So you want to be a Reptile Rescue??

[Herpkingdom]

This is a post I originally posted on Reptile Haven and thought it should be posted on other Reptile information sites as well so here it is.....


OK folks, I'm going to rant a little here........so if it gets long please bear with me and I do apologize but I feel it needs to be addressed :)


Many of us here at Reptile Haven rescue herps in addition to keeping our own collections. I, myself, just this month finally got established and ready to accept rescues. We do this to help any and all reptiles, as well as any other animals we can. We do it out of the goodness of our hearts and our love of the hobby. We do not want to see any reptile put to sleep due to the shelters and animal control agencies inability to care for exotic animals. In my area, dogs and cats are kept in the shelters longer than a many reptiles, especially the larger ones like Burmese Pythons and Iguanas. If a home isn't found within 7 days, they are put down. We have a little network set up to find good homes for many of the rescues we bring in. Many of which end up being adopted to people we know personally due to our knowing they have the experience to give the animal a good home. I just adopted 4 boas in the last week. The people I adopted them from know that I have the experience and knowledge to give them a good home for as long as they are alive.

Now onto my rant.......
I am seeing time and time again people, mainly children of 12 to 16 years old as well as other older individuals, posting on various sites that they are a rescue and will accept any reptile regardless of size and species. My problem with these "rescues" is that the people who post saying they are a rescue, are not a rescue and are not out to help the animal in question. As another member of Reptile Haven stated they are not rescues, they should just post "please give me free animals". You have to wonder where a person of this age is going to get the monies needed for a routine visit to the veterinarian that every rescue needs whether they are outwardly sickly of not. I know it cost me anywhere from $40 to $150 a visit depending on what test I have done, and can run as high as $400 for a single visit. And how many of the parents of these children are going to want to drive the animal to the vet? And pay for the final bill? Come to think of it, how many are actually going to allow a 13-year-old child to rescue a 10' Burmese Python?

Now let's get into the required supplies for a "rescue". Like cages with the proper heating, lighting, UV, etc. I know I had to wait until I was able to accumulate enough specialized bulbs and CHEs for all of the cages, before I would even consider accepting rescues. These items are expensive to say the least. And it's not like many people can afford to out and buy 15 CHEs and 10 special UV bulbs all at once. What about food?? In order to feed all of the different animals that come into rescues, you must have many different varieties of foods on hand or available at a moments notice. For snakes you need rodents, preferably frozen ones. For most small lizards, you need crickets. And iguanas, monitors, and other reptile eat a totally different variety in their diets. I can go on and on about the specialized caging and other supplies needed for each species.

Just because someone has a few extra empty cages, doesn't mean they are a rescue. It means they have a few empty cages. It takes a lot more than a few empty cages to rescue any animal, let alone reptiles. There is a difference between adoption and rescue. Rescue means most of the animals you get are in great need of rehab and/or medical care, and if someone claims to be into rescue, they had better have experience in rehab skills and access to vet care and a lot of cash flow.


I guess I have been ranting here and trying to avoid just stating the obvious. The only thing these individuals want is a free animal! There, I said it! My advice to these people is to buy your animals and stop looking for freebies. The only thing you are doing is depriving a reptile of a good home where they can get the care and attention that they require to thrive and live a long healthy life. I have 5 sons and I wouldn't even consider letting any of them owning an animal. I own all of the animals. I let them help to care for them and they learn about whatever is here at any given time, but I have found most children of early teenage years to not be able or ready to care for the types of rescues that come in. I dread seeing one of these rescues getting a Burmese Python in with a RI or an Iguana with MBD. These illnesses can rack up a hefty vet bill in a very short time and I don't see these "rescues' taking the time or investing the money into the reptile. I see them letting the animal suffer until it dies. And it really saddens me to say that, but it seems to be the truth of the matter. A few members can attest to rescuing animals from someone who stated they were a rescue, and had to take to animals from them and rehab them back to health, losing a few along the way, because the person who had them didn't have a clue as to how to rehab a sick animals and didn't have the monies needed for vet care.

