BP rescue question

So, I have seen and heard a few people on here or FB groups talk about "rescuing" BP's. Now, from what I can tell, this is anything from taking a wounded snake from an animal hospital or vet, or to just taking a snake that someone doesn't want anymore. Is that correct?

Now that I have a quarantine area, and a rack setup, I thought to myself... hey, if there was a snake someone didn't want, would I/could I take it in and care for it? I feel like the answer is yes.

My questions to those of you who have rescued BP's in the past, did they find you, or did you search them out?

Yea, that's exactly what rescuing a BP is. Some people rescue from animal shelters or a local reptile rescue. Some people consider that buying from big store retailers animals as rescues but personally I dont.

Usually, you're the one who would be seeking out an animal you'd be willing to rescue but I know that there's more than a few members here who helped someone out and took in their animal.

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I took in a guys snake that said he couldn't care for it because he was going through a divorce. I didn't consider it a rescue until I saw the condition the snake was in. I'm really glad I did though.

I agree with Mr.Misha, buying from a big store is simply supporting them and their ways of animal care. If the animal sells expect another one in the same conditions next week.
Some times you can find people on craigslist trying to get rid of a snake that they bought on impulse and only look at it once a month to throw it a rat. If you can rehome it and give it a caring home with proper husbandry go for it.

Keep snakes long enough to get a reputation as the "Snake Person" in your own social group, and they will find you. You won't have to seek them out.

Thanks all. Yea, I don't think of buying from a big box store as a rescue... even it is of sorts, but as it was said, they are in for the money and as long as they can move them, they will keep moving them.

I've looked at Craigslist in my area a few times... it's kinda what I expected... snakes in a 50gallon glass tank, with a heat lamp, a huge rock and a water bowl. The people either don't respond, or want $500 for a $50 dollar snake. I'm all for giving a snake a better home and care, but I guess I have to draw the line somewhere. lol.

Looks like this rescue is in your area. Check them out:
http://www.forgottenfriend.org

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Originally Posted by LittleTreeGuy

I'm all for giving a snake a better home and care, but I guess I have to draw the line somewhere. lol.

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This is a very realistic outlook. As sad as it is, you will never be able to save them all. :(

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Originally Posted by LittleTreeGuy

I've looked at Craigslist in my area a few times... it's kinda what I expected... snakes in a 50gallon glass tank, with a heat lamp, a huge rock and a water bowl. The people either don't respond, or want $500 for a $50 dollar snake. I'm all for giving a snake a better home and care, but I guess I have to draw the line somewhere. lol.

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If you pay for it, it's not a rescue.

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Originally Posted by Slim

Keep snakes long enough to get a reputation as the "Snake Person" in your own social group, and they will find you. You won't have to seek them out.

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For precisely this reason I am the proud keeper of: 0.1 adult common BCI, 0.1 adult Dumerils boa, 1.1 Brazilian Rainbow boas, and 1.2 normal ball pythons. The BCI and the normal male BP were in rough shape (incorrect/low heat, stuck shed, and rats had chewed on them) while the others were perfectly healthy and could easily have been sold.

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Originally Posted by Mr. Misha

Looks like this rescue is in your area. Check them out:
http://www.forgottenfriend.org

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They're a few hours away, but I signed up with them. Thanks. :)

I would consider it a rescue if the snake is both, in some sort of trouble that won't get fixed with the current owner, and in poor unsaleable condition. I agree, that if you get known as "the snake person" more snakes are likely to show up than you probably have the resources/desire to deal with.

I used to walk dogs for our local dog shelter, and became the town equivalent. I had to turn a lot of people away. Three dogs in this house is our max (and my max for sanity). I'm a magnet for strays anyway, and have had to bring several to the shelter myself.

Have to say, frankly, I'm just jaded about the whole thing.
People can be so grossly inhumane.
I actually started with a thicker skin; the work became more and more emotionally draining as time passed.

I developed a reputation as "the snake person," and I also do wildlife rescue and volunteer work. So word gets around. I have not paid one cent for any of the snakes in my care (thank goodness-proper husbandry costs quite a bit!), and I refuse to support the exotic snake trade because literally anyone can buy a snake, and so often they do thinking "low maintenance=no maintenance" and the snakes end up in terrible conditions, or get released, or they escape due to improper husbandry, etc etc. I see it ALL. THE. TIME. It drives me nuts!

One of my snakes was a rescue from deplorable conditions--original owner tried to sell it in its tank for $100 (yes, really) and it was in shed, with an old shed STILL in the tank, and 5 piles of feces. That tells you how often the tank got cleaned, if at all. No heat/humidity, never cleaned the water dish. The bottom was slimy and furry. Absolutely disgusting. So I told her I would take it off her hands for free to give it a good home, and now the snake is happy, clean, warm, and even her personality has improved. By the way, the girl I rescued her from?? I saw her leaving the local pet store with a large snake selection the other day. This is what I mean about the exotic snake trade. :mad:

My other two were found: one was in someone's garage, and another was on someone's front porch in the middle of autum. I even searched on craigslist and posted that I found them, with no replies.

I have never really "looked" for snakes, (5 years ago I bought one before I realized the harm the industry does) but I've found that when they find me, I make it work. I will never turn one down that needs a good home. But I also keep in mind that if I ever get too many, I need to rehome the extras with someone who will take darn good care of them. This means visiting the person's home and inspecting their enclosure, and GIVING (not selling) the snake to them with the guarantee that I will take it back if they can no longer keep it--no questions asked. Not a lot of people are willing to do this. I say this because many people come into this hobby meaning well, and then before you know it, their collection turns into a hoard. And the problem with THAT is animal hoarders don't admit they are hoarders, nor do they think there is a problem with stuffing racks full of snakes because it's "easier for them," etc.

So if you are able to give the proper habitat and care for a snake in need, absolutely! Go for it, and I thank you for doing so. Just keep it in check. Snakes are not "things" to be collected. They are not "things" that should be shoved into small containers so they don't take up space in your home--they didn't ask to be there. They aren't "things" that were born to make you money by spawning repeatedly. They are living creatures worthy of respect, and those who really care about them treat them as such, and part of this care means knowing their limits.

Ok, I'm getting off my soapbox now. :)

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Originally Posted by O'Mathghamhna

But I also keep in mind that if I ever get too many, I need to rehome the extras with someone who will take darn good care of them. This means visiting the person's home and inspecting their enclosure, and GIVING (not selling) the snake to them with the guarantee that I will take it back if they can no longer keep it--no questions asked.

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1) Have you ever had one returned?

2) How do you filter out flippers?

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Originally Posted by bcr229

1) Have you ever had one returned?

2) How do you filter out flippers?

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1) Not as of yet! I also had this rule with kittens I used to rescue from feral cats, and I've had people contact me about further adoptions after they adopted kitties from me. It's good networking!

2) The good thing about not selling is I can be picky about who gets my snakeys. Ultimately none of us can really foretell what someone is going to do with an animal, but if the enclosure is right, the person is knowledgeable, and if they appear to want a new pet, I'm good with it. I'm not sure there is a foolproof way of defeating flippers unfortunately :/ For me I look for things in the enclosure--did they just buy a starter kit from Petco with analog thermo/hygrometers? Or did they spend a tad extra to get something more reliable? Did they put some effort into the enclosure? That type of thing.