Guest Blog written by Shannon Hernandez
Some of us who work in rescue choose to mentor current owners and help them learn how to properly care for their pets. Rescue work is expensive, and if you have a keeper who has not been properly caring for their reptile pet, but is able to learn and willing to make the needed husbandry changes, it is well worth the extra effort to mentor and teach. Most pet owners initially bought the reptile because they wanted to enjoy a new pet, and often the errors that caused the apparent neglect were caused by misinformation, and that is something that can always be corrected. It just takes a willingness to be available to the keeper, and to have long discussions and stay in touch. Sometimes a rescuer who is mentoring might need to send some supplies to help the person, and in other cases, fundraising to help with veterinary bills will help get the owner back on track.
EverythingReptile has a rescuer assistance program and has raised money to help disadvantaged reptile keepers make vet appointments and the expense was covered partly by us, and partly by donations. It is extremely easy to set up a paypal account and pay a veterinary office on behalf of another person: we know because we have made that happen. Another way to help if you have the funds is to take up donations and order needed supplies to be sent to the current keeper. After all, it is much cheaper to donate a ReptiSUN UVB than to take in a new rescue and set that reptile up from scratch, and you greatly benefit others by teaching. If you would like to learn how to assist others, please contact us and we can guide you through the process.
Not all rescue work is about taking in reptiles that need help. The help is often needed by the human who first purchased the reptile, and through education we can truly help. Often a person who surrenders a pet will turn around and purchase another healthy reptile, because they wanted a reptile pet to begin with! Why not teach them and give them the tools to heal their pet, and in doing so you might make someone into a wonderful keeper who can then teach others. If you know of someone in need of a mentor, you can direct them to the Contact Us page and we will do our best to help keep the owner from having to resort to surrender. Often the solution is simple and with some solid advice many of these pets can remain with their owner and live a long and happy life.
Some of us who work in rescue choose to mentor current owners and help them learn how to properly care for their pets. Rescue work is expensive, and if you have a keeper who has not been properly caring for their reptile pet, but is able to learn and willing to make the needed husbandry changes, it is well worth the extra effort to mentor and teach. Most pet owners initially bought the reptile because they wanted to enjoy a new pet, and often the errors that caused the apparent neglect were caused by misinformation, and that is something that can always be corrected. It just takes a willingness to be available to the keeper, and to have long discussions and stay in touch. Sometimes a rescuer who is mentoring might need to send some supplies to help the person, and in other cases, fundraising to help with veterinary bills will help get the owner back on track.
EverythingReptile has a rescuer assistance program and has raised money to help disadvantaged reptile keepers make vet appointments and the expense was covered partly by us, and partly by donations. It is extremely easy to set up a paypal account and pay a veterinary office on behalf of another person: we know because we have made that happen. Another way to help if you have the funds is to take up donations and order needed supplies to be sent to the current keeper. After all, it is much cheaper to donate a ReptiSUN UVB than to take in a new rescue and set that reptile up from scratch, and you greatly benefit others by teaching. If you would like to learn how to assist others, please contact us and we can guide you through the process.
Not all rescue work is about taking in reptiles that need help. The help is often needed by the human who first purchased the reptile, and through education we can truly help. Often a person who surrenders a pet will turn around and purchase another healthy reptile, because they wanted a reptile pet to begin with! Why not teach them and give them the tools to heal their pet, and in doing so you might make someone into a wonderful keeper who can then teach others. If you know of someone in need of a mentor, you can direct them to the Contact Us page and we will do our best to help keep the owner from having to resort to surrender. Often the solution is simple and with some solid advice many of these pets can remain with their owner and live a long and happy life.
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