J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue proudly announces the successful launch of their Exotic Pet Surrender Event series, held on May 18th at 515 W Kimberly Ave, Kimberly, WI 54136. This initiative, designed to provide a responsible rehoming option for exotic pets, saw 70 animals surrendered, including a 7-foot-long python, parakeets, turtles, and a bearded dragon.
The event welcomed owners to surrender fish, invertebrates, reptiles, pet birds, small mammals, and plants, no questions asked. Domestic pets such as dogs, cats, rabbits, pigs, and chickens were not accepted, and owners were advised to explore local pet shelters or rescues for rehoming these animals. Additionally, Wisconsin Native animals taken from the wild were not accepted, with owners encouraged to contact licensed wildlife rehabilitators instead.
Attendees enjoyed meeting captivating animal ambassadors and capturing memories at a photobooth featuring rescued pets. Renee Schulz of J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue highlighted the dedication of pet owners, sharing, “One person drove six hours round trip just to surrender a turtle because no one else would take them.”
Recognizing the limited rehoming options for exotic animals, J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue, in collaboration with regional partners including the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, Winnebago Waterways, and University of Wisconsin Sea Grant/Water Resources Institutes, aims to prevent the harmful practice of releasing pets into the wild. All surrendered animals undergo a quarantine and evaluation period before being made available for adoption.
The Exotic Pet Surrender Event series is made possible through the generous sponsorship of Festival Foods, Ship Your Reptiles, Chemipure, Reef Aquaria Design, and Jellyfish Art. A total of 29 events are planned across Wisconsin, with the next event scheduled for June 1st in Beloit.
For further information about the Exotic Pet Surrender Event, please contact John Moyles at J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue via email at [email protected].
About J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue: J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue (JRAAR) is dedicated to the welfare of aquatic animals. Through rescue, rehabilitation, and responsible rehoming efforts, JRAAR strives to create a compassionate community for both animals and their human counterparts.
