Puff is a pretty chill guy.
The bearded dragon loves super worms, salad and chilling with his foster family on the Saanich Peninsula.
“He likes to be up high, so he’ll climb up on my shoulder or climb up on the back of the couch when we’re watching a show,” said Elizabeth Sinclair Kruth. “He’d get on well I think in a family with responsible kids.”
Now healthy and happy, Puff came into care with a calcium deficiency and an abscess on his face, surrendered to the BC SPCA in Victoria shortly before Christmas.
The timing and health concerns created a bit of an urgent situation, said Sinclair Kruth, whose family has fostered several “beardies” since starting a couple of years ago. They started in part as a way for their daughter to learn about animals and to get exposure to different critters.
“It’s been a really positive experience for our family,” Sinclair Kruth said.
With the required tank, light and knowledge at hand, the family took Puff on.
“Things would not have gone well for him otherwise,” Sinclair Kruth said.
Though the BC SPCA is fortunate to work with a select few reptile-savvy vets in the Victoria area, limited availability can have an impact on care for those that come in, says Kelsea Ivanyshyn, small animal care specialist at the Victoria BC SPCA.
“Sadly, quite a few reptiles that have come into our care are rushed to the emergency vet, but are too sick to rehabilitate, and we’ve had to make the difficult decision to compassionately euthanize them. It is never an easy decision but it is the kindest one in order to cease their suffering,” she said.
Since Ivanyshyn started at the Victoria branch in April 2022, she’s seen 13 adoptions of reptiles or similar exotic-scaled creatures. Most come through the Animal Protection Services department, where they’ve either been seized due to severe neglect, or abandoned.
“As a shelter, we tend to avoid taking in reptiles as surrenders because we’re not properly equipped to care for them long-term, and our team doesn’t always have the very specialized knowledge required to ensure they thrive. We often try to instead divert people to try other rehoming options,” she said.
Puff’s vet visit resulted in a short regimen of high-dose calcium along with antibiotics and now he’s a “healthy, happy and a nice little guy,” Sinclair Kruth said.
Which means it’s time to face the next challenge – finding him a forever home.
“We’re very particular about matching them with adopters who can provide the specialized care they need to thrive,” Ivanyshyn said. “We require potential adopters to complete a detailed reptile-specific application and provide a photo of the enclosure they’ll use.”
The BC SPCA actually has a strong stance against owning exotic animals, and when these kinds of creatures come into care, the agency follows strict policies to ensure they are appropriately placed.
Anyone interested in adopting Puff can email victoria@spca.bc.ca for information.
While Puff hasn’t really said, he’s likely looking forward to both a new family and warmer weather.
“They love sitting outside in the heat because they’re from Australia originally,” Sinclair Kruth explained.
Though, he’ll miss out on the family’s special outing gear – a little harness with dragon wings on the back.
With the careful consideration the BC SPCA puts in, odds are, his forever family will find something just as fitting.
