I just received confirmation that Albie has already been sold and so will soon be going to his new home. I have read some of the recent comments stating various views about the winners decision to sell Albie and at the risk of repeating myself I have copied what I posted on a previous thread .......
Hi folks, Simon from Southern Cross Reptiles here. Jan send me a link to this thread which I just read. I'd like to make a few comments....
The idea of the competition was to collect the first serious data on our hobby and then to pubish it for all to see. Offering Albie was our way of providing an incentive to collect the data. My only hope was that whoever won would receive considerable benefit from the prize (i.e not someone like me who already has a zillion snakes). We get a kick out of giving the odd snake away to help people into the hobby - its the way it used to be until all this money was at stake.
Stuart is new to the hobby. He is facinated by reptiles and wants to get more, but funds have been limiting. He and his wife were incredibly excited when I spoke to them and confirmed that he had won. It felt great to give someone so much pleasure.
Stuart did not decide to sell Albie straight away. He thought long and hard about whether he should keep him or whether he should use the money to buy other animals to grow his experinece and the involvemnet of his family. He finally decided that the only practical solution was to turn Albie into cash and pursue some of his dreams - like owning a breeding pair of BHPs or maybe even womas. I am delighted to help Stuart with this.
I offered to hang onto Albie here until he selected a buyer and a price he was happy with. I have told him that I don't expect him to buy anything from Southern Cross Reptiles and to please just buy what he wants. I have declined to have anything to do with the sale process as the snake is his and I believe it inappropriate for me to influence or participate in the sale of an animal we are giving away. I have offered to hold Albie until a buyer is found and to then freight Albie at our cost to where ever. It made no sense to me to put Albie through the stress of flying around the countryside twice, or for Stuart to have to contend with the 6 months rule. Also, we have a lot of experience in air-freighting animals and I want to see Albie safely to his final home.
I think Stuart is one very lucky son-of-a-gun and I hope this helps him get a leg up to become an even bigger addict like most of us!!
Hi folks, Simon from Southern Cross Reptiles here. Jan send me a link to this thread which I just read. I'd like to make a few comments....
The idea of the competition was to collect the first serious data on our hobby and then to pubish it for all to see. Offering Albie was our way of providing an incentive to collect the data. My only hope was that whoever won would receive considerable benefit from the prize (i.e not someone like me who already has a zillion snakes). We get a kick out of giving the odd snake away to help people into the hobby - its the way it used to be until all this money was at stake.
Stuart is new to the hobby. He is facinated by reptiles and wants to get more, but funds have been limiting. He and his wife were incredibly excited when I spoke to them and confirmed that he had won. It felt great to give someone so much pleasure.
Stuart did not decide to sell Albie straight away. He thought long and hard about whether he should keep him or whether he should use the money to buy other animals to grow his experinece and the involvemnet of his family. He finally decided that the only practical solution was to turn Albie into cash and pursue some of his dreams - like owning a breeding pair of BHPs or maybe even womas. I am delighted to help Stuart with this.
I offered to hang onto Albie here until he selected a buyer and a price he was happy with. I have told him that I don't expect him to buy anything from Southern Cross Reptiles and to please just buy what he wants. I have declined to have anything to do with the sale process as the snake is his and I believe it inappropriate for me to influence or participate in the sale of an animal we are giving away. I have offered to hold Albie until a buyer is found and to then freight Albie at our cost to where ever. It made no sense to me to put Albie through the stress of flying around the countryside twice, or for Stuart to have to contend with the 6 months rule. Also, we have a lot of experience in air-freighting animals and I want to see Albie safely to his final home.
I think Stuart is one very lucky son-of-a-gun and I hope this helps him get a leg up to become an even bigger addict like most of us!!
