My Family Might Be Going To Madagascar Without Me

[jannb]

Our vacation is coming up in a few weeks and as most of you know I have a few pets with problems so unless I see some drastic improvements I will not be going on vacation with my family. I just can not leave my pets if they need me. If I were gone having fun and something happen to one of them I could never live with myself. Red's doing well with his chemo and I'm not super worried about him at the moment. Mufasa's old with many problems and I am worried to death about my main man Luie that has a really nasty bone infection. I'm taking him back to Marathon for a recheck with Dr. Mader this Friday and he plans to do x-rays and a needle biopsy so I will just be playing it by ear to see how things go and it will be a last minute decision if I get to go or not.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/just-booked-our-flights-south-africa-madagascar-80143/

 

[Elizadolots]

If you decide you need to stay know that it was the right decision. If you feel bad leaving, you cannot enjoy the trip. A vacation is something to be enjoyed not suffered through.

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Go to Madagascar!! In the wild is the best way to view chameleons. I would recommend looking into boarding your animals with an experienced keeper. If there any worthy keepers in your area that could handle that kind of job it would be worth looking into?

 

[sandrachameleon]

If you decide you need to stay know that it was the right decision. If you feel bad leaving, you cannot enjoy the trip. A vacation is something to be enjoyed not suffered through.

Agreed. While I wouldnt hesitate to go under normal circumstances, when you have pet family members that you believe need you to be there, you gotta be there. I know what it is like to leave town and leave an unwell animal behind (had to do it when a human family member was dying, and left a dying chameleon behind when I didnt want to). It doesnt feel good.
No doubt going would detract from the joy of the vacation, if you didnt feel totally secure about your animals.

Either way, you will ahve regrets. All you can do is choose what you feel is rigth in your heart.

 

[Seeco]

Is your part already paid for? If you can EASILY go at a later date then maybe stay but if this is your one shot then u gotta go. Is all your watering automated?

 

[maxttu]

That must be a hard reality check. I won't pretend to understand what you're going thru with this decision.

I assume that your trip is already paid for? In full?? I'll be happy to substitute for you and I promise to take some really nice photos of what you're missing!

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Oh that's a hard one...as long as everyone was stable before I left I'd totally try to go because that's such a once in a lifetime opportunity to see chams in the wild! But if they weren't I'd definitely understand your hesitation. If you don't go and everything is fine you'll regret not going. If you go but something happens while you're gone then you'll regret it too. I think there will be a lot of hesitation either way for sure. That's a hard one...

 

[SarahcoadunatioZac]

A trip to Madagascar, theres no Cham keepers you know that would watch your guys? Its such a massive trip like everyone stated, would be such a shame if you couldn't go. I hope your vet visit says everything should be fine for the trip!

 

[absolutbill]

Would Dr. Mader be willing to board Luie and Mufasa? That way you know they'd be in excellent hands? Good luck whichever way you decide!

 

[okiroo]

I think you should find someone really awsome to look after them while your gone so you know they're in good hands. But if decide not to go thats understandable- just as understandable as if you decide to go. either way will be hard.

 

[jannb]

Thanks for your input everyone. Most of you ladies seem to understand more that the guys. The reason I may not go is because several of my pets need me here. I have a very special relationship with my pets and do not want to leave them when they are seriously ill.

I have an excellent house/pet sitter that's been caring for my pets for over three years. She's been with me since I just had Luie and Camille. She saw L & C's eggs hatch, helped take care of the babies and if I do go she would do a better job than anyone else. She knows way more than allot of people on the forums and she doesn't even have a chameleon. She says some day she will but right now they are too big of a responsibility for her. She has been to Dr. Mader's with me, to my local vets and she has met Dr. Alfonso and she wouldn't hesitate to put someone in the car and take off to Orlando or Marathon if needed.

