Opening a Reptile Rescue in NE Ohio

[Herps Alive!]

So far this month we have taken in over 70 animals...20 from a small rescue closing, several from people moving, or evicted We have rehomed just shy of 50, including a record 25 on Sunday, March 20! March will be our busiest ever for adoptions and our second busiest ever for intakes, behind only October 2013, the infamous Struthers seizure). We now have a vet in one half day per week and a vet tech in two half days per week.
Altered our operating hours slightly this month and are no considering a capital campaign to buy the building we lease. This would allow us to expand our quarantine/medical area and add large tortoise (and if we can negotiate it with the state of Ohio) an alligator display. (lots of leatgalese involved here that I won't bother you with unless asked).

 

[Herps Alive!]

It's been awhile since I updated. We have passed 300 herps adopted out for the year, already exceeding last year's totals. We have taken in close to 400. Volunteers have been great, we have received a turtle grant form the Petco Foundation (to purchase Pit Tags, additional tubs and filters plus upgrade electric) and are also now affiliated with PetSmart Charities and the Bissell Foundation. Public hours five days a week if you are ever in the area (we had only enough volunteers do to three days when we frist opened).

 

[Herps Alive!]

Ended 2016 with 510 intakes and 394 adoptions out. Now have veterinarian/vet tech or vet assistant volunteering each day of operation. Picked up sponsorships from Zilla Products (Outreach sponsor) and the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (Educational sponsor). We are suffering some growing pains due to the volume of work and volunteer lack of experience, but all in all going well. We have only abotu 25 animals available for adoption right now (not counting red eared sliders in the mix), the lowest number we have ever had.

 

[AbsoluteApril]

Fantastic turn around! Keep up the good work and thank you for providing the updates.

 

[Herps Alive!]

On November 15, we adopted out our 1,000th animal (in less than three years of operation). We have a remarkable group of volunteers who have made this possible.
We currently house over 350 animals at the facility, not counting a juge colony of hissing cockroaches that was just donated to us
We are open to the public five days a week, so if you are ever in NE Ohio, stop by and check us out.

 

[Helenthereef]

It's really interesting to see how this has gone from start to now, please keep up the updates, and congratulations on already saving and rehoming 1,000 animals - that's got to feel good!

 

[Squeeji]

I adopted a Diamond/Jag Carpet Python (still named Crystal) from Herps Alive last year, and she's doing great! We've since moved back to Minnesota, but I hope you guys thrive for years to come, you'll be on my Amazon Smile roster!

 

[Herps Alive!]

I adopted a Diamond/Jag Carpet Python (still named Crystal) from Herps Alive last year, and she's doing great! We've since moved back to Minnesota, but I hope you guys thrive for years to come, you'll be on my Amazon Smile roster!

Glad to hear Crystal is doing well. We do an outreach program every summer in Columbus, MN, 90 minutes from you. Maybe we can arrange a visit next summer.

 

[Squeeji]

Absolutely! Let me know when and I'll make sure to have the time free ^^

 

[Herps Alive!]

We finished 2017 with an 80 animal intake yesterday from an owner who passed away in an untimely manner. Dart frogs and chameleons. FLocal frog breeder coming over later this week to confirm some ID. 697 intakes in 2017. 419 adoptions. Thanks for your support, no matter what form it has taken.

 

[Herps Alive!]

In the caetgory of Never a dull moment in reptile rescue. For the 12/31 pickup, we took (with permission) a few disusesd exo-terras to house some of the frogs in. Yesterday, we found these two guys in a piece of cork. Not exactly a species most rescues will ever see. Our guess is that the owner was unaware there were eggs in the cork log and that he moved it to another cage, where they hatched.

 

[AbsoluteApril]

Adorable! What a crazy find!
Glad you were able to take in such a large gecko/frog collection.
I wish you continued success with the adoptions!

 

[Helenthereef]

Wow! a New Year's surprise!
They look very cool, but I guess extra stowaways aren't exactly what you wanted....

 

[Herps Alive!]

Things a reptile rescue hardly ever says to its clients (and that a rescuer never thought he would say):
"I am sorry. We currently have NO ball pyhtons or leopard geckos available. But if you would like a leachie, a leaftailed gecko or two or a pair of chohouha geckos...or maybe a dozen dart frogs o a couple Panther Chameleons, stop in."

The surprises never end and today was no different. Thank G-d for our great volunteers.

 

[Herps Alive!]

Need some "Wisdom of the Crowd" advice. Our adoption policy is straightforward and has been in place since about six months after we opened. We do not post animals on our FB page until they are vet cleared and have met other requirement (worming,for lizards and tortoises, eating 2-3 times f or snakes, etc). However, visitors to the rescue may begin the process and if their application is approved, with a 25% deposit we hold the animal until it is cleared. If for any reason the animal is not cleared, the customer has the choice of a refund, transfer to a similar animal or to wait until the selected animal is cleared.
Here is the problem After our surpirsing gecko intake Thursday, which we shared generally on FB, but not specific animals or adoption fees, one of our FB likes sharesd the fact on a leachie FB page. As a result, we had over 100 inquiries about these animals, despite having a pinned explanatory post on our page as to what the procedure would be. While many of these folks would not qualify out of hand Example -"I will adopt all your lizards and even give yo some money."-or- "I will take all the leachies. How big are they and how many are there?" Some do seem qualified and if walk-ins don't reserve all the animals by the end of the week when they would become available, we will make them available to these on-line folks.
Simple question -Is this policy reasonable and if not what can we do do to improve it? Thank you for your help.

 

[bcr229]

I think your policy is perfectly reasonable wrt priority of adopters (local first before opening up to shipping) as well as ensuring that the home is a good fit for the animal.

 

[Herps Alive!]

Although some of them were wholesaled out dart frogs, we did 107 adoptions in January, far and away a record.

 

[SamuelwCarlson]

That is awesome man. Congratulations on all of your success.

 

[Herps Alive!]

Sunday we did our 500th adoption of 2018 wehn we sent this king snake home. Our total currently stands at 510, topping the 424 we did last year.We believe it is the highest number of adoptions and 501(c)(3) reptile rescue has ever done in one year. (If someone has other info, polease let me know).

 

[Herps Alive!]

We ended 2018 doing 519 adoptions, but 696 intakes (2nd straight year of intakes in the 690s). We are currently housing about 350 animals, but our adoptable inventory is quite low (good and bad) right now. This is why a rescue needs to have a business plan and be able to rely on other revenue streams -- it is not about the money, but as (to our knowledge) the only rescue in the United States that operates on a humane society model (set hours where the public can view adoptable animals at a facility with a small retail sales area) we have to pay the rent and utilities (electric alone was $1255 last month). We were non profit exhibitors at Tinley in October and will be back in March, so please stop by and say hello. October Tinley crew is pictured.