Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just curious. There is only one reptile rescue organization in my area, and it's pretty small. They specialize mostly in Iguanas. The director (founder and only member) mentioned that she would love to have me on board. She runs the organization from her home, but it seems she is in constant contact with all the local vets as well as other rescue organizations. If it's reptile...they call her.

Pretty exciting fun stuff -- make a difference, help the community, help the animals, free snakes, and overall good karma.

I'd like to give her a hand with the serpent side of the organization, but I'm a little confused. Shouldn't animal rescue organization members be staunch members of PETA as well as anti-breeding activists? I mean...I'm all for rescuing innocent animals from unhappy homes...but I'm also all for breeding beautiful new morphs while making a small profit. Is this wrong? Am I evil?

WWBD (What Would Bachman Do?)

Chris =/
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"Dear God...Please make an Albino Woma." -- Me

With as many snakes out there that are poorly taken care of or abused they need everyones help regardless of your religious belief, sexual prefrence or lifestyle choice. I'm known at many of the local animal shelters and rescue outfits and I've taken in my fair share of reptiles from them and even more from someone's sisters-cousins- friends "roommate who moved out and left the snake". You can even get licensed by your county (tho I'm not). I have a good herp vet that even give me reduced prices for these rescues. It can be hard, but it can also be rewarding.
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Tosha

8.10.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and currently un-named)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope)
7.9.5 Fish (1,2,3,4...)
0.0.1 Frog rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.2 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer

Good. I'm not an evil person. =)

But seriously...I can't wait to get involved. There are absolutely NO reptile rescue organizations in this entire county other than the one I'll be working with. With all the impulse buying of exotics going on...you'd think there'd be a few more reptile rescue organizations out there. Who knows? Maybe we can help to change that. =)

Good Things,
Chris =)
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"Dear God...Please make an Albino Woma." -- Me

I never got involved with any particular association for rescuing; but last week I rescued 3 BPs from a guy who was ignoring them. He neglected the snakes to the point that one male had horrible retained shed, and the female's eye is indented. I guess that's what happens when you put 3 BPs in a 55g tank, add pine shavings, no hide, a near-empty waterbowl and no belly heat!
I can tell you, it is an AWESOME feeling to know that you saved the lives of a few reptiles. The simplest thing (namely, soaking) turned the one male from an ugly, rtained-shed-laden thing, to a nice pretty normal guy. If he had kept them for much longer, I am sure they'd be dead.
Go for it!
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2.1 Ball pythons
2.1 newly rescued ball pythons *new*
1.0 Boa Constrictor Imperator
0.1 albino Cranwell's horned frog
1.0 bearded dragon
1.0 Tiger salamander
1.1 breeding Clawed frogs
1.0 black kittycat
3.1 Oscar cichlids
0.1 Paint horse mare

Thanks, Ginevive! I can't wait to get involved in this rescue organization! I'm so excited...and I just can't hide it... =)

And say hello to those three rescues for me. =)

Good Things,
Chris =)
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"Dear God...Please make an Albino Woma." -- Me

I was the adoptions chairperson for the Chicago Herp Society for three years, still remain active in the society and help out the adoptions still albeit on a much reduced scale. The CHS adoptions program and any other rescue organization is first and foremost in it for the welfare of the animals it handles. With the CHS, the animals are placed with members first since most are valued and proven caretakers then to other qualified caretakers with other societies, etc.

Some do breed animals and to some extant that is the enjoyment many look for in keeping their animals. As far as rare and endangered animals, reproduction is crucial. With the more common species especially the more "disposable" animals we strongly encouraged breeding avoidance. However, it is not mandatory nor easily enforced without costly surgeries. With the main problem species such as the large constrictors we placed the animals in places where we had good confidence they would not be bred.

In the case of ball pythons, many are still imported and as captive reproduction increases, less demand will be generated for wild collected animals. At least in theory. I believe eventually this will happen.
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Support your local herp society
www.chicagoherp.org

Several years ago when I was first starting out I would respond to local ads for snakes. I rescued rosy boas from one breeder that just stopped taking care of them. I recognized him from the shows. He was getting married and his fiance had him move the rosy's out to the garage and then he just stopped taking care of them. I thought that one female was going to die before I got her home. I had to give her water with a syringe. Her first meals were 1 day old pinks, just one. I was able to save that group. I also rescued a pair of pueblan milks. The owner of these kept them in a small tank. He would drop 2 live mice in the tank and walk away. The female was missing an eye due to a bite. Both had scars all the way up and down their dorsal area. No excuse, they switched over to frozen thawed immediately. 6 months of heavy feeding and they finally were able to shed in one piece not tiny bits and pieces that also required soaking.
I also rescued a ball with a skin disorder similar to blister disease. She stayed completely out of my house. I could find no info on the disorder, no help, and so eventually she was put down.
I stopped doing rescues several years ago. My collection grew larger and required more of my time. Also, this is very important, you MUST consider the risk. I can no longer risk my collection or the collections of my customers. Even if you are willing to risk your collection. If you handle rescues, you could possibly be putting a customers collection at risk when you sell something out of your collection.
John Q

I agree. It will be a LOT of extra work...but to rescue a single unhappy animal would make that extra work well worth it...hopefully. LOL =)

And the health risk to a collection is definitely something worth considering...however I believe there are viable steps to be taken to help insure healthy animals are not exposed to diseased and/or parasite-ridden rescues.

Of course...I'll be working out all of the logistics before I actually begin fostering any rescue animals. And I may be posting a few questions/concerns along the way. I'd sure be grateful if you could throw a little more advice my way...when the time comes. =)

Good Things,
Chris =)
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"Dear God...Please make an Albino Woma." -- Me