Reptile Rescues

There's been a reptile rescue recently pop up in my town who are advertising and whatnot for their "rescue".

They seem like a bad idea (no proof, their ads just rub me the wrong way) which made me think:

What makes a good rescue a rescue?

I've just seen one of their ads where they're selling animals they get surrendered to them. They're selling a normal bp for 150.

Just curious on other herpers thoughts

A good rescue agency is non profit (registered) works with SPCA shelters locally and animal services. Ours also does training sessions (free) for emergency response personnel (fire, police, EMT). We have a board and a code of conduct that is posted and clear for all members we take any animal, we work with a vet whom checks all animals whom come in. To adopt the animal from us there is a questionnaire and reference. If the adoptee does not have a reference we have husbandry question interview we conduct. I would also suggest a good rescue be recognized by the government and various other rescue agencies and vets so this is where animals usually come from. We have vets whom are members and RVTs as well as vet clinics. It is a legitimate rescue run very much like a SPCA but we do not 'yet' have a building. Above all rescues do NOT take animals and then SELL them at a profit. We do not charge at all. and often have meds and husbandry gear to go with a rescue this is from find raising.

i think those are just people who try to get free animals to sell and make profit. real rescues in my opinion would do fundraisers to help maintain their animals, if they wish to put those animals up for adoption thats up to them but for a reasonable fee.

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Originally Posted by JaGv

i think those are just people who try to get free animals to sell and make profit. real rescues in my opinion would do fundraisers to help maintain their animals, if they wish to put those animals up for adoption thats up to them but for a reasonable fee.

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I agree. I could understand an adoption fee, but the ad where they are selling the bps, they don't even mention they're a rescue.

I only know because the picture of the bp is the same one they had been using to advertise their rescue.

I tried running a rescue in my college town, because I just watch craigslist fill up with kids dumping the reptiles they got when the semester ends and mom doesn't allow it coming home.

I got one hit, the gecko is now in a forever home but is permanently deformed by MBD. I also got nasty emails (one time almost went to meet one, they wouldn't tell me where to meet them).

I think the best approach would be to politely critique them. Let them know that a rescue is classified as a non profit and that literally means no profit. Explain it in a way where they understand they're not doing very much positive work.

I still have an open door policy personally, I'll take in any animal I know how to care for. But, no longer actively look. ;)


Browsing on Tapatalk from my iPhone :)

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Originally Posted by Bobbafett

I agree. I could understand an adoption fee, but the ad where they are selling the bps, they don't even mention they're a rescue.

I only know because the picture of the bp is the same one they had been using to advertise their rescue.

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then maybe they are just flipping free animals if they wouldn't mention they are rescued animals. i also seen alot of ads of people wanting to take in free animals, and then theres the so called rescues advertising their animals claiming to be reptile experts but don't know if the animal they have is male or female.

This is their ad:

http://img.tapatalk.com/d15b6b8e-9a8f-6b77.jpg
They say it was rescued but they don't post that they're the rescue :/

Well it depends on specifics.

Not every rescue can do everything mentioned as "good rescue". Some local SPCA do not want to work with reptiles or reptile rescues or rescues. Not all rescues have enough training to teach police or SPCA workers anything, much less give them classes or look reliable enough to be asked to do so.

Some good rescues(that aren't the Superb Rescues) still do good work, in taking in unwanted animals. I don't mind if they ALSO sell their own animals.. as long as all that is separate. I also don't mind there being a fee.... and I don't care what the fee is. Many dog shelters charge over a hundred dollars for a puppy... but it's not considered scamming to do so, since lots of the money gets put back into the shelter. Same with rescues. If you take in rescues, you WILL rack up a considerable amount of vet bills, sometimes on a single animal. Taking in donations means you MUST be registered legally... 501K status is a good reliable way to tell a Rescue that's really serious from someone who is just taking in animals and trying to 'save' them.

Hint: if they are a 501K, they have to provide their paperwork on request.

Lots of people may rescue rats for instance... and when they offer them for adoption, the fee will be WAY higher than you can go buy a rat(especailly at feeder prices), because they do want to ensure only a serious home considers their pets. They also rack up vet bills... all animal rescue tend to. So lots more than "market price" for a normal BP is not automatically a scam or a flipper.

