How did you get started with rescue work?

Despite my passion for herps since I was a child, I have always been interested in how to care for sick animals too. Anyway about 4 years ago I began some voluntary work at our local wildlife hospital. Caring for foxes, birds of all types, squirrels etc. The founder of the hospital knew of my knowledge I had of reptiles and my passion and asked why I didn't set up my own rescue. Well of course it as simple as that, so I began to look into how to do things correctly. After 12 months of knowing where I should be going and where I stood legally, I set up Reptile Rescue Den on the 5th May 2005. I did work for the wildlife hospital for a little while afterwards, but now I no longer have the time as running RRD is a 24/7 job.

That's really interesting Denise,

It's good to know how the founder of the boards got into rescuing

Thanks Tony, I try to play my part.

Always been interested in reptiles. Had a caiman as a kid. Wanted one as an adult.

A guy in the area had a caiman that he needed to get rid of because it was "getting too big to handle". That perked me up.

That's how it started.

Then I met a guy in town doing the same thing. We joined forces and we've been partners ever since.

We've gotten calls from owners, breeders, Fish and Wildlife Officers and others needing to find homes for caiman and other reptiles. We got a call once from a hunter who had too much deer meat and wondered if we could use it. Well, duh!

We've had snakes and iguanas and beardies. Now we just deal with caiman.

And just last year we decided to allow two of our females to breed. I realize this is not a very accepted practice among rescuers, but the hatchling sales, on a limited basis, bring in needed funds that go right back into medicines, filters, food and maintenance and is gone quickly. Besides, if the people can no longer take care of the animals, we made it clear that we would take them back, no matter how big they were.

Well, that's how I got started.

Thats s great story, I love hearing stuff like this.

I think breeding within rescues is ok as long as they are healthy specimens, obviously there are exceptions... like I have mentioned somewhere within this forum LOL that funds are hard to come by and money doesn't grow on trees! This is just my humble opinion.

Reptile Rescue Den wrote:

Thats s great story, I love hearing stuff like this.

I think breeding within rescues is ok as long as they are healthy specimens, obviously there are exceptions... like I have mentioned somewhere within this forum LOL that funds are hard to come by and money doesn't grow on trees! This is just my humble opinion.

I agree. Here, in the States, though, people tend to think that if you run a rescue then all of your animals should be spayed and neutered so the population doesn't grow, causing the need for more rescues down the road.

In general, I tend to agree with the principle and the idea, but like with all things in this life, moderation, flexibility and rule-bending need to be acceptable at times.

i have always loved reps ever since i was a little nipper, reps are all i think about, i love the fact that i can help a sick animal out and nurse it back to good health and then once it's better i try my hardest to find a suitable new home for it, funds can be hard at times but i have a very understanding partner, i'm lucky i have a lot of time i'm a stay at home mum whilst my bloke works nights, so my 3 year old daughter likes to learn about the rep room and soon to move into the shed once converted. however not all reps i rescue are ill some are in perfect health it's just the owners have decided not to carry on looking after it/them.

Keep up the good work Milly

thanks same to you all on here.

I'm just a sucker for a scaley with a sob story!!!!!