND A HOME FO TEM
ok says:
THEM
vulcanus says:
but is it a good home?
ok says:
I DONT NO JORDAN I JUST WANT TO GET READ OF THEM AND I WANT HAVE TO LISEN TO YOU SAY IM GOINIG TO CALL PSCA
vulcanus says:
I know it's the right thing for me to do though
ok says:
I DONT KNOW WHY IF IM GOING TO GET READ OF THEM IN TWO WEEKS
vulcanus says:
because the people you give them to will probably be just as bad!
ok says:
SOO NOW YOUR SAYING THAT MY FAMILY AND FRINDS ARE BAD
vulcanus says:
no
vulcanus says:
I'm not
ok says:
YEA YOU ARE
vulcanus says:
no
ok says:
YOU JUST SAID
vulcanus says:
no
vulcanus says:
unless they have done lots of research on them and are preparred.....
ok says:
THERE IS A MAN LOOKING AT THEM RIGHT KNOW
vulcanus says:
who?
ok says:
SOO HOLD ON
ok says:
OK
vulcanus says:
is he somone staying at the motel?
ok says:
NO\
vulcanus says:
ok
ok says:
ITS A MAN
ok says:
OK
vulcanus says:
but what man?
ok says:
HE SAID HE COULD NOT HAV THEM ALL
vulcanus says:
i don't knwo what you mean
ok says:
ILL GIVE THEM TO DAVE TO MORROW
ok says:
OR THIS WEEKEND
vulcanus says:
well i can't get you to understand
vulcanus says:
I'm just waisting my time trying...
vulcanus says:
bye
ok says:
WELL I DO KNOW IM GOING TO GET READ OF THEM

As you can see this guy is an idiot! What can I do? I live about 7 hours away form VA beach... I doubt they could help. I really need help! I can't let him do this!

[diet otaku]

oh my lord... how old is your friend? because he's acting like a 5-year-old. and he spells like one too.

if i were you, at this point i would just take them. if there is any way you can get to them and just get them out of there, you can worry about what your friend will do later. for one thing, strawberries are NOT an acceptable treat for degus under ANY circumstances. their diet needs to be kept strictly to hay/grass, pellets, and the occasional nuts. while i would certainly trust a teacher moreso than a random motel guest, there's the possibility your friend will pass on his wealth of misinformation on to the teacher.

once you have the degus, you can contact the rescue to see if they're willing to come pick them up (some rescues do this for special situations). have you tried showing your friend this website? times like this make me wish we did have a chat room here, maybe we could talk some sense into him...

[Aimeelou]

What a fruitcake! What a loser! Give me his MSN or whatever ill give him a peace of my mind..... grrr!

[intrepidus6]

his MSN is shane_*******[e-mail]
I also have his phone number: Please, if you call him, don't make me look like an idiot. Say you are an expert on degu care or somthing, and that they need to improve or law inforcment will be alerted. and don't call as a prank or anything, only talk about the degus care PLEASE! Ask for Shane, the phone# is: 1-***-628-2114
(by the way, the person answering will say somthing about the holiday lodge motel, they own and live at the motel, just ask for Shane, rember he is 12 years old, if you don't feel comfortable talking to him ask for his parents, Lance or Christy.) And please let me know if you call hima nd what was said. Thanks

I gave his phone # to the rescue as well and they called and talked to Christy. They weren't willing to give the degus to the rescue, but they told them about some basic care, I don't know if they will listen or not though.
I am done with this guy now, we are not friends anymore.
Please though, if you call try and sound like you are an expert on degu care and try to make it look like you know what you are talking about, also, please don't get hostile with them, this could cause trobal for me. Thanks

i removed part of the email & phone number as beast has a point. however dire the situation may be with the degus, it is not worth the risk of making a young boy vulnerable to child predators. i've saved the info if any of the mods would like to contact him, however i'm skeptical as to how much good it would do if even the rescue and the parents could not work something out. -diet otaku

[thegrouchybeast]

Dude. You just published a TWELVE YEAR OLD BOY'S personal e-mail and phone number on the internet. However he's treating his degus, that's a very bad idea. It has the potential to get you, this forum, and the people on it in serious trouble. I'm pretty sure that everyone here is too smart to actually call the number or e-mail him, but please take the info down.

[Sunshinemeg]

I think this thread has run as far as it can. i am closing it now before things get out of hand. if anyone interested in talking about the matter wants to, please pm me.