Please, to all of those individuals who say they are a rescue really just want a free animal, fill out an application at a legitimate rescue's site and pay the adoption fee. All you are doing is causing more pain and suffering on animals that could have been place in proper rescues and get the care they need to regain their health. There is nothing wrong with holding out for a free pet or at least a nominal adoption fee, as long as you pass the application screening that all rescues have for potential adopters.


To all those who are looking for rescues to take their animals, sick or healthy, please do a little research into any rescue. There are many of these popup rescues that just want free animals and do not have the ability or experience needed for many of the animals that end up in rescues. Many of the reptile information sites on the Internet have pages that list rescues from all over the United States, Canada, and a few other countries, so finding one that is close to you shouldn't be too hard.

[HeatherRose]

*applause*....that's a great post, you made some excellent points....

I think many people get way ahead of themselves when they get the idea in their heads to 'start a rescue'....and while their heart is somewhat in the right place, their head isn't.

It certainly takes a lot of hard work, dedication and money to start and keep a rescue running, and it's great that you brought some of these important aspects to light :D

[Tara Garratt]

Well said.

Tara Garratt

[eyespy]

VERY well said!! I don't even publicize my rescue much and take in very few animals and it's still a huge challenge. Imagine all the youngsters thinking they can take in a half-dozen or so animals that need extensive rehab or even just longterm housing.

[Gorelith]

Good to see someone looking at it from the reptile's perscpective for once. I think we've all seen it before too, and the worst part is, it's the animals that suffer the most. Very well spoken, brilliant.

[Darlene]

Wonderful post. I help out aquatic turtles only. They keep me very busy, financially, too. Many kids have wanted my turtles but have changed their minds at the idea of an "adoption fee" , often without even asking how much it was. This is a very expensive year for me with the flooding down here pretty much ruining my ponds. Now I have to rebuild them so this goes to show that you never know what you are in for.

[Pixie]

Excellent post :thumbsup:

Keeping a healthy pet or pets can be costly on it's own, I can just imagine how much more it can be to rehabilitate rescued animals.

Congrats for your work and I hope this message gets through to some.

Pixie

[eyespy]

Originally posted by Darlene
Many kids have wanted my turtles but have changed their minds at the idea of an "adoption fee" , often without even asking how much it was.

Isn't that marvelous, actually? It's a very useful screening tool to weed out folks too cheap to provide the proper habitat and vet care when necessary.

[Samba]

Herpkingdom, I agree with you entirely; However, I must state that I have founded and run a reptile rescue myself.

I started Samba's Reptile Rescue in 1997 and I must say I did it for the animals. Not free ones, but because I felt sorry for the creatures being sold in pet shops to people who have no idea what they are getting into. It actually began as an accident because I was the 'lizard lady' and when people didn't want their reptiles anymore they gave them to me. In time, however, I have realized just what being a non profit org. requires and it is not easy by far.

Most of the animals I do receive are ill, or have some sort of problems. Rarely do I receive a perfect little animal that just needs a home. There are reasons people get 'rid' of their pets. And, to top it off, most have been sick for quite some time. Lots of them don't make it, without regards to the $$$$$$ I spend on them. I am lucky in this sense, because I work very closely with a herp vet who often gives me vast discounts for the quantity of sick animals I bring in. Anyone who thinks a 'rescue' is a good idea to get free animals cannot have a clue about the expense, both financially and emotionally, they will go through. Then you have the fact that many animals are EXTREMELY difficult to place. Too large, aggressive, ill, whatever. Some of the animals I've chosen to keep have become educational animals and 'earn their keep' so to speak. I have long thought what you have written, and with gusto I might add! Thank you for your candid and frank essay! I'd add more here, but I'm on my way to school!

P.S. I am 23 yrs. old... so by school I mean college, where I want to get my Ph.D. in Biotechnology!

