City residents will have to hold onto their lizards for a little longer this month now that the Edmonton Humane Society has put out its No Vacancies sign.
The Humane Society announced this week that it was temporarily closing its doors to owner-surrendered reptiles due to a lack of space.
“We are at capacity,” said spokesperson Warren Dean, and until the society finds some homes for its reptilian roomies, it can’t accept any more.
The society doesn’t have a lot of space for snakes, geckos and other reptiles due to its specialized habitat needs, Dean said. It currently has five snakes, a lizard and a gecko, and that’s all it can handle.
This was a temporary measure, he emphasized – the society will once again accept reptiles once it has room in its shelter, and is still accepting stray reptiles collected by bylaw officials. The society typically runs out of space for reptiles once or twice a year.
Adrian Theroux of St. Albert’s Paradise Pets says his store takes in about eight unwanted reptiles for adoption each year.
Most owners who dump their reptiles didn’t do the research before they got them, Theroux said. Some find that their new pets aren’t as friendly as they’d like, or that food isn’t easily available, or that they can’t care for their pet due to a move.
“Do your research before you get a pet,” he said.
People with unwanted reptiles should call the Edmonton Reptile and Amphibian Society’s rescue service at 780-429-0934, Theroux said. The group’s volunteers are experienced in reptile care and can house many animals.
A reptile abandoned in the country or backyard will not survive, Theroux said.
“It’s not a humane thing to do.”
Call 780-471-1774 for details on the Humane Society.
