The Dragon‘s Den

11/13/2023

09/07/2023

People have been asking how to support us as we are still in our early stages. Below is a link to our Amazon List of high need items that we are constantly going through within our rescue, with our highest being feeder insects and lighting supplies.

You can support us by helping supply our animals with some important amenities that they need to live happy and healthy lives during their time with us.

We thank you for your support!

08/14/2023

07/29/2023

We have a sad case as we just took in a Cumberland slider with a massive case of septicemia as well as severe internal deformities. Unfortunately, her infection has spread to the point that treatment isn’t an option due to her condition. She is a mature (but very stunted) girl and we are very sad to say she will need to be euthanized.

Please take the time to educate yourselves about the animals that you are intending on bringing into your home. Had she been given the proper care, this turtle could have lived to be 30+ years old.

If you are unable to provide a proper home for your animals, please reach out to your local rescue or humane society today.

07/20/2023

Annette, our recently surrendered ball python, is now available for adoption!

I’m order to adopt Annette, we will need to see pictures of an enclosure or dimensions as well as filling out an adoption application. our adoption application will be uploaded soon, but if you want to reach out beforehand, please contact us!

07/15/2023

We had our first reptile education program at Webb Shadle Public Library today, with a whopping 40 guests! We did not expect this big of a turn out for our first time but we are more than grateful. The kids had a blast holding all of the snakes and lizards. Although it wasn’t perfect, it will forever be a beautiful memory throughout our organization’s history!

If you want to schedule an event with us, call or text us at (515) 481-0835 for a consultation.

07/15/2023

Don’t forget to join us tomorrow at the Webb Shadle Public Library at 10:00am for our very first interactive reptile education program!

Join us to learn about some of our favorite animals in our care!

Don’t forget about our educational event in three weeks at the Webb Shadle Public Library!

Here we will have an interactive educational program for people of all ages! Get your chance to interact with some animals like leopard geckos, bearded dragons, and more!

Information is in the flyer below.

06/30/2023

Meet Gerri!

Gerri is our newest member of the family and was recently surrendered by someone who could no longer care for him due to health concerns. Gerri will also be one of our official ambassador animals, following his quarantine.

06/27/2023

Check out our new logo! Huge thanks to Zach of All Trades Media for creating this concept for us!

06/23/2023

Don’t forget about our educational event in three weeks at the Webb Shadle Public Library!

Here we will have an interactive educational program for people of all ages! Get your chance to interact with some animals like leopard geckos, bearded dragons, and more!

Information is in the flyer below.

06/13/2023

Rhea, our red-eared slider found her forever home today! She will be living out her life in an indoor communal pond, where she will have a lot of space to swim and have some interaction with other turtles.

Thank you to everyone who has been supporting us throughout our start!

06/12/2023

06/12/2023

We are starting to see more and more turtles cross the road. We have also seen more turtles that have been hit by vehicles. Please keep an eye out on your roadways for crossing turtles, and help them finish crossing the road.

Just a reminder: Watch the road while driving and safely lend a hand if possible. Road kills are significantly detrimental to the wild populations of many native North American reptiles.

Image: Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) from Conscious Companion
consciouscompanion2012.com

06/09/2023

The most vibrant possible teals and blues on this panther chameleon at Highlighter Chameleons! 💚🤩💙 TRR is made possible by Dubia.com

06/09/2023

06/09/2023

Meet Annette!

Annette is about a 2-2 1/2 year old female ball python. She was surrendered to us, and will be available for adoption soon! Keep an eye out for her official adoption post for information about how to give her a forever home!

Thank you for all of your support in these beginning months!

06/03/2023

Meet Allister the black and white Argentine tegu!

This is one of our first intakes. Allister came in a bit underweight, and with the beginnings of metabolic bone disease. Luckily it was not too far along and he will be able to live out his full happy life!

Right now, we are working on taming him down, as he has not found trust in us yet. Hopefully with a few good meals and some time together, he will make appearances as one of our ambassador animals!

To follow his progress, please follow our page!

05/30/2023

This here, is a Blanding’s turtle. They were named after an American naturalist by the name of Dr. William Blanding. They can be found from Nebraska all the way up to southern Ontario and include small ranges in the Northeastern United States.

These are a threatened species in many states including Iowa. With the loss of natural wetlands and the road mortality rates, we have seen a decline in their population. Contact your local wildlife office today to see what you can do to help these turtles’ population make a rebound.

05/29/2023

Remember to watch out for turtles on roadways! This is especially important for Iowa’s threatened and endangered species like the yellow mud turtle, the wood turtle, and the Blanding’s turtle.

