Starved snake

[OdeToDiazepam]

For the second time my Dsis has neglected an animal to death and I only found out yesterday.

She's recently 18 and did have a snake that used to be my brothers til she took over it's care. I'd noticed she hadn't been feeding it much from lack of seeing defrosting mice, but I never go in her room where it was and have quite a hectic life, I did ask her way back September time are you feeding the snake is it still alive and she'd said yes of course

Yesterday my DB tells me that a few weeks ago he'd gone in there to see it and the smell was horrific, it had been dead for obviously quite a while and there were about 3 rotting mice where she'd put them in, feeding a dead snake?!!!

She has form for this when years and years ago she neglected a Guinea pig, sadly to it's death too. At that time I didn't visit the house much but I did notice and was having to clean it out and kept telling her to look after it but she didn't.

I've told her today that her actions are disgusting and illegal and she's never to own an animal again, if she does I'll report her. I honestly think it's an extreme case of laziness and irresponsibility

She's not a carer no she's extremely lazy, we have a dog and she won't think to give it any food if she's at home alone because shes too wrapped up in staying in her room or on her phone

Her room is full of rubbish and dirty clothes and cups hence why no one goes in there

Sounds like an absolute waster

She wanted the snake and she has arms and legs and is more than capable of looki n after an animal she's just too lazy

At 16 I had a hamster that refused, outright, to eat. We got it home from p@h (I have adopted for years since and now know how terrible they are with breeding) and it just wouldn't eat. We tried at least 8 different hamster foods, baby food, meat, veg and went to the vets 8 times I think in 3 days. Sadly it was put down to anxiety and we gave the hamster to the vets, but he shortly passed away after.

At 16, I knew that poor hamster was starving and desperate to help him. Your sister is insane, at 18 she definitely knows better.

She was about 12, when I was that age I was looking after a horse and rabbits by myself responsibly

Yeah so was I. She very clearly has something wrong with her. It isn’t normal not to feed pets. How are you not seeing that there is a hell of a Lot more to this than her just being lazy?

I don't go in her room she'd kick off massively and I didn't expect her to lie to me?!!!

She was hiding it from all of us if my brother hadn't gone in there it would still be there now!

Op as previous poster said, you need to take some responsibility as you said you knew she was neglecting the animal but essentially did nothing about it. Personally I couldn’t live with myself knowing an animal was suffering and I was sitting back taking no action. I hope your sister never has kids.

Omg, that's awful and so cruel.
Whilst it wasn't your pet, why didn't you feed it?

When I confronted her about it she told me to shut the fuck up and walked away

Her room is full of rubbish and dirty clothes and cups hence why no one goes in there

No. Not good enough. You knew there was an animal not being fed in there. You sound lazy too.

She knew it was dead and she has no learning difficulties at all just lazy. She was putting mice in for pretence

Apparently she told my brother she was in denial I honestly think she just couldn't be bothered to deal with it!

I'm inclined to agree with @Nojeansplease it would seem likely there was some kind of additional support needs here.
This is really isn't typical 18 year old behavior.
Either mental health issues or learning disabilities would seem a possibility.
Leaving rotting animals in your room just isn't standard behavior and it doesn't sound like she has had much support from her parents.

I assumed an 18 yr old was looking after the snake! Not exactly high maintenance and when I asked her about feeding it she then started getting mice out again

and I didn't expect her to lie to me?!!!

You knew she was. You said she made a show of defrosting mice. You knew she’d already lets guinea pig die. You already suspected she wasn’t feeding it- that’s why you asked. So what if she kicks off? There was an animal dying in her room. All you had to do was go in and check it.

I've sent an enquiry to the rspca about it

That was quick.

She was putting mice in for pretence

Pretence for who? No-one goes in her room.

I can't imagine anyone doing that to a pet. I have had severe depression and a cat and there was no way he was going to go without food, water and litter changing. I wouldn't be able to live with myself

The more time I spend on Mumsnet...the less I like humans

I'm anything but lazy. I'm the total opposite of her, I'm a single mum of two who works full time and does a degree alongside running, riding and taking care (!!) of my two much loved guinea pigs

No learning disability whatsoever and only social anxiety

and when I asked her about feeding it she then started getting mice out again

So you knew she hadn’t been getting mice out! That’s enough to tell you it wasn’t being fed!

No, I know NOW that it was a show, at the time I didn't expect her to be lying about it