Possible Idea!

Now this would not happen immediatly by no means as I am trying to sort out the idea and make sure I have a proper QT area and all that. But I am thinking of eventually dedicating a room in my apt to snakes to start a rescue type thing. Anyone here do that. Seems like there is not much of that that I have heard of in SLC. I hate to see a good snake go bye bye.This would be after my roomies left and all that so. Any ideas or input by current rescue peeps?

I've saved a few. But there are two sides to this coin. Lots of folks on this site have "rescued" snakes. Make sure you are farmiliar with proper quarantine procedures. One room will not be nearly enough. You also have to think about your own collection. As it becomes more valuable you will think differently about it.

I don't even let anyone who owns or has handled any snake into my house, much less sick snakes.

well as far as QT I have a seperate stoarge room we do not use that is AC so I can always use that. I am just thinking about doing a full fledged rescue idea. I am going to go downtown when it starts to become mreo then an idea and look into what constitues a non-profit. I am not really getting snakes for value. If I was doing that I would be looking into more morphs and all that. I want snakes just because I love them and want to give them the best lives possible. I got 4 people here at work willing to let me use thei pet insurance if I pay the premium which is cheap if I want for snakes so that is nice.

I've thought about it. But I'd need a bigger house, as we're currently living in an apartment. I look on Craigslist to tempt myself(And just to see whats out there), and lately I've seen more and more Ball Pythons going up for sale with their tank and supplies for ~$100. Not bad considering it cost $160 to get all my supplies.

I think in the future I will definitely "rescue" a snake off CL.

And I understand that there is going to be alot I am not thinking about right now. which is why I am asking advice because as I said this is in thought stage. I am sure plenty will change between now and reality hehe

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Originally Posted by Zoomie

well as far as QT I have a seperate stoarge room we do not use that is AC so I can always use that. I am just thinking about doing a full fledged rescue idea. I am going to go downtown when it starts to become mreo then an idea and look into what constitues a non-profit. I am not really getting snakes for value. If I was doing that I would be looking into more morphs and all that. I want snakes just because I love them and want to give them the best lives possible. I got 4 people here at work willing to let me use thei pet insurance if I pay the premium which is cheap if I want for snakes so that is nice.

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Can you say insurance fraud?

Do you ever wonder why insurance rates are as high as they are?

It's not from people being honest.

So, you're cool with lying so long as it saves you money?

well I have been asking at work and there is quite a few people here that know bad owners that have either let their snakes out in the wild or killed them for diff reason which irratates and angers me. I just wanna help the little buggers out and maybe even find a few some homes and those that can't I can always keep myself. My landlord said I could have a whole wall dedicated to a rack system if I kept them in locked enclousures which is fine as she knows I know what I am doing.

like I said hehe. All in thought stage. As soon as I posted that about the insurance a red flag raised in my brain too. sorry about that. Kind of smacked myself for that post. worst case I can afford the vet bills for about 10 snakes off what I saved if I truly had to but I liek to keep what I have saved as close knit as possible.

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Originally Posted by Zoomie

well I have been asking at work and there is quite a few people here that know bad owners that have either let their snakes out in the wild or killed them for diff reason which irratates and angers me. I just wanna help the little buggers out and maybe even find a few some homes and those that can't I can always keep myself. My landlord said I could have a whole wall dedicated to a rack system if I kept them in locked enclousures which is fine as she knows I know what I am doing.

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Could you define "quite a few" please?

please keep the input coming as I am SO open minded about this so thought process becomes a little mroe streamlined. This would be something that would not happen till at least another 5 months anyways

I notice you just joined the site two days ago. And I'll bet you have "the bug" just like the rest of us. I don't know how much experience you have keeping snakes. But my best advice to you would be to set up a rack and get a very small private collection started. Work with them to learn everything you can.

You can read every book in the world, and spend your whole day on-line, but in the end the only thing that matters is experience. I would keep a small collection for a year or so then re-visit your idea.

Just my .02

I think the best rescues out there are with people who have many many years of experience with these animals, their own dedicated building, and a strong enough income/donation source. It's also good of there are employees for a larger scale operation (or volunteers) and if the owner can help to being their own vet to the animals.

I have been keeping for 4-5 years and I've always dreamed of starting a reptile rescue for abandoned animals. Not CL animals.. It won't happen until I'm out of college and have at least 5-10 years more of experience and either get my veterinary degree or my herpetology degree.
There are a few other things that stop me. The availability of space I would need to acquire, insurance, weather, age, and experience. My personal collection would also have to be severely quarantined and unrelated to the other animals.
Weather is a big thing though. If I really wanted to start a rescue, I should probably move to Florida, because the humidity and temperatures in IL just do not succumb well in the winter and a lot of larger animals I would want to build enclosures outdoors for like Tegus, monitors, and large tortoises.