[Alicewave]

Good thread. I can say I have rescued herps but I do not consider myself a reptile rescue. If I feel I can handle a herp for it's entire life (i don't even think about placing them because I might never be able to) then I will take it in. So far this has been small (3 leopard geckos) and I intend to keep it that way. Rescue is in no way a means of free reptiles. Even if you don't pay a dime for the animal it is never free. All of the herps I have taken in were given to me with the enclosures and all of the enclosures had problems. I have pretty much completely overhauled each one. Yes they were malnourished and I had to nurse them back to health but I consider them my pets now. I rescued them not because they were free but because I wanted to help them. There are lots of ways to "rescue" herps without setting up a non-profit org and get in over your head. One is to volunteer at an already established shelter or nature center to help get people educated. Another is to get a job at a pet shop that needs work and ensure the herps get the proper care they need. Donate money to and organization. They can always use it for feeders, housing, etc. The more money they have to work with the more herps can be rescued and every little bit helps. One thing I have done, with Aurora who was my teeniest rescue...she was owned by a friend's sister and she didn't have money for feeders or she wouldn't go buy them. Either way she wasn't feeding them so I donated some mealworms to her so she had no excuses. It helped for a while but I ended up having to adopt Aurora 6 months later as she was still no bigger than a hatchling. :(

This girl had three Leos and gave them all to me because she finally admitted she couldn't handle them or wasn't interested. I think the point I am trying to get accross here is whether it's taking in rescues or adding to your own collection (often a fine line) be really honest with yourself as to what you can handle. It does no good for the herps if you have too many and can't give each of them the special attention they deserve.

[The_Snake_King]

I have been watching this thread closely and cannot believe the lack of response. I expected the numerous types "rescues" mentioned, would be posting and trying to explain themselves. But alas, the truth prevails it looks like. I mean how can they justify calling themselves a rescue, right?

I know this topic touches many members of this site as well as many other sites. What I am wondering is why only a few have voiced their opinions? Everyone in thsi hobby of ours has an opinion on everything the effects the hobby and the animals we care for so much. THe lack of response from the hobbyists will, in my opinion, just show these so called "rescues" that people care that they are just basically asking for free animals with no experience or resources that will be needed for a true rescue.

So if you have an opinion, post it. That is what this forum is for. THis is not a topic to be taken lightly. What happened when one of these resues is near you and they get in several sickly animals that thye have no idea what to do with? Are you just going to sit by and wathc them die off? NO! You are going to go and either take the animals or help in any way you can. If we inform the people doing this that it is something we will not accept, then the animals in need of a true rescue will be placed where they can get the rehab they need instead of with someone looking for a free pet where it will most likely die from whatever ailment it had before it was so called rescued.

This is just my $2's worth.

I say $2's and not 0.02 worth as this situation affects me directly.

[Alicewave]

Don't get upset if someone doesn't reply to a thread that is important to you. You made your point. Probably the people you were hoping to hear from don't want to get themselves involved in a big argument or flame war. You said what you wanted to say and that's all you can do. :/

[The_Snake_King]

How quickly you assume that I am upset.

I'm not upset, just concerned. I don't want a big flame war either. I was hoping to see some more opinions posted to a thread that someone obviously put a lot of thought into.

I see more replies to posts like "HELP! My snake got bit by its food!", then this one that is just as important to the hobby as a whole.

And I cannot believe anyone is afriad of if they post it will cause a flame. I do not believe this thread was meant to start a flame, it was started to have people post their opinions about a topic that effects this hobby.

But I am starting to rant again.....

So the way I see it is, the more people that post their opinions, the more these "rescues" can see that what they are doing is wrong and only harming the reptiles they want for free.

[marisa]

I liked your post.

I didnt reply because it was a stand alone post IMHO. You expressed views that are true, good common sense, and important to those thinking of doing this.

I think the reason you have a lack of response of is because on this particular site there are mostly responsible people who agree with you, and already only house what they are able to, or only keep private "collections" not rescues. That's a good thing.

