Puff is a pretty chill guy.

The bearded dragon loves super worms, salad and chilling with his foster family on the Saanich Peninsula.

B次元官网网址淗e likes to be up high, so heB次元官网网址檒l climb up on my shoulder or climb up on the back of the couch when weB次元官网网址檙e watching a show,B次元官网网址� said Elizabeth Sinclair Kruth. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檇 get on well I think in a family with responsible kids.B次元官网网址�

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 B次元官网网址渂eardiesB次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a really positive experience for our family,B次元官网网址� Sinclair Kruth said.

With the required tank, light and knowledge at hand, the family took Puff on.

B次元官网网址淭hings would not have gone well for him otherwise,B次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淪adly, quite a few reptiles that have come into our care are rushed to the emergency vet, but are too sick to rehabilitate, and weB次元官网网址檝e 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,B次元官网网址� she said.

Since Ivanyshyn started at the Victoria branch in April 2022, sheB次元官网网址檚 seen 13 adoptions of reptiles or similar exotic-scaled creatures. Most come through the Animal Protection Services department, where theyB次元官网网址檝e either been seized due to severe neglect, or abandoned.

B次元官网网址淎s a shelter, we tend to avoid taking in reptiles as surrenders because weB次元官网网址檙e not properly equipped to care for them long-term, and our team doesnB次元官网网址檛 always have the very specialized knowledge required to ensure they thrive. We often try to instead divert people to try other rehoming options,B次元官网网址� she said.

PuffB次元官网网址檚 vet visit resulted in a short regimen of high-dose calcium along with antibiotics and now heB次元官网网址檚 a B次元官网网址渉ealthy, happy and a nice little guy,B次元官网网址� Sinclair Kruth said.

Which means itB次元官网网址檚 time to face the next challenge B次元官网网址� finding him a forever home.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e very particular about matching them with adopters who can provide the specialized care they need to thrive,B次元官网网址� Ivanyshyn said. B次元官网网址淲e require potential adopters to complete a detailed reptile-specific application and provide a photo of the enclosure theyB次元官网网址檒l use.B次元官网网址�

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 hasnB次元官网网址檛 really said, heB次元官网网址檚 likely looking forward to both a new family and warmer weather.

B次元官网网址淭hey love sitting outside in the heat because theyB次元官网网址檙e from Australia originally,B次元官网网址� Sinclair Kruth explained.

Though, heB次元官网网址檒l miss out on the familyB次元官网网址檚 special outing gear B次元官网网址� 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.