Iowa Reptile Rescue
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Iowa Reptile Rescue
Mark Tauscheck Reporter
March 11, 2009
A lot of Iowans have reptiles and amphibians as pets
but many don't know how to care for them. That means a lot of snakes,
lizards, and turtles wind up in poor health or dying. Now a Des Moines couple is
on a mission to save as many of these creatures as possible.
Jason
and Robin Argo run an operation called Iowa Reptile Rescue out of their
home. They started a year ago with a website. Now they are insured,
licensed, and in the process of becoming a non-profit so they can move into
a store-front.
They have rescued and adopted out over 40 turtles,
lizards and snakes. Many people find their services through word of mouth
or their website, www.iowareptilerescue.com.
They've traveled across
the state and don't charge any money to make a pick-up. They do have a
suggested donation for adoption with each reptile.
The executive
director with the Animal Rescue League says his shelter is seeing an
increase in reptiles, largely because of the internet. Websites like
Craigslist offer anyone a chance to own a reptile, often for a small price
and no instruction. He says many owners quickly realize they don't have the
skill, patience, or desire to make the necessary commitment to raising a
reptile. He says there's a need for licensed groups who can not only take
in unwanted reptiles, but offer instruction for new owners.
Iowa
Reptile Rescue is having an open house this Saturday and Sunday. It's a
fundraiser for a trip they're making later this month to Miami where they will be picking up unwanted reptiles
and bringing them back to Iowa. Miami will be having their third annual
amnesty day where people can drop off unwanted reptiles, no questions
asked. If they aren't adopted by the end of the day, they are
destroyed.
The open house will be Saturday, March 14th and Sunday,
March 15th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 832 26th Street in Des Moines.
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