Marisa

[Alicewave]

Sorry I didn't mean to assume anything but based on what you wrote it seems that way. All I meant was you said what you had to say and that's it. I agree with Marisa completely. You pretty much said it all. There isn't much room for arguement and she is right, most people here would agree with you. The people who don't probably don't want to get flamed so they chose not to post. Not much you can do, it's a forum...

[CyberGhost]

You know what would help in bundles if there was like a chain of reptile or exotic animal shelters like the humansociety. That all worked together to help eash other and place animals wouldt that be great and you would get alot of money because you could have telethons and stuff to raise it. Like all the people or most with their own shelters came together to make one giant chain to help all the animals. I bett big chains like Petsmart and Wal-MArt would even help out and donate stuff it would be wonderful and think of all the animals it would save wouldt that be great?

[eyespy]

In my experience the little mom-and-pop petstores are far more likely to donate than the big chains. The chains have certain charities that they already support and pretty much blow off new requests.

Many US-based reptile rescues use Petfinder.com as their link to each other in helping to place animals. I don't personally use the service because most of the animals I take are short-term rehabs that will be going back to their owners after their post-operative care is done but I do help folks who need to rehome animals get set up with Petfinder.

[marisa]

Petfinder.org is a really super service for finding dogs and cats especially. Most of Ontarios shelters (dog and cat) and Humane Societies use petfinder.org as well. And sometimes they get reptiles in.

petfinder.org is really a good service.

Marisa

[CyberGhost]

STill it would would be totally amazing if what i said happened there would be far less dead and dying herps out there.

[Xetox]

well said....I totaly agree.

I love to take in unwanted animals......but I would just prefer to have to buy them from a breeder than have to rescue them from a unwanted enviroment!

Well let me rephrase that! I would rather HAVE to buy them from a breeder than rescue them from unwanted homes!

[Herpkingdom]

Well I find Petfinder.org to be not a good place for reptiles as many of the rescues/shelters that use this try to get retial prices for the reptiles they have. An example is one of them wanting a $100 adoption fee for a Boa or a $75 fee for a ball python. It is by far a great place for cats and dogs, but the fees are much lower than for the reptiles.

I started a so called "League" of rescues that all work together and currently work with several up and down the east coast. This is nothing official, just a few friends that do rescues from their homes that work together to rehab and adopt out to good homes any reptiles that come our way. I was in the progress of working together with my local shelters and animal control agencies to take all of the reptiles that they get calls on, but as of today this is going to be on hold for at least a year. I have a once in a life time job opportunity that I am going to be taking that is going to have me out of the US for a year.

The Reptile Rescue League can be seen at
http://www.herpkingdom.com/TRRL/TRRL.html
As a rescue is rehabbed back to health, it is posted for adoption on everyone's site in the league thus giving more exposure to the adoption.

As far as getting large pet chains to donate to a small rescue, good luck! THey do only big pet charities that deal with mainly dogs and cats, not the reptiles and amphibians. I was getting set up to do fund raising events by selling magazine subscriptions and such. This wouldn't fund a lot, but every little bit will help.

[scorpman]

HEY EVERYONE THIS IS A GREAT POST AND I TOTALY AGREE WITH ALL THE VIEWS AS FAR AS A RESCUE LIKE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE HAVE HERE ON THIS SITE AND FROM WHAT PARTS OF THE CONTRY DO WE ALL COME FROM? ANYBODY HERE NOT WANT TO JOIN ? I FOR ONE WOULD BE WILLING TO JOIN .NEXT QUESTION FUNDING MEMBERSHIP FEES , FUND RAISERS ? YES WHY NOT . HOW MANY REPTILE SHOWS ARE THERE WHERE WE COULD FIND SUPPORTERS. I HERD OF THIS SITE FROM THE REPTILE MAGAZINE I AM SURE THEY MIGHT BE WILLING TO HELP WITH FUNDING AN AD TO GET FUNDS IF YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO ANYTHING COULD BE DONE.JUST SOME IDEAS

[eyespy]

Most of the rescues spend far, far more than retail cost rehabbing the animals so it would be very difficult for them to ask lower adoption fees. Many would go bankrupt.

