Happy (Re)Birthday, Amazon!!!

[eyespy]

<img src="http://www.thebeardedlady.org/images/DCP_0391.JPG">

It was one year ago today that I went to a Pet_______ store to buy some parakeet pellets and found Amazon stuffed into a 1 or 1.5 gallon mini-hex aquarium on top of a cash register.

I called Animal Control immediately. Being somewhat of a she-dog on wheels when it comes to animal cruelty cases I had them on my speed-dial. Not only was Amazon confiscated, but a number of other animals were taken as well. Local laws mandated that Amazon go to the Humane Society for 3 days quarantine and veterinary care but I immediately applied to adopt him and took him home on 6/11/02.

So I choose today to celebrate Amazon's (re)birthday.

Considering the outrageous abuse he suffered, he's doing well. Three vertebrae in his tail base were completely fused because he had grown right up against the side of the tank and his tail was completely paralyzed. Now they are only partially fused and he's regained full tail mobility. He had significant malnutrition as well.

Sadly, it was after he went into a death roll and came out of it with 9 inches of dropped tail that he started getting movement back. The lighter weight of the tail must have helped those poor atrophied muscles a fair bit and I did exercises with him, helping him push the tail from side to side so he could gain strength.

He's still iglet sized at 14 inches but after dropping so much of himself that's to be expected. Had that extra 9 inches grown along with him he'd be about 16-20 inches longer and so a normal sized yearling.

I say "him" but Amazon is still too young and small to be accurately sexed. It seems unfriendly to call a living creature and Amazon has the self-assurance and head-bobbing of a male although perhaps he's just a fiery female in disguise.

Amazon is my proudest rescue and made me break my own hardest rule. He is the first rescue I've not sought an adoptive home. He will be with me forever because I just can't part myself from this sweet little pickle.