I lost Rocky yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, it has finally happened, I screwed up! Whenever I take Rocky on a vacation, he comes back and thinks he's this new beardie and I forget he's more "advanced" than when I left.
Silly me keeps to our routine and Rocky plays along but this time.... Rocky who I was so excited about because he can enter and exit his enclosure on his own via a ramp decides to JUMP off the ramp. I can't confirm if it was a jump or fall but either way, it was a 4 ft dive (what is that, 100 ft by beardie calculations) onto a hardwood floor. Of course, I freaked out but all is well.
With no injuries, I examine Rocky just in case because I am a little crazy over Rocky, okay- a lot.
I must've examined Rocky 5 times- he's all good.
Later in the day it's window time. As the ramp has been removed, Rocky goes to the edge of the bench near his enclosure to wait for me when he's ready to return. I know around the time he does this so if I step out of the room for a moment, I will quickly return. Unfortunately work got in the way and I had a meeting. I got off the zoom with 2 minutes as opposed to 1 minute- I didn't care I was the facilitator, I put the participants in groups and thought I could put Rocky into the enclosure and return quickly.
ROCKY WAS GONE! OMG- I freaked out. That anything can happen in a split moment is so true. I calmed myself down and it did not work. I followed the path of the window- nothing. I looked under the furniture near the window- nothing! I checked the corners of the room-nothing!
I am sweating.
I could take a moment, resuming working and search again, he may resurface but there's no way that I could concentrate - and besides, I have priorities here! I thought about the open door, the stairs, everything flashed through my mind- yes, I am dramatic, but all of these precautions flashed through my mind. Rocky never ever goes beyond the bench OR SO I THOUGHT!
Well, at this point I am on my hands and knees, sweating- it's bad. I am hoping I hit mute as I am screaming his name. I knew he wouldn't answer but maybe he would come. As I frantically walked in circles, checked the additional rooms, I decided to check near his enclosure which is too high for him to enter on his own, the light was off and the doors were closed so there was no way he was in it-
I then found Rocky! He was in the corner underneath the stand of his enclosure. I saw the tip of his tail wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy in the back, in the corner as he was laying down looking at me- I was OVER IT.
Of course, I checked him, Rocky was fine. I hug him- we cuddle for 3 minutes, I put him in his enclosure, and I resumed the meeting.
OMG I can't go through that again.
Lesson- look near the enclosure
Truest lesson- DON'T STEP AWAY FROM THE BEARDIE- even when you think you know it's habits.
Sign: I don't need a second beardie
While I beardie proofed the room, the door was left open, and I took for granted the speed of our blooming comfort level.
Yesterday sucked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Silly me keeps to our routine and Rocky plays along but this time.... Rocky who I was so excited about because he can enter and exit his enclosure on his own via a ramp decides to JUMP off the ramp. I can't confirm if it was a jump or fall but either way, it was a 4 ft dive (what is that, 100 ft by beardie calculations) onto a hardwood floor. Of course, I freaked out but all is well.
With no injuries, I examine Rocky just in case because I am a little crazy over Rocky, okay- a lot.
I must've examined Rocky 5 times- he's all good.
Later in the day it's window time. As the ramp has been removed, Rocky goes to the edge of the bench near his enclosure to wait for me when he's ready to return. I know around the time he does this so if I step out of the room for a moment, I will quickly return. Unfortunately work got in the way and I had a meeting. I got off the zoom with 2 minutes as opposed to 1 minute- I didn't care I was the facilitator, I put the participants in groups and thought I could put Rocky into the enclosure and return quickly.
ROCKY WAS GONE! OMG- I freaked out. That anything can happen in a split moment is so true. I calmed myself down and it did not work. I followed the path of the window- nothing. I looked under the furniture near the window- nothing! I checked the corners of the room-nothing!
I am sweating.
I could take a moment, resuming working and search again, he may resurface but there's no way that I could concentrate - and besides, I have priorities here! I thought about the open door, the stairs, everything flashed through my mind- yes, I am dramatic, but all of these precautions flashed through my mind. Rocky never ever goes beyond the bench OR SO I THOUGHT!
Well, at this point I am on my hands and knees, sweating- it's bad. I am hoping I hit mute as I am screaming his name. I knew he wouldn't answer but maybe he would come. As I frantically walked in circles, checked the additional rooms, I decided to check near his enclosure which is too high for him to enter on his own, the light was off and the doors were closed so there was no way he was in it-
I then found Rocky! He was in the corner underneath the stand of his enclosure. I saw the tip of his tail wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy in the back, in the corner as he was laying down looking at me- I was OVER IT.
Of course, I checked him, Rocky was fine. I hug him- we cuddle for 3 minutes, I put him in his enclosure, and I resumed the meeting.
OMG I can't go through that again.
Lesson- look near the enclosure
Truest lesson- DON'T STEP AWAY FROM THE BEARDIE- even when you think you know it's habits.
Sign: I don't need a second beardie
While I beardie proofed the room, the door was left open, and I took for granted the speed of our blooming comfort level.
Yesterday sucked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