[Alicewave]

I agree. Generally people who are willing to adopt rescue herps are willing to spend the extra money on vet bills so a higher adoption fee is fine with me. I'd rather see the rescues charging this and actually provide excellent care for the herps than a pet store that lets them starve to death.

[lanalizard]

i agree with what is said. We are a small rescue just for iguanas. We have been so for 2 years, making it public this year. I have heard so many people say they are a rescue, but they dont have money for vet bills, nor do they have enclosures to put the animals in. In our rescue, we do in fact have spots for the iguanas, however are only limited to a certain amount. Reptile Rescue takes on iguanas on their end, we take on our rescue on our end and we have 4 people in our rescue with 2 different homes.

I recently learned of a 12 yr old child telling us she was a rescue for sick/injured/homeless reptiles. HOW ON EARTH, can a child be a rescue, she also stated her mother doesnt agree with it. That is not right, she cant have her own little rescue at 12!

sorry about my ranting rage

[CyberGhost]

Herpkingdom, you are a genuis and if you don't mind I think that we should all support you. You should open your rescue to people in other places, to branch out. Jeff if your here, I think you should get the site to support his shelter. Let him put banners or something up. I believe if you wanted your idea could grow into exactly what I described in my post. I hope you continue to let your league grow. Maybe one day I will be able to help you out , but now there is no-way I would possibly be able to shelter any herps. But your idea is briliant and I hold you in the highest reguard, it is people like you that keep the world humane. I also appreciate any other rescues. If anybody reperesenting any of them read this I encourage you to contact herpkingdom and request to join his leugue, and herpkingdom if you want, you should contact shelters and ask them to join your leugue.

Just a Thought

[eyespy]

I always ask a higher-than-market value if I'm putting an available for adoption notice out in the public's eye. It's a useful tool for screening qualified candidates for adopting the animal. Those who are too cheap to pay the fee will most likely be too cheap to take the animal to the vet or provide the best habitat.

I will sometimes lower or waive the fee if I know it's an animal that needs ongoing care and I have confidence that the adoptive owner will be providing that care with the help of a qualified reptile vet. Folks just have to prove they are capable of providing a good level of care. If an applicant has an available enclosure, good husbandry knowledge and uses a great vet but is low on funds to pay both my adoption fee and the vet bills I'm willing to cut them a break.

Fortunately most of my work is rehabbing post-operative animals who go back to their owners once they don't need stuff like stomach tubes or IVs anymore so I don't have to deal with that too very often. I really agonize over placing my animals in new homes. If I had to rehome all my charges I'd have bleeding ulcers and big bald patches where I've pulled out my hair.

[BWSmith]

if there was like a chain of reptile or exotic animal shelters like the humansociety.

I know you said "LIKE" the Humane Society, I would just liek to throw out a reminder that the HSUS is one of EVERY herpers 3 greatest enemies. If you like keeping herps, do not support them and fight themevery chance you get.

Your militant American Hot Herper
B W Smith

[CyberGhost]

Why do we hate them? What is the other two and why do we hate them?

[Herpkingdom]

I can agree with some high adoption fees. I even saw someone post a fee of $300 for a Burm adoption. It was a bogus fee and was never going to be charged, but it sure did weed out all of the inexperienced applicants and also stopped about 50 emails a day from showing up.

But from my experience with petfinder.org, the adoption fees charged for the herps listed there are not designed to do that, they know that the herps will be adopted faster than the dogs and cats so they want to get as much out of the herps as they can. Again I can see the logic behind this, I may not agree with it, but I understand it.


As for The Reptile Rescue league, well I am off to go overseas for a year. The recue will not be ion operation at my location, but another member will handle any applications and surrenders that come in. When I return, I plan on going full force in getting as many small rescues together to form some form of network. If we work together, we can get these herps in good homes. But for now, it is going to have to wait for 1 year. During this time, I will put together a plan to do as I stated, so all I have to do is implement it upon my return and see how many would like to ban together.

