×
×
homepage logo
STORE

Reptile rescuers: Couple houses unwanted pet reptiles

By Staff | Aug 19, 2015

MEL TOADVINE Amy Bader, of Lehigh Acres, with a snake. She and her husband, Jason, founded SWFL Reptile Rescuers.

Editor’s Note: The story below has been updated, correcting errors in the original copy. As a “rescue,” SWFL Reptile Rescuers cares for, but does not remove or trap, reptiles.

***

Jason and Amy Bader of Lehigh Acres feel that what they are doing in caring for unwanted, invasive, and throw-away pet reptiles is important. They are the founders of SWFL Reptile Rescuers.

Jason is disabled and is able to find this job at home very important and feels that with his wife and son’s support, there is a good place for these unwanted pets.

“I have always enjoyed caring for all types of small reptiles, including snakes since I was a boy,” said Jason.

MEL TOADVINE The garage is filled with all types of reptile critters and is climate controlled for their comfort.

“We are the people who will take over and care for a reptile pet when its owners no longer wants it for whatever reason,” he said.

Jason and Amy noted that a lot of people don’t know what it takes to care for a reptile once they have bought it from a pet store.

They don’t realize that the reptiles they buy are going to grow and some are going to grow very large, he said.

“It takes times and money to buy food and oftentimes, the new owners of a reptile tire of the pet and don’t know what to do with it.

“What happens sometimes is something that should never happen and that is the owner of the pet reptile lets the animal go free,” Jason said.

For the past three years, Jason and Amy Bader have cared for reptiles at their home. You can email them at: swflreptilerescuers239@gmail.com.

“Folks can get in touch with us if they want to get rid of their reptile. Sometimes people find out that it takes a lot of time to care for a pet reptile and they weren’t told essentials from pet store owners when it was purchased,” Jason said.

His wife added that sometimes these reptiles become the “forgotten pets” and don’t get the attention they need.

“We don’t want to see these animals released into the wild. They will either die or become an invasive species,” she said

Just look at what has happened to the Python snake population in Florida that has multiplied so fast, all because of them being released or most likely being freed when a fierce hurricane hit the area, destroying snake breeders’ farms, Jason noted.

All total, there are close to 50 reptiles of all sorts at the Bader household.

But things are clean and there is no odor in the house from the well-kept reptiles and snakes. The garage of the house has been turned into a complete room for the care of reptiles.

Jason said the room is temperature and climate controlled for the reptiles.

One of the reptiles he has an amputated foot which he said probably came when it was very small and could have been bitten off by another reptile.

“We take out and handle all the reptiles on a daily basis for supervised exercise,” they said.

Jason said it is his hope that there won’t be a need for what he and his wife do in the future. But that depends on good information being provided to those who buy reptiles, including snakes, as pets.

“They should know what they are doing because these pets require attention and can’t be ignored. Pet store owners need to give the proper education to prospective pet owners and the most important thing is to get out to the public is to never let a reptile pet, including snakes, get loose in the wild, which is outside the front door,” he said.

Jason said he enjoys the work and once a permit is approved, he can then adopt out the animals to suitable homes.

“I won’t allow anyone to adopt a reptile who I think can’t care for it in the proper way,” he said.

“There’s a lot to learn and we’re here to offer any information to owners who want to know about these kinds of pets,” Jason added.

“They are very enjoyable pets. Some pet owners seek our assistance in learning about proper husbandry. We are here to help educate anyone that it willing to learn,” Jason said. “If someone can no longer care for their reptile, we assist in the rehoming of the pet.”

“These pets need protection,” he added.

Reptile rescuers: Couple houses unwanted pet reptiles

By Staff | Aug 19, 2015

MEL TOADVINE Amy Bader, of Lehigh Acres, with a snake. She and her husband, Jason, founded SWFL Reptile Rescuers. Amy Bader, of Lehigh Acres, with a snake. She and her husband, Jason, founded SWFL Reptile Rescuers.

Jason and Amy Bader of Lehigh Acres feel that what they are doing in caring for unwanted, invasive, and throw-away pet reptiles is important. They are the founders of SWFL Reptile Rescuers.

Jason is disabled and is able to find this job at home very important and feels that with his wife and son’s support, there is a good place for these unwanted pets.

“I have always enjoyed caring for all types of small reptiles, including snakes since I was a boy,” said Jason.

“We are the people who will take over and care for a reptile pet when its owners no longer wants it for whatever reason,” he said.

Jason and Amy noted that a lot of people don’t know what it takes to care for a reptile once they have bought it from a pet store.

MEL TOADVINE The garage is filled with all types of reptile critters and is climate controlled for their comfort.

“They don’t realize that the reptiles they buy are going to grow and some are going to grow very large,” he said.

“It takes times and money to buy food and oftentimes, the new owners of a reptile tire of the pet and don’t know what to do with it.

“What happens sometimes is something that should never happen and that is the owner of the pet reptile lets the animal go free,” Jason said.

For the past three years, Jason and Amy Bader have cared for reptiles at their home. You can email them at: swflreptilerescuers239@gmail.com.

“Folks can get in touch with us if they want to get rid of their reptile. Sometimes people find out that it takes a lot of time to care for a pet reptile and they weren’t told essentials from pet store owners when it was purchased,” Jason said.

His wife added that sometimes these reptiles become the “forgotten pets” and don’t get the attention they need.

“We don’t want to see these animals released into the wild. They will either die or become an invasive species,” she said

Just look at what has happened to the Python snake population in Florida that has multiplied so fast, all because of them being released or most likely being freed when a fierce hurricane hit the area, destroying snake breeders’ farms, Jason noted.

All total, there are close to 50 reptiles of all sorts at the Bader household.

But things are clean and there is no odor in the house from the well-kept reptiles and snakes. The garage of the house has been turned into a complete room for the care of reptiles.

Jason said the room is temperature and climate controlled for the reptiles.

One of the reptiles he has an amputated foot which he said probably came when it was very small and could have been bitten off by another reptile.

“We take out and handle all the reptiles on a daily basis for supervised exercise,” they said.

Jason said it is his hope that there won’t be a need for what he and his wife do in the future. But that depends on good information being provided to those who buy reptiles, including snakes, as pets.

“They should know what they are doing because these pets require attention and can’t be ignored. Pet store owners need to give the proper education to prospective pet owners and the most important thing is to get out to the public is to never let a reptile pet, including snakes, get loose in the wild, which is outside the front door,” he said.

Jason said he enjoys the work and once a permit is approved, then he can adopt out the animals to suitable homes.

“I won’t allow anyone to adopt a reptile who I think can’t care for it in the proper way,” he said.

“There’s a lot to learn and we’re here to offer any information to owners who want to know about these kinds of pets,” Jason added.

“They are very enjoyable pets. Some pet owners seek our assistance in learning about proper husbandry. We are here to help educate anyone that it willing to learn,” Jason said. “If someone can no longer care for their reptile, we assist in the rehoming of the pet.”

“These pets need protection,” he added.