• Posted 12/19/2024.
    =====================

    I am still waiting on my developer to finish up on the Classifieds Control Panel so I can use it to encourage members into becoming paying members. Google Adsense has become a real burden on the viewing of this site, but honestly it is the ONLY source of income now that keeps it afloat. I tried offering disabling the ads being viewed by paying members, but apparently that is not enough incentive. Quite frankly, Google Adsense has dropped down to where it barely brings in enough daily to match even a single paid member per day. But it still gets the bills paid. But at what cost?

    So even without the classifieds control panel being complete, I believe I am going to have to disable those Google ads completely and likely disable some options here that have been free since going to the new platform. Like classified ad bumping, member name changes, and anything else I can use to encourage this site to be supported by the members instead of the Google Adsense ads.

    But there is risk involved. I will not pay out of pocket for very long during this last ditch experimental effort. If I find that the membership does not want to support this site with memberships, then I cannot support your being able to post your classified ads here for free. No, I am not intending to start charging for your posting ads here. I will just shut the site down and that will be it. I will be done with FaunaClassifieds. I certainly don't need this, and can live the rest of my life just fine without it. If I see that no one else really wants it to survive neither, then so be it. It goes away and you all can just go elsewhere to advertise your animals and merchandise.

    Not sure when this will take place, and I don't intend to give any further warning concerning the disabling of the Google Adsense. Just as there probably won't be any warning if I decide to close down this site. You will just come here and there will be some sort of message that the site is gone, and you have a nice day.

    I have been trying to make a go of this site for a very long time. And quite frankly, I am just tired of trying. I had hoped that enough people would be willing to help me help you all have a free outlet to offer your stuff for sale. But every year I see less and less people coming to this site, much less supporting it financially. That is fine. I tried. I retired the SerpenCo business about 14 years ago, so retiring out of this business completely is not that big if a step for me, nor will it be especially painful to do. When I was in Thailand, I did not check in here for three weeks. I didn't miss it even a little bit. So if you all want it to remain, it will be in your hands. I really don't care either way.

    =====================
    Some people have indicated that finding the method to contribute is rather difficult. And I have to admit, that it is not all that obvious. So to help, here is a thread to help as a quide. How to become a contributing member of FaunaClassifieds.

    And for the record, I will be shutting down the Google Adsense ads on January 1, 2025.
  • Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

Opening a Reptile Rescue in NE Ohio

Herps Alive!

Herps Alive!

New member
Joined
Mar 11, 2013
Messages
229
Reaction score
29
Points
0
Location
Cleveland Hts, OH, USA
I have been a herpetology educator for 35 years and have always taken in unwanted and abused animals. Over the last couple years, the rescue/adoption mission has grown exponentially. We are currently in the process of spinning off the rescue into a 501(C)3. We have a Board of Directors in place and are close to renting a space.
Obviously, anyone with experience running a dedicated rescue (not just taking in some animals here and there), I would love your suggestions.
We are running a crowd-funding campaign at Indiegogo to help raise the funds to get this thing open. I have committed $5K of my own money annually.

Here is the direct link to the Indiegogo page- http://igg.me/at/herpsalive/x/4003557
Here is more information- http://www.wanderingherpetologist.com/rescue-2/
Our Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Herp...e-and-Amphibian-Experience/62345873433?ref=hl
 
Business plan is to raise funds through donations; grants; sale of used and donated equipment and bu hosting events (school groups, scouts, even birthday parties); rehoming fees and sanctuary fees (we agree to keep an animal and not adopt it out, owner pays a fee to assure that). Anything I am missing? Thanks for any suggestions.

Got a little write up in today's Cleveland Plain Dealer- http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2013/08/_animals_in_the_news_42.html
 
It took us almost a yea, but we have a lease on a 4000 sq foot building and our 501c3 gets submitted Monday. More info in the attachment
 

Attachments

  • foundationnewsletter315.pdf
    1.1 MB · Views: 508
Quick update- renovations have taken forever (volunteer based organization), but we are moving our first animals in tomorrow and should have all of them in around mid-June. Still a few hurdles with the landlord, but meeting with the city on that this week.
 
I would love to see pictures or a video. :)
 
Lucille said:
I would love to see pictures or a video. :)
Click to expand...

Still a lot of empty space, lol, but here are a few pics as we bean moving in some things over the weekend.
 

