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Rescue (rant?)

Tiger Lilly

Tiger Lilly

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Ok, why does it seem to be so difficult to find a LEGITIMATE rescue? Seems like everyone wants to call themselves a rescue, but no one wants to go through the whole legalities of it? I ask my standard "are you a legal rescue with all your paperwork, or do you just call yourself a rescue" question, and I get the standard "well, no, not really. we just take animals and try to find homes for them." While I applaud them for being so noble, how do I know they aren't just gathering up unwanted reptiles to re-sell them? Is it pc to ask to check out their "rescue" to see what they're doing & how the critters are being treated?
Even if it is a legit rescue, do you ask to check out the facility? How do you go about finding a legitimate rescue?
Dang...all psyched up to do some good & no place to do it!
Thanks for the idea, though, Sammy.
 
I can certainly understand where you are coming from. I took in unwanted animals, vetted them and rehomed them. Once I decided to breed, I stopped, simply because I wasn't 501c3 and I didn't think it was honorable to do both if I was not certified.

YES! Ask to see their place! ANY legit rescue will 'let you in' and it's very common to be asked.

You can check 501c3 status here
http://www.sunbiz.org/

Hope this helps!
 
As someone who's done rescue, I think it's perfectly okay to ask to see the facilities. Anyone who's comfortable in what they're doing and has nothing to hide will understand, in my opinion. A local exotics vet might be a good place to check for legitimate rescues as they might have connections. I think many people start out with good intentions but don't understand that if you accept donations or publicize yourself as a rescue you can get into some serious trouble if you are not 501c3.
 
I figure that there's some "rescues" that rescue a lot of critters and rehome them and do a lot of good, without being a 501k. Some people are great with animals, but not very good at paperwork. Or they may feel "why put effort/money/time into paperwork, that could be better used rescueing more unwanted pets?".

I don't mind adoption fees either. As long as the animals are made healthy, and sent to good homes.

I don't support people getting free unwanted pets and selling them, without getting them healthy, or selling them at inflated prices, or trying to pass off animals they are breeding and selling as rescues. I don't support hoarders who say they are rescues.
 
I've gotten two snakes from our local "rescue". Not sure if they have all their paperwork filled out or not. They do allow you to come over and check them out if you want. So I don't think they are hiding anything.

As for re-selling the animals. Well.. I paid an adoption fee of $15. for an adult caramel corn snake and was given (free) an adult Florida king a few weeks later. Lol.. so I know they aren't making any money off the snakes. Both snakes are very healthy and are doing great. I raise rats, so whenever I have extras I send them their way as a donation to help offset their food costs. From what I understand they charge a small fee or place the animal into a new home for free depending on the circumstances. If the new owner decides they can't keep the animal for whatever reason; they have to return the animal to her. All animals in her care get the necessary vet attention and don't leave her home until they have a clean bill of health. Any which have medical problems where they can't be placed in a new home, stay with her.

There is a second "rescue" in town which I avoid like the plague. The woman who runs it watches Craigslist like a hawk, She only takes in free animals (or charges the owner a fee) then turns around and sells them. She claims she is giving them a "forever home" which is far from the truth. She really doesn't care what happens to the animals once they leave her home so long as she has been paid. She never quarantines any new animals and doesn't bother getting any of them vetted. She breeds several of the animals she gets in. When the animal is too old to provide her with new litters she sells it off as a rescued animal. Her adoption fees rival the pet store prices; so it's apparant she is only in it to make a buck.

So I agree that you have to be careful when looking for a rescue; however I am not too worried if they have their paperwork filed or not since it's how they run their rescue and the care that the animals recieve which is more improtant to me.
 
wyldwurm said:
I can certainly understand where you are coming from. I took in unwanted animals, vetted them and rehomed them. Once I decided to breed, I stopped, simply because I wasn't 501c3 and I didn't think it was honorable to do both if I was not certified.

YES! Ask to see their place! ANY legit rescue will 'let you in' and it's very common to be asked.

You can check 501c3 status here
http://www.sunbiz.org/

Hope this helps!
Click to expand...

:iagree::iagree: like word for word there!
 
I think there is a difference between "rescuing" an animal and being an "animal rescue." We've all seen our share of the fake rescues who are actually just looking to make a buck, or worse, are feeding a hoarding habit.

I've taken in a few snakes (several years ago) that were in horrible condition. One came from a friend of a friend, one came from craigslist, one came from a school program, etc. I took the snakes to the vet and nursed them back to health to best I could. With the exception of one ball python, I still have those snakes to this day. This is what I consider "rescuing" a reptile.

Now, a reptile rescue is something totally different. These are the folks who have paid the fees and done the paperwork are legally a non-profit organization dedicated to this cause.

There are a lot of negative things in this hobby like scammers and flippers, but nothing makes my blood boil more than fake rescues :angry:
 
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