Trogdor in his “sleepy spot”This past Monday morning, we said goodbye to Trogdor the Burninator, our sandfire bearded dragon who was Eric and my constant companion for almost eight years.
The Australian Outback in his blood (bearded dragons are from Australia), Trogdor was born on January 23, 2009, in Oregon. We picked him especially from the breeder’s website and experienced a shock when he arrived by mail in a cardboard box. He was so tiny!
Baby T on his first day in AlbuquerqueWe took care of him like he was a newborn. We had baby bearded dragon books, and we tracked all his daily activities in a log to make sure he stayed healthy.
Trogdor’s first cross-country journey was from Albuquerque to Seattle in 2010. His terrarium took up the entire back seat of Eric’s sedan. During our multi-day move from state to state, “Baby T” sunbathed on the dashboard or hung out on one of our shoulders.
Less than two years later, Trogdor was back in the car, moving with us to Austin. He wanted to know why we were moving in the wintertime. We reminded him that he had a life of relative ease, and that we would have him back under his UV lamps soon.
As we ramped up our search for an RV at the end of 2013, Trogdor was part of the decision-making process. By this time he had been with us for almost five years, and we couldn’t imagine leaving him behind. At the same time, his terrarium had a 35-inch by 18-inch footprint, which is kind of a big space in an RV.
We found an RV that worked for Trogdor. After removing a recliner, his terrarium fit perfectly between the kitchen and fold-out table behind the passenger seat. Eric worked across from him on the sofa every day, and the little guy was a constant part of our conversations and travel dreams. Eventually we introduced Rhythm Jasmine Highland, our rescue kitten. Trogdor wasn’t overly fond of her, acting like a cross between a T-Rex and a grumpy old man, but Rhythm was fascinated by him.
Trogdor just barely tolerating RhythmSlowly, Trogdor began to show his age. His eye sight deteriorated, which made eating more challenging. After we arrived back in Texas to get ready for Baby Nomad’s birth, there were other warning signs that all was not well. We hope Trogdor’s last days weren’t painful, but it’s hard to know when the little guy never complained about anything. He passed quietly on Monday, Nov. 8, around 10 a.m.
To our knowledge (and don’t ruin it by telling us otherwise), Trogdor was the most well-traveled bearded dragon in the world. He visited 24 of the 50 states. When he was happy, his sandfire colors were bright. When he was stressed, he could turn ink black. He loved to be held and petted, and he never bit or nipped. He was a testament to his species.
Trogdor running around MeriwetherWe miss him. His terrarium sits empty, and Rhythm wanders around it and asks where he is. At night, where his red night light always illuminated the living room, the area is now pitch dark. We thank Baby T for his love and companionship. We wonder whether he knew that Baby Nomad is due to arrive any day, and wanted to make room for our new arrival. We hope he’s at peace.
-B
Sorry for the loss of your dragon! My daughter had her horned toad in her pocket on laundry day … big Oops! At least there was little trauma.
We lost a pet this year too, and we empathize. Whether they’ve got fur, fins, feathers, or scales, they become part of our family, and we grieve their loss. Rest easy, Trogdor.
So very sorry to hear that Trogdor has said goodbye, so very glad to have met the bearded one though. Truely an lizard original, we really liked the background tale of the eight years you spent in his company. Our condolences go out to you, Eric and Rhythm.
Thank you so much, Paul. He lived a good life.
Oh my goodness! So sorry for your loss! We got our beardie when she was 2 and had her for 6 years. She was such a wonderful girl. I wasn’t for getting a dragon, but as she was so wonderful, she rode on my shoulder when I vacuumed. We even had a leash for her with our 4 dogs and 3 kids. LOL! She is buried in a place of honor in the back acreage with all the dogs and a name stone. She was a wonderful part of our family…we have so many stories!! They really take a piece of your heart with them!! My St. Francis welcome Trogdor over the bridge and say “Job well done!” and ease the pain of your family’s loss.
Thank you so much, Michelle. It sounds like you made a ton of special memories, too! Trogdor had a leash when he was younger, but he eventually found a way to do some pretty impressive writhing and work his way out of it.
LOL! Yes…she figured it out…so we found a gigantic hampster ball for her to keep her safe. She could then go outside!! The only problem with that was when she would eventually poo in it, and then run through it! LOL! We would then give her a bath…which was another story in itself! Oh my goodness! The memories now make me laugh and smile and I know Trogdor’s memories will do that for you!!
Such a touching story. So sorry to hear of your loss. I know he’ll be missed.
We also had a bearded dragon named Trogdor (for the same reason obviously), who we also lost this past month. He was a constant companion at mealtime, as his cage was in our dining room. We would have full conversations on his behalf, assigning him a personality all his own. Sorry to hear about this.
What a sad coincidence. :/ Trogdor also managed to speak in our home from time to time.
What a loss! Sorry to hear about your loss. How do you manage to get your pet cat back on the rv when its time to move to a different destination.
She’s an indoor cat, @ignatartemenko:disqus. We take her outside sometimes, but only when she’s on a leash.