Interest in Forming Rescue Organization

[Rikki]

Hello, my name is Rikki. I have been in the reptile hobby for many years and feel experienced in the hobby and would like to expanding the hobby into the rescue field. I am interested in rescueing exotic animals ranging from aquarium fish and small to medium size reptiles and more. Does anyone have any suggestions for starting out the service? I am going to piurchase web hosting and a domain name for the service and im willing to build on to my house this spring. Any suggestions? :)

[CamHanna]

Rikki's Sig
Forgvie and Forget

LOL, remember when we used to tease you about your spelling?:)

Anyways, I think that the way to go if you wanted to rescue herps would be to volunteer with an established rescue agency. There's really no reason to start a new one if you are only going to compete with another acceptable rescue. If there isn't another rescue near you then I don't really know how to help.

Good Luck
Cam

[Rikki]

Thank you, I think.

[CamHanna]

No prob'em mate.

[Rikki]

I just purchased a domain name for the organization, does anyone happen to have any more tips, comments, or suggestions?

[Paul_Begg]

Don't expect too many unwanted medium sized reptiles. You'll be looking at big constrictors, iguanas and red ear sliders.
Cheers
Paul

[HeatherRose]

If you really want to do this, you'll need a source of funding, and space. The most commonly abandoned reptiles and those who are in dire need of homes are iguanas and large snakes which require lots of space, and in some cases someone to help you handle them.

Money is also a huge part of running a rescue operation. Many unwanted animals are often sick or injured and in need of vet care.

Good luck, and maybe someone who runs a rescue can let you in on some experiences they've had.

[marisa]

I agree with what's been said so far. Any reptile rescue will be almost 100% Red Ear Sliders, Iguanas and Burmese Pythons. That's it. Those are the top three in need of homes constantly and always abandonded.

With those being what a rescue will recieve you'll need dozens of 6 by 6 by 6 enclosures with UV and heat lights for the iguanas alone. Also get ready to be friends with your local produce guy because you'll need literally POUNDS upon POUNDS of greens alone not to mention various veggies and fruits.

Then you'll need dozens of 50 gallon + tanks with UV lights and hot basking sites for the RES. Add on dozens of pounds of turtle pellets and other foods for them. Include dozens of high powered filters as well. Must haves!

This is just some of what you will need for a rescue. Money would be the top priority.

Marisa

[Paul_Begg]

maybe try www.reptilerescue.on.ca see if they can help

[peterm15]

maybe instead of starting off large you should start off small.. either volenteer or simpily rescue a few yourself... it can get to be very expensive and if you read through some of the posts on here youll see that alot of ppl have sold quite a bit of there collections cause of one sick animal.. it can be very expensive..

but i seriously think that you should maybve donate your time and effort to an established herp rescue.. you could also maybe offer some space to one.. use your space to help house them.. and as for the domain maybe you should see if a herp rescue place would like you to set up a site for them.. thats would be a great contribution..

im not trying to takl you outta this im just trying to talk u into helping expand one that already exists.. it would be less money, less bills, more room, and alot more help..

good luck..

ps. good to see you back, im glad you chsnged your mind about the ppl of ssnakess.. so.. enjoy your time here and i hope to see you here often again..

[Rikki]

Thanks alot everyone, the advice is very helpful. Im planning to generate an income through the additional server space I have from my website ExoticRescues.com if you would, please offer any suggestions for the website so far. Im currently just testing around with the templates, thanks again... Any more advice is appreciated, I have a few hundred saved up so far in my savings... It will be a while before we officially open, were constructing a reptilian room in a spare room we have.

[marisa]

If all you have is one room you'll need to state on your website what you can take and what you cannot. That will give people an idea of what you can take and what you cannot.

Also remember "burn out" happens a LOT to rescues because they take in too many of these large hard to manage creatures. (res iguanas and burms) The bill to feed these animals will take hundreds of people buying server space off you alone.

It's really more work than opening a pet store, being a breeder or any other animal related thing out there. A rescue takes the worst of the worst animals, has to feed them and pay their vet bills. You might adopt out one in ten of the animals you get if you are lucky.