Attachments

  • newfromentrance.jpg
    newfromentrance.jpg
    156.2 KB · Views: 609
  • mercharEA1.jpg
    mercharEA1.jpg
    168.9 KB · Views: 630
  • foundationcages.jpg
    foundationcages.jpg
    87.7 KB · Views: 650
  • exteriior.jpg
    exteriior.jpg
    147.2 KB · Views: 668
It would be awesome to have a shake rescue in my Facebook group. I aim to bring people from all around the U.S. Together. I'd like to get anybody that has snakes, anybody that's experienced with snakes, and anybody selling snakes to join my group. Having a snake rescue would also be cool. I would love if you joined. Any of your expert advice would also help any newbies that join :)
Snakes! The pets that slither.
 
Warning: You might want to rein in your solicitation of members for your Facebook group before it gets you into trouble. I've already removed a couple of your posts from the classifieds - if you continue, you'll start accruing infractions.
 
Keith the place is HUGE!!!
I think once stuff gets moved in, maybe a new coat of paint, a few reptile posters, it will look very appealing.
 
A few more updates. Small aquatics area (turtles, aquatic frogs). Also one of the crazest bult-in cages ever. Probably will house an iiguana- picking up one from NY and one from Indana later this month. HVAC got a clean bill of health (and a programmable thermostat) courtesy of a local company that supports our efforts. Progress is slower than I'd like, but faster than it has been.
 
Try the pics again. We Luddites mess up on the Interwebs all the time
 

Attachments

  • turtlearea.jpg
    turtlearea.jpg
    92.8 KB · Views: 444
  • bult iin cage.jpg
    bult iin cage.jpg
    164.3 KB · Views: 461
First 30 or so animals have been moved in. The iguana was deserted and came to us from a local Humane Society. This is his "sun" cage where volunteers can bring hm outside. His normal cage is the built in above.
 

Attachments

  • tankindahouse2.jpg
    tankindahouse2.jpg
    169.2 KB · Views: 434
  • mapsnredears.jpg
    mapsnredears.jpg
    69.3 KB · Views: 452
  • lakeiggyoutside.jpg
    lakeiggyoutside.jpg
    164.6 KB · Views: 410
Kudos to you, Keith, et al, for taking the very long time and enormous efforts to proceed legally and safely and to provide safe haven for the rescues. I've followed your thread from the beginning; really good to see it all finally coming to fruition.

PM sent re: supplies I could donate.
 
Thought we would be opening this week, but the city decided we had too many electrical issues (smh), so the electrician will be back out next week. Another $1500-2000 we had not budgeted for. Very frustrated right now. Off to do what of the electrical I CAN do myself now. Go USA. More updates in a few days.
 
Sounds like a great idea, but definately important to keep your rescue operation away from your breeding operation. But I bet it would be very rewarding for both you and the animals involved. I would start out slow until you get the hang of things... if you don't have a ton of experience with a certain animal, maybe just have one or a couple of that type until you feel more comfortable. Definately get your Fed Ex certification and maybe even search out a few more forums that will allow you to place adoption ads to help you reach more people who may be interested in adopting.
 
Still trying to hammer out electrical with an inspector who admittedly dislikes reptiles. Hope to finally get open in a couple weeks. We have about 50 animals in the building, with 150 more (about 70 turtles. 60 snakes and 20 lizards, frogs and other miscellaneous) still at the temporary facility.
Two things- I have attached our latest newsletter if anyone is interested in checking out what we are doiing, and due to an influx of aquatic turtles, we are in desperate need of filtration. If anyone has any canister filters, external or internal,, laying around that they would like to donate, please message me. We are a 501C3 so we can provide a tax receipt.
 

Attachments

  • 91514foundationnewsletter.pdf
    904.4 KB · Views: 394
Electric finally approved and then the city hit us with a state mechancial code violation for ventilation, so another $2-3K before we can open. We are now $10K over budget, but we are going to make this thing work. Been getting lots of equipment donations (tax deductible, just sayin ;-)) and unfortunately have been taking in lots of animals. Website (herpsalive.org) should go live by the end of the month.
 
Ductwork done, waiting for the stupid exhaust fan now. Hope to get open before the holidays. Very frustrated. Here are some pics of the small cage room taking shape - had to wait for landlord to do some repairs and for the ductwork to be installed.

I have also attached a picture of our 2015 Foundation calendar. PM me if you would like to buy one and support a good cause.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top