Any other rescuers in this forum?

[kpugh]

I was just wondering if anyone else on the list is involved in turtle rescues? either offical organizations or just people taking turtles?

I ask because like most rescues we take in far more turts than we find homes for, and I was wondering if anyone had any successful ideas for how to raise awareness of rescues and find good homes for turts?

Thanks for sharing any ideas!

Kaley

[HeatherRose]

This is the only one I can think of... I'm sure there's more though:

http://www.kawarthaturtle.org/

[C.ADAMANTEUS]

I Mostly rehab Herps. Evedently you guys up there have way more turts than i thought.
down here in el paso, we mostly see torts. dont know canadian law, or stores, but public raffles not only generate $$$, but also generate awareness. We have them in front of PetsMart, and raffle something from Within Petsmart. (helps with store permission :D)
Web sites also help, though sometimes costly, and time consuming. can save by building your own, but still takes much of your time. And advertisement. Get local pet stores, etc. to hand flyers to there patrons when they come to buy things.

[kpugh]

We do have a pretty good relationship with one of our pet stores, and are in the process of building a little website. Maybe a display at the store would do some good...

[C.ADAMANTEUS]

Its the Search words on the web site that will bring the most hits to your page. Though you prob already know this:D
Rick

[Wu-Gwei]

Turtle SHELL in Ottawa hehabs native species of turtles. Little Ray Reptiles in Ottawa has a bunch of RES they don't want.

I have a few rescued RES as well. Always looking for good homes for them. I found homes for 5 RES last year.


Cheers,
JJ ;)

[thunder]

i used to take in unwanted turtles, although right now i dont have the capacity. being a member of a turtle club, i could always find homes for the ones i didnt want/have room for. the ones i kept were mostly boxies, but i also got various wood turtle and na aquatic species.

[kpugh]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by thunder
[i could always find homes for the ones i didnt want/have room for.]

Must be nice! We tend to get about 2-3 turts in for every one we find a good home for. That being said, we are pretty particular about who get "our" turtles! My parents and I are the main fosterers, and would rather keep all the turts ourselves than see them go to bad homes...(not implying in any way that you were sending them to bad homes!!:) )

I'm going to step up the advertizing/awareness program and see if we can't find some good homes!

[C.ADAMANTEUS]

Just curious, Are these wild, injured, or pets given up?
If wild, why find homes for them? They would do alot more for the Ecosystem going back to the wild where they came from, if they are able to that is.
Just curious........Rick
Originally posted by kpugh
[QUOTE]Originally posted by thunder
[i could always find homes for the ones i didnt want/have room for.]

Must be nice! We tend to get about 2-3 turts in for every one we find a good home for. That being said, we are pretty particular about who get "our" turtles! My parents and I are the main fosterers, and would rather keep all the turts ourselves than see them go to bad homes...(not implying in any way that you were sending them to bad homes!!:) )

I'm going to step up the advertizing/awareness program and see if we can't find some good homes!

[kpugh]

They're abused, neglected and abandoned pets...with the exception of a painted turtle that was given to us by the local SPCA that no one is sure where it came from.

[C.ADAMANTEUS]

kpugh
Yeah I get probably 6-8 Ball pythons a year due to neglect, etc.
Some cuz they get pregnant, and fear for the new one on the way.
Its rediculous the excuses people have when they no longer want to care for a pet.
Mostly I get wild stuff, that goes back to the wild.
Rick

[kpugh]

It's really sad actually! We just had a lady call us with three RES that she'd had for 16 years, and just didn't want to spend any more money on them to get a proper set up for them, but wanted to make sure that her 'babies' went to a good place - she was even going to insist on insepecting our set up before she would "let us have" her turts...My husband 'shamed' her into keeping them, and got her to set them up in an inexpensive paddling pool - she'd had 3 adults in a 30gal tank...and that's just the most recent one...I could rant for days!!.

At least most of the pet stores here don't sell baby turts any more - so hopefully the numbers needing to be rehomed will start to drop off...

[SDG]

"At least most of the pet stores here don't sell baby turts any more - so hopefully the numbers needing to be rehomed will start to drop off..."

After a sharp drop, more and more young have been appearing in stores over the past couple of years again. In the 1990's turtle eggs were banned from being brought into the country, but now turtles are cb in Canada and others are smuggled in. Sliders may be an ongoing issue!

[kpugh]

We've been lucky here so far - only one store here ever has them...and the largest petstore chain we have (Petland) has a policy not to sell turtles or iguanas - thankfully! Hopefully this doesn't change!

I've also had questions from lots of people about how to breed their sliders - and my standard response is DON'T DO IT! But not everyone talks to me first... ;)

[C.ADAMANTEUS]

Originally posted by kpugh
We've been lucky here so far - only one store here ever has them...and the largest petstore chain we have (Petland) has a policy not to sell turtles or iguanas - thankfully! Hopefully this doesn't change!

I've also had questions from lots of people about how to breed their sliders - and my standard response is DON'T DO IT! But not everyone talks to me first... ;)
Great policy:D
Rick

[BoidKeeper]

Although it cost me and a friend $350 to rescue it, we rescued a female yellow foot of a 65 degree kitchen floor back in January.
Cheers,
Trevor

[C.ADAMANTEUS]

Its Really sad that people see something "COOL" that they just have to have, than because of there ignorance in caring for these animals properly, they die, get sick, stay small and skinny, etc.
They should make people (legally) take an exam on the proper husbandry of the animal they wish to have, and pass, or you dont get.
But, we live on earth, not in Neverland, so wishful thinking:D
Rick

[kpugh]

Well, if people can ban specific breeds of dogs, why can't they make people prove they know what they're doing before getting a pet? I know it will never happen, but it sure would be nice...

[C.ADAMANTEUS]

Hey Im not the only one up bright and early:D
The world is slowly coming around to the idea of animal rights, and protection, but I think a slug moves faster than our cause.
Perhaps one day, huh?
Rick

[kpugh]

Early bird gets the worm - but its already 8:15 here - hardly early at all. :)

I have to agree that most people are rather behind...but on the other hand, my speciality is livestock husbandry...and quite a few people have gone totally overboard the other way (PETA)...it ticks me off when people spread mis-information...but that is a whole other topic. :)

The pet situation will one day catch up...

[marylyn101]

how do you set up a rescue? i would love to help all the herps because isee so many that are so uncomfertable and near death. at one petstore in my town there was a bearded dragon (4 monthes) having tremors. I told her they were dehyrated (no water in there and she never mists them) and she was feeding them FULL GROWN CRICKETS! I would just like to help or at least get information out there to care for exotic pets. how do you get started?

[C.ADAMANTEUS]

Marylan101,
For me it was accidental. I was making like a "vigilante" so to speak, cus I caught a couple guys who I know work for a reptile store, and they were catching Trans Pecos Rat snakes, (Protected at that time), So I coordinated with a game warden friend, and we pulled off a semi sting on the store and found Many other TP rat snakes.
So I was "adopted" by this old couple who founded the CDWR. (Old people aint embarrassed about asking for help.) LOL

To do it yourself there are many guidelines, such as a governing body, duly elected by its members, etc. This is for tax purposes.
If you just want to help, call a local rescue outfit, and let them know.
Its "all" volunteer work for me. Its kinda costly some times, but the internal satisfaction of knowing I make a difference pays out well. Im helping animals, herps, and old people.
Rick