starting a rescue

miya · 11-10-12, 10:44 PM

so i finally decided to start an actual rescue after taking in yet another 3 reptiles shelby and duke came from a man who had originally had 4 BPs 2.2 house together on pine bedding and was feeding them each one mouse a week one of them died after a yr and the other one had to be put down when we got there (was limp, drooling, puss coming out of its vent and had no body mass at all) after getting them home we weighed them shelby weighed in at 1038 grams she is a 5 yr old female and duke weighed in at 1082 a 5 yr old adult male the 3 rd rescue is peanut a 5 mnth old male beardie...i am not sure what his home situation was he has extreme MBD for his age

Peanut

Shelby

Duke

Duke again

Shelby chillin in a 15quart full of water

Lankyrob · 11-11-12, 08:20 AM

I would love to do something like this but just dont have the space to set up separate quarantine areas.

Do you quarantine all the animals rescued from one home together? Or do they each get tehir own quarantine space?

Kinda hope in the future to be able to set up a large shed well away from the house and our own animals, then split it into five foot "rooms" each sealed so that each room can house one quarantined animal.

Zoo Nanny · 11-11-12, 08:37 AM

Miya you should apply for 501 3c status. It will help out with taxes and such saving you a bit of money each month.
Best of luck with the rescue. Best Friends Animal Society does a mentoring program to help people get started. There are also some great articles to help get started on the Avian Welfare Resource Center. Avian Welfare Resource Center from the Avian Welfare Coalition - Avian Welfare Coalition Mentorship Program

miya · 11-11-12, 09:46 AM

honestly the way i quarantine depends on the space i have available.

thank you zoo nancy ill have to take a look at that

StudentoReptile · 11-11-12, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miya

honestly the way i quarantine depends on the space i have available.

thank you zoo nancy ill have to take a look at that

Your intentions are noble, but I have seen a lot of well-intentioned hobbyists try to start a "rescue" and they run into a host of issues, the aforementioned tax-exempt status being a major one. Be careful calling yourself a rescue if you do not possess that status yet.

Secondly, make sure you do it right. Someone already mentioned proper quarantine practices. That is only the beginning. Will you be able to take unhealthy animals to the vet when necessary? Perhaps you have already thought of these things, maybe not. Bottom line: if you cannot provide a better home for the rescued animals, you really are not a rescue. You are just someone who is taking in free/cheap/defective/unwanted animals. Not trying to come across as harsh or step on toes, but that is the reality of it.

Going hand in hand with the above, do not be afraid to say NO. Like any rescue, you have limited resources, space and money for this venture. As much as we all would love to, we cannot save every animal out there. There will be cases where you cannot take in a certain animal. You need to be smart and say no. It helps to get involved with your local herp community and network with other responsible keepers, maybe set-up a foster program to help house some of the critters that come down the line.

Just things to think about...

Lankyrob · 11-11-12, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miya

honestly the way i quarantine depends on the space i have available.

thank you zoo nancy ill have to take a look at that

The way you quarantine HAS to be RIGHT everytime or you are condemning your own animals to health issues. As student said, if you cant do it right yu have to say no. Even the largest best funded rescues in the world cant take every animals that comes their way, t just isnt feasible.

jaleely · 11-11-12, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

The way you quarantine HAS to be RIGHT everytime or you are condemning your own animals to health issues. As student said, if you cant do it right yu have to say no. Even the largest best funded rescues in the world cant take every animals that comes their way, t just isnt feasible.

Yup. I looked into tax exept status, and not only does it require a lot of capital, but in the meantime this is correct. You have to be careful because what's the point of taking in a new animal, if you can't afford vet care for it...or more importantly...it spreads a disease to your other animals and they ALL suffer.

this has been very difficult for me. My local pound gets snakes in for only ten dollars each. I could go buy a new snake twice a month, but where would i keep them? what if they're sick? what if my current babies get sick because i brought in a new sick baby? it's hard.

half my hoard is rescues...but after a while i became very scared of making my current animals sick.

someday if i have space and money i can have dedicated quarantine spaces. until then i try not to look for opportunities to get more animals. it's very hard.

