Client stories

Snake (yes, that's his name!), an albino carpet python, came to Lort Smith at two years old. He had a unilateral bullous spectaculopathy: a build-up of clear fluid between the cornea and the spectacle seal, which causes mild swelling, inflammation and a bulging of the eye area.

Thankfully, Lort Smith has Dr Tristan, an Unusual Pets and Wildlife Veterinarian, on staff, who was able to help poor Snake.

At first, Dr Tristan anaesthetised Snake and flushed out the cavity. But three weeks after surgery, the fluid had built up again, showing that Snake had a fistula, an abnormal connection between his eye and mouth. Essentially, Snake's tear duct was blocked.

A new tear duct

Dr Tristan decided the next step was to perform a conjunctivoralostomy. Simply put, a new tear duct was created by passing a hypodermic needle through the corner of Snake's eye, emerging into his mouth. A stent was then threaded through this passage and stitched to Snake's scales to hold it in place.

Six weeks after surgery, Snake came back to have the stent removed and his medication stopped. We're delighted to report that Snake made a full recovery, and his eye looks perfectly normal.

"I absolutely adore Snake. He is like a shining jewel in my every day," says Sharon, his carer.

Snake has a distinctive and endearing personality. He lives in a palatial enclosure, enjoys time out each evening for some exercise, and loves nothing more than a bit of TV and couch time with his wonderfully committed carers.

Dr Tristan went on to present this case at the Australian Veterinary Association Annual Unusual Pets and Avian Veterinarians Conference, and won the "Toady Award" for Most Entertaining and Informative Presentation.

Find out about care for unusual and exotic pets

Charlie was much loved. But when his carer became unwell and could no longer look after him, this purebred ragdoll came to Lort Smith's Adoption Centre.

His breeding days were behind him, and he was ready for a quieter life as someone's companion, with his striking blue eyes as his calling card.

His new family are smitten. And they're adamant that it was Charlie who chose them, not the other way around.

Many of the animals in our care come to us because their families' circumstances have changed. We give each of them the time and care they need to find the right new home.

When this tiny bunny was surrendered to Lort Smith, he weighed just 200 grams, and his thigh bone was broken.

Our vets repaired the fracture with a pin. Then he went into foster care to heal, somewhere quiet where he could grow and get stronger.

It didn't take long for his foster carers to fall in love. They joined what we fondly call the Foster Fail Club, and adopted him.

And his name? His new family couldn't agree, so they gave him both: Cyril Shoelace.

It's one of the most common myths about adoption: that shelters only have older dogs, and never puppies or popular breeds.

Alfie busts that myth. This French bulldog cross pug was just 12 weeks old when he was adopted from Lort Smith.

Today, Alfie's big ears and sideways smile light up his home, which he shares with another Lort Smith alumnus, a black cat called Henri.

Puppies and kittens, purebreds and crossbreeds, young and old: animals of all kinds come through our Adoption Centre looking for new families. New animals are added to our website every day.

Millie was heavily pregnant when her owner, who was experiencing homelessness, surrendered her to Lort Smith. Soon after, she gave birth to three healthy kittens.

Once her babies were weaned, Millie was adopted by a loving family.

A month later, that family came back to the Adoption Centre, looking for a second cat. By chance, one of Millie's kittens, her son Pepsi, was ready for adoption.

They took him home, and mother and son were reunited.