The main thing to me
"Are the pets healthy that are offered for 'adoption'?"
"Are the people open about how the pets are kept, are they practicing quarentine?"
"Can they offer a vet that is their accreditted vet on file for their rescue animals' care?"
"If 501K claims(non-profit) will they offer their paperwork on request?"

Positive answers to those tell me how much I'll trust their operation or not.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bobbafett

This is their ad:

http://img.tapatalk.com/d15b6b8e-9a8f-6b77.jpg
They say it was rescued but they don't post that they're the rescue :/

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Well, that could be a couple different things. I have taken in animals from bad situations and rehomed them after becoming healthy, for little-to-no fee, nothing near the amount I have paid out-of-pocket for rehabilitation. It doesn't mean that I AM a rescue, nor do I claim to be. This doesn't look like he's claiming to be a rescue to sell for a profit or anything... a "rescue" pet could just mean it wasn't healthy before, and now is. Maybe the snake was skinny or had some bad sheds when he first got it, so he rehabbed it and no longer wants it.

Got some not so good news.

There had been a guy trying to sell/trade his chameleon for something "easier". The poor thing had been attacked by another chameleon and had an injury. In the ad, he said that whoever buys it should take it to the vet.

I emailed him saying maybe he should take it to the vet instead of getting another reptile. He responded saying he didn't have time.

So I saw the ad pop up again. He is now trying to sell the ball python from the other ad. I emailed asking If he was from the rescue and he said yes and that the reptiles he's selling are from his personal collection :s

Also, I know they don't use thermostats :( and use the analog zilla thermometers.

I know what "rescue" you're talking about and I was super sketchy about their ads too. I actually sent them an e-mail asking if they adopt out their animals and they said yes but they need a husbandry interview, application filled out, etc. They still make me uneasy.
It's annoying because they post news ads on Kijiji like every day advertising their "rescue" in the animals for sale section.

Just noticed this. Is that poop?!

http://img.tapatalk.com/d15b6bfb-03ae-388f.jpg

Its somehow not a good one. A real rescue should somehow make way to raise funds for the welfare of those reptiles.. not for selling or making money out of them..

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Originally Posted by KTyne

I know what "rescue" you're talking about and I was super sketchy about their ads too. I actually sent them an e-mail asking if they adopt out their animals and they said yes but they need a husbandry interview, application filled out, etc. They still make me uneasy.
It's annoying because they post news ads on Kijiji like every day advertising their "rescue" in the animals for sale section.

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Do you know if there is anything we can do to get them stopped?

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Originally Posted by Bobbafett

Do you know if there is anything we can do to get them stopped?

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If they are providing their animals with food and water and they aren't living in filth or are in bad condition, then no.

If they are actually being cruel then they could be reported to the Humane Society who could contact authorities.

If the pictures they have posted on their website are proof of how they keep their enclosures normally then I don't think there is anything to be done. :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bobbafett

Just noticed this. Is that poop?!

http://img.tapatalk.com/d15b6bfb-03ae-388f.jpg

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Eh, poop happens. ;)

Seriously, the enclosure looks otherwise pretty clean - just ONE poop, which only shows they didn't bother spot-cleaning before the picture. I mean, you could probably find a poop in one of my tubs on certain days! If there were TONS of poops/urates, and the bedding looked dirty, then I think you might have a "case" against them. But IMO that doesn't look so bad, it has a hide & clean bowl, and the snake appears healthy. Remember, not everyone keeps their snakes the same exact way, so it's best not to judge on the minute things (especially without seeing the cages in person). For all you know they do use thermostats, or maybe the whole room is kept at proper ambient temps?

P.S. Any idea what kind of snake that is? Looks almost like an Irian Jaya or granite Burmese...

Couldn't be a Burmese as Burmese are illegal here. I'm contemplating making an appointment to see their facilities.

On the subject of Rescue centers and whatnot, how would one get involved? Are there necessary requirements (college degree, experience, etc)? Do they provide training for someone interested, or something similar to an apprenticeship or what-have-you?

I know at my local dog/cat shelter you have to be with an adult the whole time if your under 14 (I suppose to discourage unwanted babysitting)
If you applied to work there they would probably ask lots of questions etc.