smallscalerescue

Reptile rescue is in its infancy. But too often I see organizations that say they are rescues and they are not. These folks troll free to good home ads on places like Craig's List, local news papers, etc and turn and flip these animals for a profit. Trust me there is no profit in rescue. Our rescue switched to shelter intake only a year ago simply because the need was greater. To prevent the animals from undue stress and harm in shelter, which are not prepared to care for reptiles, we work to offer in shelter support and get the animals out.

So what makes a reputable rescue? What makes it a real rescue? Reptile rescues should in fact be held to the same standards as dog and cat rescues. Not only intaking animals but also providing adoption services placing animals in appropriate homes. They should have an application process and a screening process. Knowing how many of the animals come to me, they should also practice strict quarantine and medical care when needed. I don’t expect every rescue to have each animal visit a vet, but when things are needed, tail amputations for example, a vet should be looking at the animals and ensuring the care is proper and humane. Basically you don’t take the animal in on Monday and place it on Tuesday. There is no way to know the condition of the animal.

Each September our rescue receives an increase in calls. "My child has had this XXX pet for 5 years but now he is moving away to college and I dont want it". Too common and too annoying. While I fully appreciate the fact that reptiles are not for some people, seriously the addition of a pet should be in everyone's best interests. From a news article in the Charleston daily mail, the lack of education in families is present.

Jeremiah Matson was 7 when he talked his parents into letting him buy an iguana from a pet store in Charleston, S.C. "I thought it would live a couple weeks," said his mother, Rhonda Matson of South Charleston. "My son was 21 and in his third year of college when the iguana died." Countless folks have become pet owners by happenstance. In the case of Spike the iguana, the entire family grew to love him as he grew from just eight inches in length to four and a half feet, including tail. After its death, the Matsons first thought about preserving the iguana for observation because Jeremiah was considering a medical career. Everyone then decided Spike was just too special for that and the family buried him.

Our adoption event today paired two things I adore, animals and a little girl with a love of snakes. I barely handled the snake today, but Little Adrienne did a great job getting a few folks over their fears as well as showing that pythons are not the terrifying things the press makes them out to be. People who exhibited fear could not come up with words to explain to this cute little 5 year old button exactly why. This made them actually confront fears and misconceptions, because well little Adrienne is relentless. I may have to hire her full time!

It is always great when hard work comes to completion. After spending a week at the local fair here, dealing with numerous drunks and anti snake folks, a very long conversation there has paid off.

A young man who at first glance looked questionable spent a great deal of time speaking with our volunteers. Being allergic to fur, his options for pets were limited. As someone who was raised to adopt an animal when possible, he never made the leap to getting a reptile pet. Thankfully we met him.