Sandhills Exotic Rescue

06/07/2022

A common misconception about animal rescue is
people assume nonprofits do not have to pay for anything.
People believe because we are a nonprofit we receive free vet care, free medical supplies, free food, etc.

Guess what? We pay for everything and we usually pay full price. On a rare occasion a vet might discount us a little or a feed store might give us 10% off. We even have to pay tax on retail goods and services! And we have to file taxes and annual financial reports every year!

Nonprofit status benefits the donor. If you donate to us it allows you to use your donation as a tax write-off. Being granted nonprofit status is expensive and time consuming for rescues, but we do so to be able to ask for donations to help the animals.
We have to pay a fee to be a nonprofit. We have to pay a fee to be a charitable organization. We have to pay accountants and financial professionals.

Rescues like ours are here because we love animals, we have a lot of hands-on experience with the species we take in, we like to help animals, and we are good at what we do. And we end up paying for most of the rescue needs out of our own pockets.

Rescues like ours are volunteer organizations. No one gets a salary. We are not state or federally supported. Grants are rarely available to wild or exotic animal rescues.

Please understand when we ask for donations we are asking you to help us save lives. To pay for vet care for animals that were abandoned, abused, or neglected. To help us find good homes for these animals and to help us be ready for the next animal that needs to come in for care.

28/04/2022

10/04/2022

Let’s fast forward a couple of weeks to when you decide you are tired of that bunny or duckling you got for Easter.
You didn’t anticipate the responsibility of cleaning up after your new pet. You weren’t aware you would have to buy a special enclosure and special food for your new pet. You had no idea rabbits, ducks, chickens or even rats need veterinarians!
Now what? You tried the local county-funded shelter and they only take cats and dogs.
You called a wildlife rescue, but they can only take native animals. You contacted an exotic rescue, but they are full OR they are 3 hours away and require you to drive the animal to them…which you aren’t about to do!
These are common reasons we hear from people wanting to surrender their Easter pets about one month after Easter.
Don’t buy pets as Easter gifts. Animals are forever. Shelters and rescues are not a guaranteed answer to your unwanted pet problem.
Responsible pet ownership begins BEFORE the purchase. Do your research. Pets are not disposable. You are responsible for their life!

03/04/2022

Did you know it is unlawful to release domesticated (pet) ducks and geese at local parks/public ponds and lakes?

Releasing pet ducks and geese anywhere, other than your private property is considered animal dumping and you could be charged with abandonment and neglect.

Dumped ducks and geese rarely survive one year alone. They have no defenses against predators, disease, boat and vehicle traffic, or even people who intentionally harm them. They usually starve in the winter when their food sources die off. They do not have the instinct to migrate like wild waterfowl.

Do not be part of the problem. Do not buy animals you do not plan to keep for their entire lifetime. Animals are not disposable. Pets are for life!!

27/03/2022

Yay for Forever homes!

27/03/2022

Three weeks until Easter.
Isn’t she cute? She was one of the three dozen chicks we took in after the Easter fun wore off last year.

Many families will purchase rabbits, ducks, chicks, and other pets as gifts. Do not be part of the problem. Do not buy animals you do not plan to keep for their entire lifetime. Animals are not disposable.

23/03/2022

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.101635069001125&type=3

23/03/2022

Easter is just a few weeks away. Many families will purchase rabbits, ducks, chicks, and other pets as gifts.
About one month later rescues like ours will begin getting calls from people wanting to surrender their Easter pets.
We will also get calls to rescue abandoned and discarded Easter pets that have been “released”. Most abandoned pets come with injuries, severe dehydration, and will be emaciated after trying to survive on their own.

Do not be part of the problem. Do not buy animals you do not plan to keep for their entire lifetime. Animals are not disposable.

15/03/2022

PET Rat

Male, gray body, white belly, white front paws

Available for adoption at 6 weeks old: March 22

Handled daily and socialized. Rats make incredible pets.

ADOPTION FEE $50 (small starter cage, 3 day supply of food included)

ADOPTION APPLICATION: https://forms.gle/1WtyRya1J4spPLKU8

31/01/2022

Non-native, exotic species cannot survive in the wild. Many are captive bred and have never had to survive on their own.
Non-native, exotic species can cause environmental damage to native species and habitats.

16/01/2022

Week 17! Not much room for mystery left if you are family with this species.

Go back to the beginning of this album to see the age progression.

15/01/2022

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR FERRET OWNERS

Ferret owners are reporting confirmed cases of Covid in ferrets. Most cases are fatal for the animal.

