RRC - Reptile Rescue Centre

[Javan Rhino]

I had a bright spark go off in my head today whilst in my local reptile store, and wondered whether it could work and what I would need to do first.

Often, people will buy reptiles as an interesting exotic pet without reading up on them first, and as such many need to be rehomed. Examples of such things include a long-lived tortoise that outlives the owner, or a snake or a lizard that gets bigger than the 'cute little baby version they bought.' Another example may be breeders that can't sell and can't house the offspring that they get. This is where I'd like to come in.

I would obviously need some qualification in herpetology and/or animal care. So that would be my first step.

After, I would set up as a charity so that I could afford to keep it running (vivs, heat and UV bulbs, food etc would not be cheap to fund entirely myself), and would advertise around the local area.

Now, a couple of questions about this...
1) What are the best qualifications to get, and which are essential?
2) Would I be eligable for any start-up grants if setting up a charity?
3) Would it be allowed to open it up as a public display, or is this not allowed with rescue centres? Could be a good source of revenue for the centre.
4) Would I ever be able to expand upon it? i.e. could I start taking in other pets, and then start sourcing other animals from closing/struggling zoos/wildlife parks/private collections? Or even take on surplus animals to prevent the need for culling?
5) Would I be able to use the animals for educational demonstrations (like school-tours, town centres etc)?

The last part is not as important, but if it were ever possible I would like to expand into these other areas.

Anyway, if anybody could help and show me where the starting line is, tha would be great. I think that's about everything, if I've missed something obvious then please feel free to point it out.

Thanks

 

[Shorts]

1. I don't think any qualifications are needed as such, but obviously your credibility would be boosted by obtaining one/some;

2. You may be able to apply for some grants if you set up as a charity but you don't automatically get a grant just for establishing a charity (too much scope for abuse). Remember you will be in competition, against other charities, chasing a currently diminishing public purse. Also applying for and obtaining grants is a minefield where it's often more important knowing how to "play the game" rather than having the most deserving cause;

3. AFAIK if you had any DWA's you can only open a handful of days a year unless you obtain a Zoo Licence. I am unsure what the situation is if you don't have any DWA's but I'm sure you local authority could guide you on this if contacted;

4. You could not take on any DWA's from zoos, etc. unless you had a DWA Licence or Zoo Licence. These both cost time and money to obtain. You should also remember that zoos are usually very picky about where they place any surplus animals and are unlikely to place them in a fledgling rescue centre. I think there's a bit of a "loophole" where you can keep DWA's on a Pet Shop Licence but being a pet shop is unlikely to be considered compatible with charitable status;

5. AFAIK you could use animals for educational purposes but would need all the correct insurances and permissions (as per all the above options). If you go in schools I think you need to obtain some kind of "pass", which I think you have to pay for, which proves you're probably not a danger to the children.

Basically the rescue centre/charity approach should not be seen as an easy way or short cut to setting up a small zoo. I suggest you go to Gentleshaw and talk to the staff there, I'm sure they'll be happy to chat about the trials and tribulations of running a resuce centre. I believe the owner, "Trigger", is a member of Zoochat.

 

[Maisie]

You could also contact Lower Moss Wood wildlife rescue near Knutsford. They have a number of reptiles as well as the usual British wildlife (Green iguana, a frog of some sort and a few tortoises, plus, last time I was there, 2 tiny geckos that had arrived in luggage from exotic holiday destinations!!) They might be interested in someone who could look after / rehome reptiles that come in.

 

[mazfc]

I'm afraid I know nothing at all about setting up a rescue centre, but wanted to comment on point 5.

I believe that as the ultimate aim of a rescue centre should be to make sure that nothing needs rescuing in the future, then being involved in educating the public (adult or children) should be a big priority.

 

[Javan Rhino]

I'm afraid I know nothing at all about setting up a rescue centre, but wanted to comment on point 5.

I believe that as the ultimate aim of a rescue centre should be to make sure that nothing needs rescuing in the future, then being involved in educating the public (adult or children) should be a big priority.

Thanks for all of the points . I think the idea of building up a wider range and sort of making it a 'mini zoo' would just be to bring in more visitors, and thus more donations, but thinking about it I don't know how much the income would outweigh the outwards costs (and even more likely vice versa).

I agree that education should play a huge part (and it is half of the reason I'd want to set it up). Reptiles are quite misunderstood by some, and I want to educate why and dismiss any urban legends that gives them the 'feared' status. I'd also love to run phobia sessions with reptiles/inverts, and maybe a few other things.

 

[Gary]

To qualify as a charity you would need to demonstrate you have an ability to run one-I know a woman who took in 'rescued' rabbits but was refused charity status because she could not demonstrate it was not just an obsessive's collection and that she was doing any good for anybody.

So, I think your idea fails immediately unless you have the type of respources to set up and maintain this type of facility regardless of charitable status.

And as there are several people with a great deal of knowledge who already have set up exotic pet rescues, you have no chance.

 

[gentle lemur]

There are large numbers of green iguanas and terrapins that have outgrown their owner's premises, resources or interests. I am afraid that it would be very expensive to accommodate and feed all the animals that would be offered. I think you would find it very difficult to raise enough funds to do a worthwhile job.

Alan