It's a really serious commitment and will take more hours than full time job. (40+ hours per week)


Marisa

[Rikki]

Im most certainly going to put in more than 40+ per week, we soon will have more space as well for the rescue.

[Rikki]

Also, do you have any suggetions for the website? Does it look ok?

[marisa]

It looks fine. But more like a place selling server space.

You'll need photos of your available reptile space, enclosures, a page detailing the vet you will be working with. Etc. All these things are a must before people will give anything to you even if it's an iguana.

That's a start.

Marisa

[Rikki]

Thanks, I know what you mean. Ill get to work on it.

[Rikki]

Nearly finished uploading final templates :)

[peterm15]

i dont know how any of this works, but did you get permission to use the ssnakess.com link.. probably im just asking.. i dont have any advice about the web.. but it looks really good...

are your parrents herpers too.. its just that i know ( well guess) your living at home with your parrents but do they have a part in this as well... you just might need some extra funds.. mare than what your site will generate... a few hunderd is pretty good but ive spent way over 1000 to house 4 herps and soon 5... all healthy.. for a vet visit (in canada at least) your looking at $65 an animal, 25 dollars per fecal and then heating lighting food meds ect.. espically since your getting rescues, alot of rescues are very sick and can cost thousands to fix... like ive said ppl have sold most of there collection to pay for one herp... look at a post in general from a coupple weeks back.. the family spent ALOT of money and just couldnt care for it any more, they couldnt afford it... i spend about 20 bucks a week to feed 4 and im looking at at least 10 more when i get my beardie..

i realise this is something you want to do but i really dont wanna hear about having to rescue rescues cause you couldnt properly care for them all... so please start off small... adopt a few, things like that... become a foster house before a rescue agency... if and when things start to boom then dive in head first... this goes with anything.. never put all you have into one thing.. youll come out with less than you started with..

500 would probably last you 2 weeks with one sick iggi... so just be careful..

other wise.. good luck...

[Rikki]

Yes i understand, I also am having a few close friend of the family putting in private funding, my parents are back on this as well.

[SNAKE_GODDESS]

i really want to help out. i am new to this though.. and i am a animal lover.. my fiance thinks i am really weird.. i saved a snake this morning from getting run over by a 18-wheeler.... yeah i will do anything to keep an animal alive...

[Rikki]

This is a very old topic which can be closed now, I removed the website after a few weeks as I was having problems with my web hosting company. Though I am performing small rescues on occasions.

[ReptiZone]

I hate to be the cruel SOB to point this out to you. But you are 15.

Let me show what you need and cannot get at your age.
You need a business name- a goverment legal name.
You need to have insurance.
* Fire insurance
* Liability insurance
You will have to have a business phone number registered in your local phone book
You will have to have to pay:
The power bill
The phone bill
The internet bill
The food bill
The Vet bill

On top of all this you will need to clean cages clean water everyday.
give meds to the animals that need it daily or hourly

I think to top it all of you need your parents permision to keep all these animals that could potentialy kill you.

Not to be mean but these are the facts.

If I gave you a $7 000 snake on a 7 month payment plan could you afford it If not you could not afford to run a rescue.

The ReptiZone
Marc Doiron

[Rikki]

AS said, I was operating this with my parents assistance. Though this is a very old topic. :)

[krystal446]

I've been running a rescue for about 2 years now. I've found it to be mostly red ears but I also many random animals too. I've been able to keep down on my space and money issue by trying to set up adoptions directly from the current owner to the adoptive owner. You do have to be careful, just to make sure the animal is in good health, but quite often the current owners really like meeting the new owners. It gives them peace of mind. If you keep a wait list, its really easy to acomplish this. I've also found that many people are willing to donate all the supplies and aquariums with the animals when they put their animals up. So if they are coming to you then you don't need to worry about space as much. My service is also free though, so that might be why they are so willing to give me all the acessories. I've also found that most people make a donation anyways, which always helps. Good luck with everything! krystalsantor@gmail.com