So, IMO, starting a rescue could end up like starting a business with zero profit. Your investment in this could be huge.. and rescues should be quarantined from each other so one room is not enough. It feels like your jumping to an exciting idea, but rather you just want more snakes because you love them. I think a better direction would be to add to your collection healthy snakes from quality breeders right now.

don't worry about that insurance idea. I agree with you and I ma so not a unhonest person so consider that SO not going to happen lol

Yeah see this is all in idea phase. hence why I asm asking you guys. I have alot of experience with smaller snakes like BP and such and a little with giants. I can always learn more of course. My brother would help me and he has experience also but as I said once again all in thinking phase. I don;t know what it takes to start something like this. That is why I am asking advice.

I would never hop fully into something like this without complete confidence in what I was doing. Not knowing what it takes as far as money and such is why it is in thinking phase. 5 months to 2 years is normally what most my thinking phase ideas work out to anyways before they ever come to fruit. I owned my own business till recently and that took 3 years of thinking before it went into fruit.

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Originally Posted by Zoomie

Yeah see this is all in idea phase. hence why I asm asking you guys. I have alot of experience with smaller snakes like BP and such and a little with giants. I can always learn more of course. My brother would help me and he has experience also but as I said once again all in thinking phase. I don;t know what it takes to start something like this. That is why I am asking advice.

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Have you ever considered answering questions as part of your learning experience?

So far you seem to be going out of your way to not tell us what you know.

what question did I miss? Sorry I am at work at a call center so I may miss a few things

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Originally Posted by Zoomie

what question did I miss? Sorry I am at work at a call center so I may miss a few things

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How convenient.

Same as yesterday.

I smell rotten Tuna now.

well I am sorry for your smell problem lol. fabreeze can help with that. Until monday I onyl have internet access at work then my services get turned on at my new house. So what question did I miss please?

actually just forget I said anything. If anyone knows a way to delete this thread let me know. I will keep my mouth shut next time I come up with an idea to help with stuff and just keep it locally thought of. I am sorry if I caused any problems with this post. I just had an idea I thought would be cool to throw around and all that.

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Originally Posted by Zoomie

actually just forget I said anything. If anyone knows a way to delete this thread let me know. I will keep my mouth shut next time I come up with an idea to help with stuff and just keep it locally thought of. I am sorry if I caused any problems with this post. I just had an idea I thought would be cool to throw around and all that.

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How surprising.

Instead of answering questions that may show you as being other than you want to be seen, you tuck tail and run.

Yup, stinky rotten Tuna.

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Originally Posted by wilomn

How surprising.

Instead of answering questions that may show you as being other than you want to be seen, you tuck tail and run.

Yup, stinky rotten Tuna.

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The idea was harmless enough, considering the OP was only throwing around ideas and asking for advice for the future. The OP also said that it would be 2 years or more before this idea would ever come to play.

I don't see an issue with asking about it.

A few questions out of my own curiosity:
How much would you be willing to invest?
How many years experience do you have with reptiles?
Do you have reliable veterinary services in your area?
Can you provide adequate housing for sick animals in QT on short notice?

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Originally Posted by Zoomie

actually just forget I said anything. If anyone knows a way to delete this thread let me know. I will keep my mouth shut next time I come up with an idea to help with stuff and just keep it locally thought of. I am sorry if I caused any problems with this post. I just had an idea I thought would be cool to throw around and all that.

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Zoomie...you didn't cause any problems with this post. It's a valid discussion topic. Lots of people are curious about what is involved in starting a rescue. I'd personally LOVE to see more discussions about it, without some folks having to get all paranoid and grill the interested party so hard.

One thing to keep in mind...you're going to encounter resistance, roadblocks, and criticism (both fair and unfair) ANYtime you consider a worthwhile endeavor. If you let a little bit of flak deter you, you won't get very far. Don't let it stop you. Hold your head up and keep asking your questions, and keep listening for the answers and for the worthwhile advice and critiques that will come your way.

BTW....My personal suggestion to you would be to contact people that are already seriously involved in animal/reptile rescue. We have a lovely member here named Rusty, who goes by CTReptileRescue. Shoot her a PM and I know she'd love to answer some of your questions.

Well as far as money I am willing to invest as much as it takes to get this to work. I really want to make a differance in this area and help those snakes that need the help. By the time I get to this I will have a much bigger place by then as I have a good job and everything. By then I am hoping to have at least a three bedroom house.

As far as how much experience I have wel. I have about 5 year of experience mainly with ball pythons and such. oddly enough ALWAYS in glass tanks lol. I have dealt with sick snakes before and always found patience is key. I am hoping by the time I get to my goal to have more experience with giants as I am sure beign rescue people will want to unload giants for size issue and such which saddens me. My experience with giants is limited as I have had some green conda experience but only a little and some african rock python handling. As far as hots go. Mainly just messing with rattles catching them in the high desert in cali..

As far as vets and such go there are some really good vets here for snakes as another member from this forum told me. I don't know what the rules are on my pet insurance and how many snakes it covers but I do know they in fcat do cover exotic animals inclduing snakes. So that may help a little.

As far as room for sick and such by the time I would start this that would be a must.

Hope that answers all your questions