I know that there are a lot of "rescues" out there that take in torts and don't re-home them. To be quite honest, I'm fine with that if it means less stress for the torts. However, I ventured over to my local Herpetological Society a few months ago to take a look at what they had to offer and here is my story.
I have three Russians, but was looking to add another to my group so I called up my local Herpetological Society and talked to the man on the phone. He told me that he did infact have Russian Tortoises up for adoption, and that I should swing by and take a look.
A few hours later I arrived at the facility which looked to be a house with MANY MANY cages, and stunk to high heaven. As I entered the backyard where the tortoise enclosures were I noticed the pool was green and very uncleanly, basically a mosquito haven. Further more, he had at least thirty Russians and Greeks together in a enclosure that was no bigger than eight feet by three feet.
I went on to look at the tortoises and found one that would suite my colony. Upon telling him that this is the one I would like he said something like, "I'm sorry, I don't sell the females. They are how I make a profit." I set it back down and thought to myself, a rescue.... breeding.... to make a profit....? Then he went on to tell me how he is waiting on a shipment of tortoises to arrive to add to his "collection". Interesting.. no?
As I walked around the backyard and took a tour of the place I noticed that he had some Aldabras (four I think?) in a small space, that they would VERY soon out grow. He also has a group of leopards, redfoots, and many others that he is not willing to adopt out, because I'm sure they help him make a profit.
Upon leaving, I couldn't help but think is this really a rescue, or a hobby and when he breeds too many he can say he is a rescue? Is this really non-profit when you breed to make a profit? Are all the animals that are adopted out really previously surrendered or rescued? Where is my money really going? Can this false advertisment really be legal?
It saddens me that the Herpetological Society fell into the wrong hands, and perhaps I'm jumping to conclusions, but this just doesn't seem right. If the Herpetological Society can't even hold up their promises who are we to turn to if we ever need information or a little help with reporting other animal maltreatment?
If you guys have any similar experiences or would like to add to this please do so. Just wanted to share my disgust of these rescues and some like them to you guys. Granted, I don't think all Herpetological societies are like this.
I have three Russians, but was looking to add another to my group so I called up my local Herpetological Society and talked to the man on the phone. He told me that he did infact have Russian Tortoises up for adoption, and that I should swing by and take a look.
A few hours later I arrived at the facility which looked to be a house with MANY MANY cages, and stunk to high heaven. As I entered the backyard where the tortoise enclosures were I noticed the pool was green and very uncleanly, basically a mosquito haven. Further more, he had at least thirty Russians and Greeks together in a enclosure that was no bigger than eight feet by three feet.
I went on to look at the tortoises and found one that would suite my colony. Upon telling him that this is the one I would like he said something like, "I'm sorry, I don't sell the females. They are how I make a profit." I set it back down and thought to myself, a rescue.... breeding.... to make a profit....? Then he went on to tell me how he is waiting on a shipment of tortoises to arrive to add to his "collection". Interesting.. no?
As I walked around the backyard and took a tour of the place I noticed that he had some Aldabras (four I think?) in a small space, that they would VERY soon out grow. He also has a group of leopards, redfoots, and many others that he is not willing to adopt out, because I'm sure they help him make a profit.
Upon leaving, I couldn't help but think is this really a rescue, or a hobby and when he breeds too many he can say he is a rescue? Is this really non-profit when you breed to make a profit? Are all the animals that are adopted out really previously surrendered or rescued? Where is my money really going? Can this false advertisment really be legal?
It saddens me that the Herpetological Society fell into the wrong hands, and perhaps I'm jumping to conclusions, but this just doesn't seem right. If the Herpetological Society can't even hold up their promises who are we to turn to if we ever need information or a little help with reporting other animal maltreatment?
If you guys have any similar experiences or would like to add to this please do so. Just wanted to share my disgust of these rescues and some like them to you guys. Granted, I don't think all Herpetological societies are like this.