StudentoReptile · 11-11-12, 04:41 PM

To perfectly honest, everyone should be doing proper QT anyway....rescue or not.

And I'm preaching to myself just as much to anyone else.

jaleely · 11-11-12, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StudentoReptile

To perfectly honest, everyone should be doing proper QT anyway....rescue or not.

And I'm preaching to myself just as much to anyone else.

Like. Me too. lol

**Aaron_S** · 11-11-12, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miya

honestly the way i quarantine depends on the space i have available.

thank you zoo nancy ill have to take a look at that

All the best to you and I mean that.

Just remember that you need to quarantine every animal the proper way no matter your space. Also, aside from the vet help you need to ensure you know EVERYTHING about the species you rescue every time.

This isn't really directed at you but I'm sick of seeing "rescues" take in an animal species just cause they felt bad but don't supply the proper husbandry and think it's still "okay" in "better" conditions. Unless it's in the PROPER conditions then it still needs to be rescued...

jaleely · 11-11-12, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

This isn't really directed at you but I'm sick of seeing "rescues" take in an animal species just cause they felt bad but don't supply the proper husbandry and think it's still "okay" in "better" conditions. Unless it's in the PROPER conditions then it still needs to be rescued...

Yup. This.

EmbraceCalamity · 11-11-12, 06:03 PM

You can take in animals without being an actual "rescue." I've taken in sooooooooo many animals (dogs, cats, mice, rats, chipmunks, birds, snakes, a fawn, a raccoon, etc.), but that's just my thing. I'm not a "rescue." All that matters is you do some good - without inadvertently doing harm.

~Maggot

Zoo Nanny · 11-11-12, 06:07 PM

Miya There are ways to be involved with rescue without actually needing to house the animals. I'm involved in parrot rescue and know of people who were successful doing private rescue in their homes. Parrots and reptiles have very similar issues when it comes to vetting and quarantine, neither are easy but they are doable. Because of the limited space I have I assist with placements without actually having to house any animals. People contact me when they need to rehome their bird/birds. Because of my extended network in the parrot community I have been able to locate good forever homes for needy birds. Aside from calls, emails and talking with people I have also assisted in the transport of animals and getting them settled in their new homes. It gives you a good feeling to know that you have been able to help but you are removed from the day to day worries of an actual rescue facility. Best of luck with what ever way you decide to do it.

miya · 11-12-12, 08:54 AM

ok i guess first i should say that i have not had my first coffee of the morning before reading this, so if im snippy well ya...second im not dumb..i know how to quarantine an animal..3 i alrdy have alrdy been in contact with the local animals shelter, wildlife and fisheries, and the closest reptile rescue, you are not required to file for tax exempt. tho i do still plan on doing so. 4 i live in a 5 bedroom house with a garage and full basement i have plenty of space. 5 i live here without bills so my money is my own do with as i please which generally means it goes to the reptiles 6 there is NO reptile rescue in the state of maine the closest one is in NH and for some people that is a drive so i do what i can...and again i have to add in...im not dumb...i do appreciate all of the advice even it was not actually asked for. i am not dumb. i do not take in any reptile that i can house properly...tegu, large boas, monitors. honestly i do not know enough about these to be able to take them in and know they are being takin care of properly. and on the subject of proper housing...internet exists ignorance is not an excuse. now you all saw 3 reptiles i have rescued..not 20..just 3..i havent jumped in head first and rescued rooms full of reptiles, only 3 but before i have people telling me what i should be doing before they ask what im doing...my quarantine area is in the basement and entire FLOOR away the other animals but come spring half of my 2 car garage is going to be turned into the new quarantine area. i know someone did ask me something of this before and i gave a short answer because quarantine sucks and i hate explaining myself

miya · 11-12-12, 08:55 AM

again im sorry but no coffee yet