I lost one of my (?) lizards and I'm so bummed. She was a foster halfway through her stay with me. Not through any formal agency but she had belonged to someone who needed her rehomed so I took her temporarily while a friend set up to take her on permanently.

I should have tested her harness indoors first but I trusted too soon. Boom. Bearded dragon lost into my super crotchety neighbor's yard. Lizard. Gone. Fuuuuck! I dive in the bushes between our yards, but she has BOOKED IT. I am then stung in the armpit by a yellow jacket, killing me instantly of course (I am not even allergic I'm fine).

The neighbor in question has a locked secondary sheer glass front door that covers his front door so you can't knock on the real door. Also, no doorbell, which I never even considered to be an option (that, among other things, is on me) and he is hard of hearing so knocking not on the door didn't even help. (I should have learned more signlanguage by now) also when I have tried to introduce myself (loudly as instructed by his sometimes-present kids) he looks at me like o.O and says nothing. No sign, no facial expression of recognition (granted I am autistic maybe I'm missing something). ALSO I have not been able to catch his eye to try to communicate in at least 2 years. His kids may come by some day soon and I may be able to talk to them. Meanwhile her tank is empty.

Am I an asshole neighbor? It sounds like it's possible. I do dogsit occasionally but he also has a yappy dog so I don't think that's the issue. I have now certainly unleashed a small dragon upon him so perhaps his unease with me is warranted. People are advising me to call the cops to get him to let me into his yard. People are also telling me that's too much. I wish we could just communicate.

I've talked to the neighbor another house down in the direction she headed who has promised to keep an eye out. I met her when she was day drinking in her front yard and she said my dog was cute but that our other neighors another house down are assholes. Their massive America 250 banners corroborate her story. She made us tamales once and I gave her a bouquet of flowers from my garden.

I've posted several places about my missing friend with a $100 reward offered, so if someone finds her they are motivated to give her back rather than keep her. I look for her several times a day in the warm places where she might bask and the cool places she might hide. Her tank sits there empty.

There are so many things I would do differently if I had the chance. Everyone has been really kind to me about this fuckup but she may die outside. Feral cats. Raccoons. I keep picturing unsavory things. I feel so stupid for taking her out in the first place but her new owner had also mentioned wanting to get her used to going outside. It felt like a risk when she told me that, but I thought her experience was greater than mine, so I thought I'd give it a try. First thought best thought sometimes. Tank. Empty.

She had just started having regular bowel movements after her diet of iceberg lettuce, grapes, blueberries, and other questionable veg and fruit was switched to more suitable salad mixes I made for her each week. She really likes carrots and butternut squash as treats, which are at least a step up from iceberg even if they are rich in carbs. I raised the feeder roaches she was eating (in appropriate amounts for an adult) and gutloaded them. It was almost new substrate day where she could move off paper towels since her waste and skin weren't showing signs of parasites. Now I've deep cleaned her tank and it sits empty.