She has kept my guys since they have been ill but only for short trips not for more than two weeks when I would be days away. I have several special needs chams and a dog that gets weekly chemo. Luie is on meds and just barely getting around and you have to watch him very closely. We do have two nets around his free range but he still has to be supervised. It’s very hard for him to eat because he can only open his mouth a little bit and can’t shoot his tongue anymore. He does stick his tongue out just a little bit and you have to put a small feeder on the top of his tongue for him to be able to eat. If you don’t get it on the top of his tongue he can’t pull it into his mouth. After trying over and over and over and not getting anything, he gets very discouraged. Luie eats a little something (a couple of small worms) every day. I feed him well on Tues. Thurs. & Sundays.......3 to 4 med. size crickets and 2 or 3 small worms. He also eats TINY slivers of fruits. Most vets/vet techs and other cham keepers are not going to do everything the way that I do and it would kill Luie to put him in a cage and board him. Along with Luie I have two other chams that have to be hand fed a special way Jr, my one eye guy and Mufasa who is also on meds.

Everything has been paid for and the tickets can't be switched to anyone else and my family has made plans to go by preparing taking, shots, vacation and so forth months ago.

My husband will take tons of pictures and I'll let you guys know what I decide to do.

 

[Decadancin]

Trust me, Jann, I understand. Madagascar is one of the coolest places on earth and I would love to go, but I don't know if I could enjoy the trip while worrying about home. I also don't think I could put so much responsibility on someone else. One of our cats needs special care, and the last person that took care of our "kids" was so stressed that we will not ask again. There is no right answer, except the one you feel inside.
Good luck with the decision.


ps. My wife did love the pictures!

 

[Elizadolots]

I think if you end up staying, your family can "bring you along" with video and photographs and, once they return, they can relive it and share it with you in very special ways.

I simply could not enjoy myself if I was constantly worried about my pets --and I would worry constantly.

 

[Rottsko]

man, that's a HUGE decision jann. i know you love your pets and i think you're making the right choice. madagascar will always be there and money will come and go but your pets will only be w/ you as long as God lets them.

 

[DanSB]

man, that's a HUGE decision jann. i know you love your pets and i think you're making the right choice. madagascar will always be there and money will come and go but your pets will only be w/ you as long as God lets them.

This is pretty close to what I was going to say...

Madagascar will still be there in a few years and you will never forgive yourself if you weren't there to say good bye when it is time for one of your companions to move on.

Life is about experience and for some it is the experience of new places and activities, for others it is the experience of special relationships and companionship and the only decision that makes this hard for you isn't going to a great far flung place but missing the experience of going with your human family.

Either way that is how I would make my decision. What is the experience I want and need and that is my decision.

 

[jannb]

Thanks again everyone for the input. It's helpful to see how everyone feels.

 

[jpm995]

Like someone said i would try to room the pets with your pet doc. Even if its costly you know their in good hands. This could be the trip of a lifetime, would hate to see you miss it.

 

[shaunaroxanne]

Wow, what a tough decision

Is there a way you could go to Madagascar AND watch Louie at the same time? Since you trust your pet-sitter, could you arrange to set up a web-cam so that you could check in on him as often as you feel necessary? You could have your emergency procedures in place and inform your vet that you are leaving.... I know that only you can make the decision and that you will worry, but will you worry about your family if you stay home? Or will you regret the amazing opportunity to be in Madagascar? Could you learn things there that will be of benefit to your chameleons at home?

Whatever your decision, I am sure you will choose the one that is best for all involved. Good luck to you.

 

[DavidBuchan]

It's a tough decision and I understand it a bit. Men prefer to put the practical side across more often . I would feel just as bad if I stayed and someone died as if I went and someone died. I don't know how you would personally feel Jann, but know that if you do go you are not letting anyone down. If you can come to an arrangement with friends like you would have anyway, and if they understand the needs of your animals the only reason not to go would be a possible sense of guilt if something bad were to happen. Either way it will not be your fault, they have had wonderful care all through their lives. 2 weeks is not 2 months, if you think you can enjoy the holiday without feeling that silly guilt which makes no sense then you should go...........
Just my opinion, I'm sure you'll make the right choice for you

 

[Seeco]

Wow you are really in deep. Your commitment is inspirational.