Help us protect our wildlife

Please look out for nesting turtles 🐢 👀

You can watch a snapper dropping dozens of eggs here:
https://youtu.be/e7AD4wyADPU

05/26/2023

We are proud to say that we are officially getting started on the papers to become an official rescue! This July we will be doing our first educational presentation! Keep an eye out for more information.

05/24/2023

05/12/2023

Wish you a Happy Birthday legend!
Sir David Frederick Attenborough
1926 May 08

Art credit:- Deviant art/ EatToast

05/08/2023

We took out one of our little noodles. Do you see him?

05/05/2023

The Yangtze giant softshell turtle, also known as the Hoan Kiem turtle or Swinhoe’s softshell turtle, is native to China and Vietnam.

05/05/2023

UPDATE 5/3/23: This proposal has been stopped! Thank you to everyone who opposed this horrible and overreaching ordinance! This was easily one of the worst bans we have seen introduced. Even though this was a small city in Iowa and may not have affected you, these bad bans can spread quickly if they get passed anywhere. That is why it is important to find them and stop them before they start.

ALERT: Denison, Iowa
Read it below or at https://usark.org/23denison/

Meeting: Tuesday, May 2, 2023 @ 5:00 pm at City Hall

This ordinance affects domesticated and non-traditional pet owners! Denison, Iowa has proposed a very broad ban on all species not native to Iowa or Nebraska. Additionally, there is a pet limit for domesticated species and even fish. The draft language is very poorly and haphazardly written. This is a bad one! All local pet owners need to get involved and amend this shortsighted ordinance. Get involved or get banned! Locals need to call and email the Mayor and Council members ASAP!

What it does:

1. Bans all species not native to Iowa or Nebraska. NOTE: We realize there is a list of animals but nowhere does it state that the ban is limited to those species.
2. Animal limit: “No person shall own, harbor, or keep more than six (6) animals of more than 4 months of age within the corporate limits of the City of Denison.” This means that someone cannot have more than six pets or animals of any mix. I.e. two dogs, two parakeets, and three frogs = ILLEGAL. More than six fish = ILLEGAL. Etc.
3. Ferrets are banned. All species in the Family Mutelidae are banned as “dangerous animals” and ferrets are not listed as exempt.
4. Additional bans: native snakes (because all non-native snakes are banned) over 36″ in length and native birds over 38″ tall.
5. Any person with more than four allowed animals must pay for a license from the City. NOTE: You still cannot own more than six animals even with this license.
6. All of these types of “regulated animals” will be banned (see definitions for each) unless it is a domesticated species (i.e. dangerous dog) that is licensed with the City: “Dangerous animals, hybrid animals, and exotic animals” are all banned. If permitted to keep a regulated animal, liability insurance of at least $5000,000 is required, among other requirements.
7. Bans all species listed under the federal Endangered Species Act. This means many species of turtles, tortoises, parrots, lizards, etc. are banned even though they are not banned to keep or breed under federal law.
8. Grandfather clause: Animals owned prior to the effective date shall have 60 days to register those animals with the City. However, these owners must supply “satisfactory proof” of ownership prior to the effective date. The effective date shall be immediate upon final passage.
9. Bans beekeeping.

Read the full proposal at https://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/23-Denison-IA.pdf. All of the text highlighted in yellow is new language.

Find City Council phone numbers and email addresses at https://denisonia.com/?page_id=61.

Sample Message

An email list is below but you should also send emails through the Denison website at https://denisonia.com/?ai1ec_event=city-council-43&instance_id=2604.

Email list: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

Email subject line: NO to Animal Ordinance Amendments

Denison Mayor and City Council,

As a Dension resident and responsible animal owner, I implore you to table and stop the proposal to amend City Code Chapters 55 and 56 regarding animal protection and dangerous animals. This proposal is horribly lacking in research and stakeholder input! As written, the proposal bans aquariums with more than six fish, pet ferrets, many parrots, commonly kept pet reptiles and amphibians, and much more. It is horribly drafted and lacks any legitimate rationale. This ordinance that is going to negatively affect a large percentage of Denison residents needs a dedicated workshop with animal owners. This is absolutely bad and overreaching government policy. I would not expect this from my beloved home of Denison.

As written, this ordinance bans most fish tanks, pet geckos, pet tortoises, houses with a few fish and a couple of birds, many pet parrots, and many other unjust examples. How did this happen in my city? Please pause this action so Denison residents have time to digest what the Council is proposing. It lacks forethought and residents were not aware of the many consequences until recently. Please understand that local residents do not have the time to dedicate to watching law changes but we are now aware of what is actually happening, rather than just a change to keeping chickens as reported in the news which was very misleading and misinforming. Thank you for your time and have a good day.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME

05/04/2023

MorphMarket will not allow animals to be sold fresh out of the egg like this. This bearded dragon isn’t even large enough to be shipped. We quickly removed several small bearded dragons this morning when they were flagged.