Our Ambassadors 

Otis’ the 5 FT Black-throated monitor  – A Second Chance

​

The day Otis arrived is one we will never forget.

He was shipped overnight from Ohio to the FedEx hub in New Bern, NC. We opened the box right there at the hub, excited and hopeful — but our hearts sank the moment we saw him. Instead of the strong, healthy Black Throated Monitor we were expecting, we were looking at a fragile, severely underweight animal. His body told a story the photos never did.

He had been misrepresented. The breeder offered to take him back, but there was no way we were putting him through another stressful shipment. In that moment, we made a decision — Otis wasn’t going anywhere. He was home.

The very next morning, we took him to our veterinarian PetDocks in Morehead City, NC. The team there was incredible — compassionate, determined, and ready to fight for him. After testing, we learned he had parasites. We ran full bloodwork and immediately began treatment.

Otis weighed just 8.3 pounds — dangerously underweight for a 5-foot Black Throated Monitor.

It was heartbreaking.

But Otis had fight in him.

We committed to every vet visit, every weight check, every feeding, every step of the recovery process. Slowly, he began to change. His eyes became brighter. His movements stronger. His personality started to shine through.

Today, Otis weighs 11 pounds. He is still growing and still gaining, but the transformation has been incredible. He is active, alert, and full of curiosity. He enjoys a varied diet of quail, fish, rats, insects, chicken, and small rabbits — and he eats with confidence now.

He’s even harness trained and loves going out around town when the weather is nice. Watching him explore the world is a reminder of how far he’s come.

Otis didn’t just survive — he’s thriving.

He’s more than a reptile to us. He’s a reminder of why we do what we do. Every animal deserves honesty, proper care, and a real chance at a healthy life.

And we’re so grateful we could be that chance for him.

— Keeping It Scaly 🦎