Thanks Folks

[BWSmith]

FYI:
HERPER ENEMIES!!! Humane Society (HSUS), Animal Protection Institute (API), and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

All the names sound noble enough, but make no mistake, they are ALL out to destroy our priviledge to keep reptiles in captivity. Each year the HSUS puts a bill to congress asking for the COMPLETE BAN on ANY reptile in private hands!

Off Topic, but oh well. :)

[scorpman]

BW SMITH GOOD POINT I USE TO WORK AT THE LOCAL HSUS AND THE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE THEY ARE GREAT FOR DOGS AND CATS BUT THEY DONT KNOW ABOUT HERPS.
LIKE I SAID IN MY EARLIER POST I WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP AND JOIN A RESCUE FOR HERPS AND INVERTS. SO LET US KNOW WHEN YOU ARE READY TO START IT UP

HAVE A SAFE TRIP :)

[marisa]

I feel so many ways about it.

For me, I keep reptiles because I feel we are LUCKY to be able to do so. I feel we are lucky as humans that these species will conform to living in a cage as well as they have. I do it for the reptiles. Not the prestige. (which there is none lol)

So with that in mind, should any TRUE lover of reptiles have a problem with them being kept in the wild only? If it meant another reptile would never ever be left in a cold cage, starved or harmed in any way I would most certainly give up all my reptiles! I can see where they are coming from is what I am saying. I don't think anyone on this website can claim they have done as much for animals on a whole as the Humane Society. Even if they do put dogs and cats down, no one else does their job on their scale, and no one has offered too. They are all we have for strays, and unwanted cats and dogs. I can understand their frustration after years of caring for over bred pets.

At the same time I don't like anything goervment, and I love keeping reptiles. I believe if they were illegal our problems would be HUGE. More black market reptiles, less education, and you can guess how things would be.

I am torn on the issue, but thankfully its a cold day in hell when they will be able to track down every reptile owner in Canada and make the give up their reptiles. Just like ferret. Illegal in California, but you think they could do a damn thing about it? Nope. Its a laughing matter there to ferret owners. Myself included when I lived there.

Marisa

[CyberGhost]

The humane society does't put animals down hince the name "Humane" your thinking of the pound.

[marisa]

Actually many many of them do in fact put animals down. You have to hunt out no kill shelters to know they won't put the animal down. Some don't but lots do. They just can't handle the load of thousands of animals per year, most who dont get adopted.

Marisa

[eyespy]

Don't be fooled by the name!

HSUS is in no way affiliated with the Humane Society locations that are active shelters, they just have a soundalike name. They are a lobbying organization and not in any way actively affiliated with animal rescue. They term themselves an animal protection organization, rather like PETA.

The Humane Society shelters which are actively involved in animal rescue are licensed by the US Dept. of Agriculture and Fish and Wildlife Services to enforce their animal cruelty statutes and to house animals according to their standards. They work in partnership with the government, not just as lobbyists. Each Humane Society of (fill in location here) is a licensed animal shelter, not just a lobbying organization. They are independent non-profit organizations without a national or international headquarters. Many of the chapters called "Humane Society" are actually members of the ASPCA.

HSUS is only licensed to lobby government organizations and has no enforcement powers, thank goodness! If they had the enforcement powers the various Humane Society chapters do we'd be in big trouble!

[SnowFoxx]

Not only that - when you send money to the HSUS, NONE of it goes towards the funding of animal shelters, spay/neuter programs, or in any other way directly benefits homeless, abused, or neglected animals. All of the money you contribute will go towards taking away your rights as a pet owner through local and national legislation. In fact, the HSUS, like PETA, would like to see pet and livestock ownership banned completely. No pet cats or dogs, no meat, no fish, no wool, no honey. No hunting of any kind. No use of animals for any reason whatsoever. Keep that in mind the next time you have a few dollars to donate, or those pretty cards and address labels show up in the mail.

BTW, the above statements do not apply to the Hooved Animal Humane Society. Any money you give to that group does go directly to rescue, rehab, and protective legislation that is reasonable and much needed.

