Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The pet store in my town that doesn't deal with reptiles always seems to get calls about people wanting to sell them reptiles. I was thinking about giving them my number to have them give to people who didn't want their reptiles. I currently have 2 bearded dragons and I know that I would have to keep the rescues seperate from the beardies. i would then get them up to a proper weight and health and then I would put them up on my website (I breed my beardies). I would adopt them out on a no breed basis. Is this a good way to start a rescue? Any additional information would be very helpful. Thanks.

That would probably be useful. You could even just start put a referral section up on your site listing animals that need new homes and the contact # for people who currently have them.

You could also try contacting your local animal shelters and let them know you'd be interested in any herps that come in. Lots of igs and beardies and snakes end up in shelters and not many shelters are set up well to handle reptiles.
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1 crested gecko
1 RES
1 leucistic texas ratsnake
3 bullfrogs
1 dusky conure
4 australian shepherds
3 cats

This was posted on a herp list I'm on by another rescuer. It was so thorough that I asked his permission to use it when others ask this same question. Heck, it's more detailed than what I did before I started a rescue, but it made me think about things I hadn't before. Something to ponder, at least:

Here are some considerations in establishing your rescue which we have gone through:

Organization

1) What is my mission statement and what are my goals and
objectives?
2) How large of an organization do I want to create?
3) What are my liability and insurance requirements?
4) What are the zoning restrictions/limitations?
5) What will my neighbors, local businesses, local leaders think of my operation?
6) Will I be public or private?
a) Will I want to incorporate, become an LLC, a non-profit, or remain a hobbyist?
b) Will I need to establish a board of directors, if so, when, who, how?
c) Will I need a mentor or sponsor?
7) Where will I conduct operations (home, remote location,
rental space)
8) Do I have room for expansion, do I want to expand?
9) How will I seek improvement, education, training, expertise?

Operations

1) How can I obtain permits, certification, training, and meet the required city, county, state or federal laws/requirements?
2) How will I fund my rescue (donations, out of pocket,
corporate, or sales)
3) Will I use volunteers or family?
4) How will I align my organization with other recues or animal welfare organizations, societies or groups?
5) How will I conduct marketing and advertising to:
a) The Public
b) Animal welfare/humane/rescue organizations
c) Law Enforcement
d) The Media
6) What is my message to the above (what themes, thoughts or beliefs do I want to convey?)
7) Where will I handle intakes and drop offs? (Actual location versus remote location).
8) How will I handle intakes?
a) Emergencies
b) Routine
c) Communications methods (email, phone, snail mail, walk ins)
d) Quarantine versus short term versus long term
e) Fostering

Missions/Functions

1) What will I rescue? (Exotics versus natives).
2) Will I do rehabilitation?
3) How will I keep rescues/rehabs/residents?
4) How will I handle the adoption/placement/release or
euthenasia of animals for which I am responsible?
5) In what peripheral activities will I engage? Training,
education, display, pick up/removal?

Infrastructure

1) What are my space/storage requirements for:
a) Animals
b) food items
c) dry goods and supplies (durable versus disposable)
d) medical supplies
2) How will the public access my facility
3) How can I restrict/permit access to visitors? Neighbors? Children?
4) What are my security requirements?
a) Internal versus external
b) Physical versus electronic
c) Emergency procedures (natural/manmade, electrical, water, wind, fire)
d) Evacuation procedures
e) Escape prevention and mitigation
f) Recovery and restoration

Useful Links

Our Website for examples
http://www.boxturtle.org
Wildlife Rescue Orgs
http://www.boxturtle.org/pages/links.htm
Compass Point – help for non profits
http://www.compasspoint.org/
Board Café – for non profit Boards
http://www.boardcafe.org/
Support for Small Businesses
http://www.businessownersideacafe.com/
Constant Contact
http://www.constantcontact.com
Listing of businesses
http://www.melissadata.com/
About Non Profits
http://nonprofit.about.com/

By State listing of rescues
http://www.vaherper.com
Am Reptile & Amphib Vets http://www.arav.org
PIJAC (Politcal Action for Pet Trade) http://www.pijac.org
Humane Society of the US http://www.hsus.org
APPMA http://www.appma.org
International Wildlife Rehabilitators Council http://www.iwrc-
online.org/
National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association
http://www.nwrawildlife.org/
Wildlife Rehab Directory
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/

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Bonnie Keller
VA Reptile Rescue
www.vareptilerescue.org

Seems to me your heart is in the right place. I have had similar thoughts. In reality it would be very easy to become overrun, broke and no where to go. I have taken in animals from time to time. What I have started doing is I tell the people up front that yes I will take your ball python. I will make sure it is healthy and thriving. Then I will trade it to my favorite exotic pet store for something I am interested in. What do you think???

Mike B

I have been interested in something similar to this for a little while but my interest lies in the removal of problem herps and relocation only as I am not interested in the work it would take to keep them, My interest has intensified in the past few days as I have learned of an Alligator released into a public pond near my home "N. California we don’t have alligators in the wild LOL" My problem is I am a sucker for the law and California is not the best state in the U.S for someone that is trying to get answers to make sure what they are doing is legal. Dose anyone have any info on starting a removal and relocation service in California?

Foot Hill Reptiles