this and that II
Dragons in the News
Police Saves Near Frozen Dragon
https://www.petcha.com/iowa-sheriffs-deputies-save-frozen-bearded-dragon-lizard-trending/
Bearded Dragons help owners Improve Understanding of Native Reptiles
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-21/bearded-dragons-help-pet-owners-improve-understanding/8462294
Bearded Dragon saved by CPR
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2014/08/06/salem-bearded-dragon-saved-last-ditch-cpr/13701193/
Firefighter Saves Bearded Dragon
http://metro.co.uk/2013/09/14/firefighters-save-bearded-dragon-lizards-life-with-oxygen-mask-designed-for-humans-3995087/
Emergency Preparedness
So the power's gone out with no restore time. What do you do? Well .. it all starts with what you have on-hand, which means doing your best to make sure you're ready for the unexpected, before it even happens.
If you're able to look into a small generator, its always a wise investment.
I always have shipping warmers on-hand, for long power outages. Please do not use hand warmers anywhere near your dragons. They reach upwards of 160-180 degrees depending on the brand and are an extreme burn risk. I use uni-heat warmers wrapped inside of a sock. If the dragon does happen to lay on it, it won't create a burn.
If the outage is for an extended time, you can add additional bedding to the cage (towels, fleece, etc). Be careful that babies or small dragons do not become tangled in it.
If the cage is by a window or door that's drafty, move it, if possible, to the warmest room in the house. Cages really shouldn't be placed by drafty spots anyway, as it raises the risk of certain other health issues.
Determine if a temporary move to a friend or relative's house nearby who does have power is feasible until power is restored.
Herp Societies & Organizations
California Herps
http://www.californiaherps.com/
Digital Morphology
http://www.digimorph.org/
Harvard University Museum of Comparative Zoology
http://www.mcz.harvard.edu/Departments/Herpetology/
Herp Net
http://www.herpnet.org/
Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation
http://parcplace.org/
Society for the Study of Reptiles and Amphibians
https://ssarherps.org/
The Center for North American Herpetology
http://www.cnah.org/
The Reptile Database
http://www.reptile-database.org/
United States Association of Reptile Keepers
http://usark.org/
Humor
Adorable, funny, whimsy products:
http://www.cafepress.com/+bearded-dragon-humor+bumper-stickers
https://www.etsy.com/market/bearded_dragon_humor
https://www.lookhuman.com/design/77705-my-lizard-s-beard-is-better-than-yours/3480bc-white-lg?gclid=CjwKCAiAj53SBRBcEiwAT-3A2P3e7b-OVq4KnhypBXZxPgPLKsfyQ2TGAWarjI9d4fLGOLEhYKcaTBoCN_oQAvD_BwE
In the Classroom
I see many teachers putting dragons in their classrooms as a class pet. I have mixed feelings about this. I think its a great idea but the type of classroom has to be considered, as the priority needs to remain on the health and general well-being of the dragon.
For example, 30 screaming preschoolers isn't the place to make a dragon feel comfortable. Realistically, the dragon will be alone from 3 p.m. each day or whatever time the teacher leaves, until 8 'o clock the next morning. Lights can be on timers and feeding schedules can be arranged. Other things need to be considered. What happens if there's an unexpected snow day? Your classroom pet won't have access to food that day. Where are you going to put the dragon on vacations and breaks? Is someone at the school every day on holidays. days off, etc. to feed him or her?
I realize that some teachers have happy, healthy dragons in a classroom environment but honestly, the number of dragons that I see truly thriving in a classroom are minimal. If you bring the dragon home during break, the stress from the relocation and then back again can stress some dragons to the point of not wanting to eat for weeks on end. The pros and cons really have to be considered.
Am I saying its wrong to have them as classroom pets? Of course not. I'm saying that if you're considering a dragon as a classroom pet, to please make sure you research properly and plan ahead, for the sake of the dragon.