- Victoria :w

[BWSmith]

Sorry, didn't mean to get it so off topic ;)

[marisa]

But at the same time, what would everyone here do if we DIDN'T have those organizations?

Seriously? Where would all the strays go? Where would all the hillbillies take their cats litters?

I believe they may be against this or that, but frankly I will support my local humane society here in Canada because I know that even if they do want to ban certain animals, they are the reason that my quiet little town isn't being over run with strays.

Things may be different here in canada, I don't know. Our local place for strays is called the SPCA. Aside from that you only have private shelters/foster homes.

Marisa

[Lisa]

In Canada we don't have HSUS, so they aren't the threat that they are in the states. I do think it's rather rotten that HSUS banks on having a similar name to the various shelters.

[marisa]

Lisa-

Thanks for clearing it up. That is rotten that they do that. Most people probably have no clue what the differeance is!

Marisa

[Herpkingdom]

The point of this post was to shed some light on these popup rescues and to remind people who need a rescue for a reptile or amphibian to do a little research into any rescue they are considering.

The whole Humane society issue is a separate issue that I may address in another post. I really have to sit down and write one, and then take out all of the bashing parts that come up :) I tend to get emotionally involved in issues that pertain to killing animals even if it is by a Humane Society or any other organization that shelters animals. But Like I said I won't go into that here, it is for another post.

Someone on another forum, reminded me that I forgot to mention the pet stores around the country that take in rescues and then sell them for profit. I did forget, and I am totally against it and feel this rant of mine applies to them as well.

[LdyDrgn]

I would like to see that, Jim. I hope you get to it soon. ;)

Marisa, the HSUS also circulates information that the risk of salmonella infection is very high with reptiles, therefore they should not be kept as pets by anyone. Granted, if you clean up feces with your bare hands then stick your fingers in your mouth you can end up infected. It all comes down to (un)common sense in keeping ANY animal. Wash your hands! duuuuh

[drewlowe]

i don't have the time to post some big long speech. But i agree with the initial post completely but where i live i don't see that going on. So if it is i'm not aware of it. My main concern are the d@#$ petstores in my area i won't mention names cause i know the liabilites. All of them sept the reptile specialties in my area are horrible about keeping up with their reptiles i cant even go to a big chain petstore without debating about how they keep thier reptiles. One of them insists to me for the past 3 years its ok to house beardies and leos toghether. every time i go in there i argue with them. ok i have to stop now because i'm getting upset and i will go on and on. So for me i didn't post about the reptile rescues because i don't see it going on but i completely agree if you cant handle it then don't do it. My biggest concern though is the big pet chains. I belive those are worse than the reptile rescues at least where i'm at they are.

[The_Snake_King]

I think this needs to come back up top for reasons seen elsewhere on this site about a rescued kingsnake that is going to die due to the ignorance of the person who rescued it!

[reverendsterlin]

here in the U.S. I figure it's pretty easy to find legit or not, most legit rescues, slightly beyond start-up stage, will either have or be in the process of obtaining a 503C non-profit recognition and have whatever liscensing, certification, or permits that are required by State, County, of City of where ever their location. My local rescue has begun being supplied by the feeder company I'm with and even is allowed resale for +50% of the profits, but our donations have legitimate tax-free use. I personally take in animals, at greater expense and in more varieties than I like, because people that know me or know of me believe that I will do everything I can to help the animal, still only 5 of my entire collection are rescues because I adopt back out to responsible owners as fast as possible. My view is, call or advertise yourself as rescue and you had better have the paperwork (I might even call a legit place and report you), call yourself a business have the paperwork, call yourself a concerned person, I'll still check if you know what your doing. I think most persons or departments involved usually know each other, call your local police or sheriff to ask for a rescue they usually have the numbers on hand because they don't want to deal with the animals either.

[python_diva_06]

i have takin' in and adopted out a few animals in my short 15 years on earth and i did it ONLY for the animals!

[dank7oo]

*applaudes ... excellent point - i know that i only buy what i know i can take care of