RIP Toothless

Well, he almost lasted six months. That's not bad for pets around here.  Toothless, the over-loved reptile of the year died on Tuesday.  PJ received Toothless for his birthday.  Toothless was a Western Hog-nosed Snake...you can see why in the pictures.  PJ loved this little guy because he was harmless but looked fierce...like a rattlesnake.  I grew up in a family of snake haters. I am not talking about just your normal fear of snakes, I am talking about "the only good snake is a dead snake" kind of family...and so Toothless was a labor of love for me.  When all your child can do is eat, sleep, dream and talk about snakes you get the picture, quickly, that he wouldn't mind having one.  So, how could I say no to my precious boy when he wanted a snake for his birthday?  I couldn't. It was pure fear and selfishness on my part. And, so I allowed this reptile to enter our lives.  We all learned to love Toothless...even Elizabeth enjoyed seeing him slither around.  I eventually got used to him...and when the temps dropped here in Florida I even suggested that we bring Toothless in out of the cold so he wouldn't freeze to death.  THIS WAS HUGE PROGRESS!!!  But, I still had never held him.  There is only so far a mama can go!
So, back to Tuesday.  We were sitting in our home office and I was on the computer.  Before I got online, I looked in Toothless's cage and didn't see him. I thought this was strange, but often I don't see him because he's camouflaged really well with the sand.  A few minutes later, PJ entered the room and I asked him about it. He took the lid off the enclosure and quickly put it back on. I turned around and tears where welling in his eyes..."Toothless is dead, Mommy!!!"  Oh, what heartache.  I cried.  I can't believe I cried.  Truly, I was crying for my boy who just lost his first true pet.  We had a proper burial. We placed Toothless in a pickle jar (complete with the pickle juice to thwart his body decaying) and buried him out by Bear.  Bear was Grace's dog who died a couple years ago.
Well, in case you're wondering, we have already replaced Toothless. Not with a pet store snake, oh no, Paul and PJ went to Grampy's yesterday and they found themselves a Black Racer. This snake is probably about 3 feet long...much bigger...and I don't like him as much.  They've named him Black Arrow.  He is living outside on the front porch!  He seems to like PJ alright...and PJ loves it.  All day today I've watched him walk around the property with his new friend dangling around his neck like a necklace...only not.  I'm not sure I can go much bigger with these snakes, but what was that I said earlier? Oh yeah, it's a labor of love.

 Toothless, eating a lizard...very cool to watch, albeit not for the weak stomach!