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Breeding Rescues???

K

kmurphy

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I've been following the MnJ "Rescue" thread on the BOI and have a question. I understand, and agree, with the statements regarding reselling rescues for a profit. What I don't understand is what the problem is with incorporating a rescue into your breeding stock if you want. I guess the word rescue implies a sickly, poorly cared for animal, but that's not necessarily the case. The rescuer probably has a passion for herps in particular if he/she specializes as a herp rescue. So what's the problem with bringing the animals up to snuff and keeping it? Is it the thin line between being a rescue and actually seeking breeding stock?

I don't run a rescue but like probably everyone reading this, when the word gets out the you keep reptiles, someone is going to offer you a ball python that their college bound son doesn't want or a burm that is getting too big. I usually have no interest in keeping these but if I did I wouldn't think it morally wrong to do so. So what am I missing?
 
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I think the issue is more along the lines that a person is falsely labeling himself a "rescue"and soliciting free animals (which he then breeds or sells to make money). If it just a case of a keeper being offered an unwanted animal, I don't think most people would really care if he eventually chooses to breed or sell it.
 
I agree, it's the intent that's the issue. If your seeking out free animals by labeling yourself a rescue, with the preconceived plan of using those animals to turn a profit, either by selling them or using them as breeders, then that's where the problem lies.
If someone offers you a snake because they can no longer care for it, or if a sick herp is surrendered to the local herp club and you agree to care for it until it's healthy, I don't think you are therefore obligated to either keep the snake forever as a non breeding pet or to give it away if you don't want it.
 
Clay Davenport said:
if a sick herp is surrendered to the local herp club and you agree to care for it until it's healthy, I don't think you are therefore obligated to either keep the snake forever as a non breeding pet or to give it away if you don't want it.
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I'm not so sure about this part...some adoption services (even through herp societies) may have no breed clauses. And I know that some state if you decide you cannot keep an animal, it must be returned to the group for rehoming (ie, you are not supposed to sell or give it away yourself) - though in some cases there is a time limit on the groups claim to the animal (and sometimes, they waive that claim entirely - especially if it is a difficult to home species).
 
So we are basically on the same page then. The comments on the MnJ thread were directed more specifically toward them rather then rescues in general.

if a sick herp is surrendered to the local herp club and you agree to care for it until it's healthy, I don't think you are therefore obligated to either keep the snake forever as a non breeding pet or to give it away if you don't want it.
Click to expand...

Clay, if I'm not mistaken, you're speaking here of the options if you actually liked the animal and wanted to keep it, rather then what to do if you tired of it 6 months down the road. With my herp society, if I had taken an animal to get it healthy I would check with them again when it was. I doubt most herp societies would ban breeding so that point is probably moot. Local humane societies may have a clause against breeding and probably do. They neuter dogs and cats and basically don't like exotics. If I signed something that didn't allow breeding I would honor it but I wouldn't sign it. :)
 
hhmoore said:
I'm not so sure about this part...some adoption services (even through herp societies) may have no breed clauses. And I know that some state if you decide you cannot keep an animal, it must be returned to the group for rehoming (ie, you are not supposed to sell or give it away yourself) - though in some cases there is a time limit on the groups claim to the animal (and sometimes, they waive that claim entirely - especially if it is a difficult to home species).
Click to expand...

I know there's some rescues and such that have the adoption contracts bonding you to indentured servitude, but I don't really take them into consideration when I discuss the topic. You may have read the paper on my site about my opinions concerning that issue.
IF I take an animal in, and that VERY rarely happens, it's only with no strings attached. If I had the choice between buying an animal for $500 and getting one free if I signed one of those no breed, no sell, we are your lords and masters contracts, I'm saving up 500 bucks.

I had something more like my herp society in mind. When the society takes in a reptile for whatever reason, a general announcement is made during the meeting asking if anyone wants it or would be willing to take it. If there is, then that's that, it's their animal to breed or keep or whatever. The alternative is the club president keeps it and he doesn't always want to do that.
For instance the club took in a large african rock python once. It was mean, big, and no one was interested in housing it. The then president asked me what I thought should be done with the snake because he didn't even like working with it.
I told him he should sell it and put the proceeds in the club's fund. He had thought about it, but had the same sort of misgivings since it was a rescue. My opinion was it didn't make any difference. The snake was mean as hell and no one but a rock breeder would have any interest in it at all. To me, giving it away wasn't responsible either, because some people with no business having the snake would have taken it for the wrong reasons just because it was free.
 
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