Give away my beardie or not?

[abicastellanos]

I feel horrible even considering it. But I feel it might be for the best.
My Spike is 5 years old. We got him as a baby. But our lives have drastically changed since then. My husband joined the Air Force and we are constantly moving. So far we just drove him to my in-laws house, 5 hours away, and they would take care of him for the few weeks needed.
But now we are moving overseas. We can't take him and I feel guilty leaving him with my in-laws for several years. And even when we are back in the states we don't know where we'll live or if it will be possible to pick him up.
So I am faced with the decision of finding him a new home or letting my in-laws keep him.
I am afraid that his new family won't take care of him or abuse and neglect him once the novelty wears off. But also I feel equity guilty about burdening my in-laws with the care of him and the obvious higher electric bills that will follow.
What would you do in my situation? Opinions needed badly!

 

[AKnorthstar]

Do your inlaws like him? Would it be burdening them? I say if you like him and they like him and still want him then you have them keep him and maybe send them a little something every month like $20, Etc.

If it will burden them then you can find a good home for him, you just need to "interview" prospective new families. I have had to re-home one because the place I lived at had very bad wiring and it was always shorting out his lights and I was constantly finding him cold when I would come home from work and cold in Alaska is cold, too cold. I found an awesome family who are reptile fenatics.

I have a written contract with them that if for any reason they cant keep him they give him back. You could do something similar except maybe they give him back to your inlaws and then you try and re-home again if necessary.

Honestly I 100% regret giving him away but sometimes it is whats best.

 

[abicastellanos]

My inlaws love him! (even though last time he pooped on my FIL as a goodbye present) The idea of sending them money every month sounds like a good way to keep them happy and my beardie with people that love him. He has a huge tank that will be a pain in the butt to move, so hopefully that is not too much of a hassle for the inlaws. I might even sell the humongous aquarium (he is always only on one side anyways) and get him a more decent sized one. Thanks for the ideas!

 

[LLLReptile]

If they do like him and are willing to keep him, then it's not terrible to leave him with them.

I also would not give him away, if he doesn't stay with them. Advertise him for a small fee, something like $50 or even $100. For a good home that shows up willing to pay and learn about him, you can then let them just have him for free if you'd like (then they can spend that money on supplies as needed!).

I never, ever suggest posting animals as free - people care more for creatures they pay for, plain and simple, and you weed out people who would not be able to afford his necessary care.

-Jen