PLEASE READ!
Do NOT use pressure treated lumber to build enclosures!
To whom it may concern,
My name is Renee` ****** and I do reptile rescue and rehabilitation. 2 days ago, I rescued an Iguana named Buddy. Buddy was unusual, he wasn't neglected or abused, but had a very loving home that took great care of him. That is unusual to see in my line of work.
After meeting Buddy, I took him out of his enclosure, a cage made of pressure treated wood, and held him for a bit while I talked to his mom. She hated to let Buddy go, but had to because her boyfriend was allergic to him, causing severe enough asthma attacks to warrant 3 hospital visits. This again, is unusual to see. In 3 years, I've never had one person call me because they were allergic to a reptile, the substrate used YES...but never to the reptile itself.
As we stood there chatting for a few minutes, I could smell the "freshness" of the wood from the cage. Buddy was still resting on my chest, his head laid down. Giving him little kisses to his nose, I have to admit, I was thinking "Finally! A tame iguana that loves to cuddle!"...that is the case...kind of...
I asked if Buddy was always so sweet, and I was told yes, but lately he'd been a bit on the lethargic side, even refusing food. Possibly due to fall setting in, the temperatures being cooler than our normal Las Vegas summer by far. He had a HUGE cage that was immaculate, fresh food and water and clean substrate. I ALWAYS look at those things, they just register in my head, I want to know the kind of care the reptile received and their diet before I get them.
While leaving, I could see the pain in Monique's eyes, this was her baby, one she herself had rescued at a yard sale, she'd seen him LEASHED outside and offered to buy him, the seller agreed to her price of thirty dollars after first asking for seventy-five dollars. Again, these people are good people, determined to provide the BEST they could for Buddy. Moniques boyfriend Dale built the enclosure himself, they provided the best food for Buddy and lots of attention.
Things weren't adding up for me, even on the drive home as I cuddled Buddy I was thinking, things nagging at me:
Dales breathing problems
Buddy wheezing a bit but not gaping or gasping
Being so lethargic, even tho his enclosure was nice and warm, fall or not, he had a good heat source
Refusing to eat
I got Buddy home and gave him a warm bath, as I do with all our new babies. Even in the tub, he just laid there looking at me, something wasn't right. After wrapping Buddy in a warm towel, we sat on the couch and cuddled, I was worried about him being TOO tame at that point, something was definitely wrong. Buddy and I ended up sleeping in the same bed that night, admittedly I fell asleep on the job, cuddling him and worrying about him. When I got up at 5:00 a.m. to give my dog his breakfast and insulin, Buddy hadn't moved. He was content to lay next to me and cuddle. I laid Him on a heating pad next to my bed and started my day. As the sun came up I was making salads for all the iguanas, time to get Buddy. His breathing was easier and he did eat a nibble or two for me, but other than that, just wanted to lay down.
I got ahold of Monique, asking her about a few things. My first question was "did Dale start having the asthma attacks AFTER the cage was made?" yes. That was when it all started, but it didn't explain Buddy suddenly becoming so lethargic after having spent a few months in the cage already...or did it. Somewhere inside, a light clicked on in my head and I blurted out "it has been warm until recently, did you keep a window open near Buddys cage during the summer?" YES! The window had been kept open to give him some fresh air! Only recently, it had become too cold to keep it open. BINGO! No ventilation in the bedroom / office. The fumes from the wood became toxic to Buddy AND to Dale.
I watched Buddy all night last night, I watched him interact and play with the other iguanas, I watched him eat and wander around his new surroundings curiously, alert to any sound or movement, a totally different iguana than I had gone and picked up, still tame, but no where near lethargic. Again, I told Monique my theory and let her know, that if it IS the cage and not Buddy, they were more than welcome to take him back home. These people are not animal abusers, in fact she had rescued Buddy herself! She loves Buddy and tried to provide the very best for him! Unknowingly slowly poisoning Dale and Buddy and probably herself as well.
My question and concern is this: Why wasnt the general public told about arsenic being used to treat lumber? Yes, I said ARSENIC. Dale and Buddy both were showing signs of arsenic poisoning. You don't like reptiles? Ok...a lot of people don't, but do you have children? PLAYGROUNDS are made with the same pressure treated lumber that Dale used to build this beautiful cage. Feel like letting YOUR child run around barefoot on it? Let me warn you, I've done hours of research already on this, and many hours to come I'm sure, I've read of toxic fumes being released from this wood, people having AMPUTATIONS from a simple splinter, and ground water and vegetables contaminated by arsenic when the wood is used as a simple border around a garden! This is an outrage, and honestly, I hope I've outraged enough of you that something will be done about it.
December 2003 there will be a "phasing out" of the old pressure treated lumber, although it will still be sold, for homeowners to use. WHY? Ok ok...I'll stop ranting now, my point in all of this was initially to provide information on why NOT to use pressure treated wood to build enclosures for reptiles or birds, they have SUPER sensitive respiratory systems, now its just a plea to stop using, buying and selling this wood altogether. There has to be a safer cheaper way...for cages? That's easy, its called PVC!
If you, or anyone you know has a similar story about an animal or a reptile, please let me know. If You or anyone You know has had problems with pressure treated wood themselves, please let the EPA know, this really needs to stop, we're being poisoned slowly, and we don't even know it.