Ferrets are susceptible to the flu, bacterial infections, Covid, and sinus infections from humans. If you get sick you should take steps to limit exposure to your pets, especially ferrets.

If you have questions or concerns please discuss them with your vet and have a health plan BEFORE your ferret gets sick.

INFO:https://www.redbankvet.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/COVID-19-and-Your-Pet-Ferret.pdf

03/01/2022

Happy First Monday of the New Year!

28/12/2021

Week 15 pic!

Are you following along with our Watch It Grow! Album? Have you figured out the species yet?

27/12/2021

Cute article shared by our friends at Wayward Rabbits of SC

A simple guide to help all rabbits take control of their humans & get more treats too!

17/12/2021

Are you following along? Check out our Watch it Grow! album series for updates!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.102733962224569&type=3

16/12/2021

https://info.petwellbeing.com/nominate-rescue?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=FBAd-11-21&fbclid=IwAR0-fRHTUVk3J8ieIwUSWFz5jQiyVM_ZWUVt6Kfsg1RfHokXkF_MUuWWAew

Is there pet rescue organization that you think deserves extra support? Nominate your favorite rescue, shelter, or animal sanctuary and Pet Wellbeing will make a donation to the right candidates!

13/12/2021

Adding a new pet to your family this holiday season?
Whether you are getting a puppy, kitten, or something more exotic here are a few tips before you bring your new family member home.

Once you decide on your new pet, please do a lot of research. Online research is good but talk to other people who own the species you want to buy. Talk to rescues who care for that species and ask about common issues, illnesses, and care instructions. What are the most common reasons that species gets surrendered by owners?

New pets can be expensive. In advance of bringing your new family member home you will need to have the proper habitat and diet ready. You will need to provide the proper habitat NOW and as the animal grows. This includes proper lighting, humidity, and temperature. SIDE NOTE: Proper lighting is not for the purpose of illuminating the animal’s enclosure. It is to provide UVA/UVB (artificial sunlight) so the animal can properly digest food and absorb the nutrients from its food. Oh, and you must keep that habitat clean! Dirty, unsanitary habitats can make you and your pet sick!

Special diets could be difficult to obtain year-round. Make sure you will be able to purchase the supplies needed for your new pet. Some dietary needs may need to special ordered.

Find a veterinarian that treats the species you are bringing home. Even exotic pets need vet care. You do not want to wait until there is an emergency to learn the only vet that treats the species you have is 3 hours away.

Bringing a new pet home can be stressful for you and the animal. Especially during the holidays when you are on the go or are entertaining. Make sure you let the new pet acclimate to its new surroundings and do not have unreal expectations when you first bring your pet home. Some species need a few weeks to get used to their surroundings before being held. It takes several weeks to establish a routine. You should also be sure the pet will be accepted by other animals and humans already living in the home.

Once your pet is ready to be handled be sure you have enough time to devote to training/taming. Pets that are not handled or tamed often end up with a life sentence in their cage, which is the opposite of what most people intend when they purchase a new pet.

Most important be ready to make a lifetime commitment! Does your daily life allow the time this pet will need? What happens if you go on vacation? Or if you travel for work?

Pets should not be disposable. Recues like ours fill up very fast and must limit what we can take from the public. Do not depend on a rescue to always be an option if a pet does not work out or if your pet needs emergency care.

And as always, when looking for a new pet for your family consider adopting from a rescue. Rescues are overflowing with pets that need loving homes…especially in the weeks following Christmas and Easter.

12/12/2021

Follow along in our Watch It Grow! album and see if you can guess the species. Here are our week 13 pics! (3 pics this week to give you a better look!)

26/11/2021

Follow along in our Watch It Grow! album to guess the species! Here is our week 11 pic!

21/11/2021

Mae Belle came to us after being removed from her owner during an animal abuse investigation. She was in poor health on arrival and has come a long way.
Primates have become a huge fad pet in our state and we are seeing increased owner surrenders. Proper care for primate species is expensive and time consuming.

Name: Mae Belle
Species: Common Marmoset
Gender: Female
Age: 4
Status: Permanent Placement
Sponsorship status: Sponsor needed
*Animal Ambassadors are not available for adoption*

18/11/2021

Are you following along to guess the species?
Here’s our most recent photo at 10 weeks old.

14/11/2021

https://www.thesprucepets.com/chameleons-t2-1236756

14/11/2021

https://www.thesprucepets.com/pet-aquatic-turtles-1237254