PHOENIX — Reptile ownership has doubled over the past two decades, driven largely by trends on social media.
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The National Institutes of Health estimates that more than six million households in the United States care for at least one pet reptile. Which also means there’s a large number of these pets abandoned or destroyed.
There’s one group right here in Arizona working to rescue those pets while educating the public about these special creatures, and this year they are celebrating a special anniversary.
After 25 years, the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary has grown from 26 to more than 16,000 critters. It all started in 2001 with three people and one dream.
The dream team, Dan, Debbie and Russ transformed a north Scottsdale home into the largest reptile sanctuary in the world. 90% of the animals at PHS are pet trade-type animals. Meaning people bit off more than they could chew when thinking a lizard could be a good lap pet.
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Resident rescues include snakes, both venomous and non-venomous, frogs, lizards, turtles, foxes, capybara, coati and crocodiles. Each animal has a unique story about how they landed in the capable hands of PHS. Some of those stories include a teenager who ordered an alligator online, and an abandoned pet croc rescued from the Grand Canyon.
PHS is holding a special 25th Anniversary Party fundraising event on June 6. Guests will enjoy a meet and greet with animal ambassadors, raffles for specialty animal interactions, live auction and silent auction, feeding demonstrations with crocodilians, food trucks and drinks.
For more information, head to the organization’s website.
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