- is to promote within the general public a better understanding of herpetofauna, with particular emphasis on those species native to the State of Georgia.
We will realize this goal by the following means:
Through educational programming which will utilize live animals and artifacts. The main emphasis for these programs are the characteristics of herpetofauna, their roles in the environment, conservation, and issues regarding the keeping of herpetofauna as pets.
By maintaining an Internet site which will serve as a source for general herpetocultural information, free to download species care sheets, State and Federal regulations in regards to possession, harm, importation and exportation, and as an on-line aid to our classroom programs. An on-line chat function will allow for direct long distance interactive discussions with groups across the state and beyond.
Through the establishment of an open herpetocultural library covering principally the natural history, conservation, captive husbandry, and medical care of herpetofauna.
- is to provide for the rescue and rehabilitation of sick, injured, or abused herpetofauna. We will attain our secondary goal by using the following courses of action:
By utilizing our web site to network together Georgia State certified rehabilitators, herpetocultural agencies, and exotic animal veterinarians in the hopes of fostering exchanges of ideas and resources. Such a networking of resources will provide a more organized means for the general public, as well as rehab. and veterinary personnel, to obtain information on, and rehabilitation for, animals.
Through the establishment of a facility dedicated to the rehabilitation of herpetofauna. This building complex would incorporate veterinary facilities, large-scale husbandry facilities for terrestrial and aquatic species, and the herpetocultural library. The facility would be designed with the potential for visitors and program use.
By maintaining a library of current, up to date medical treatment information from a multitude of journals, periodicals, and texts; and making this information available to rehabilitators and veterinarians. This will allow rehab./vet. personnel to access more high value technical information than would otherwise be available to private practices or individuals.
GRARE will operate within the following parameters in respect to all rescue and rehabilitation activities.
1) Neither GRARE nor its members will act as a rescue agent by themselves. Federal, State, and local animal control agencies shall be the only recognized rescue agents in suspected abuse cases. The GRARE and its members reserve the right to report suspected abuse and illegal possession cases to Federal, State, and/or local authorities. Abuse is construed as including cruelty or willful and blatantly improper husbandry.
2) GRARE will accept herpetofauna which require medical care from the general public on the condition that ownership is relinquished in writing. When rehabilitated, such animals will be placed for adoption under the auspices of GRARE guidelines.
3) At no time shall more than 80% of the facilities capacity be taken up by non-indigenous species.
4) The rescue/rehabilitation needs of indigenous species shall at all times outweigh the demands for non-indigenous species rehabilitation.
GRARE shall provide educational programming and limited rescue / adoption services for arthropods. It is common practice to place exotic arthropods into a close association with herpetofauna in the pet trade, and as such we will contact them from time to time. Space will be allotted in the library for materials dealing with pet trade arthropods. Rehabilitation of arthropods is, at this time, a very rare concern; but should the opportunity present for a case, it will be taken in following our accepted protocols for donations and rescues.
GRARE shall not engage in breeding programs unless specifically for endangered or threatened species release and reintroduction programs that are sanctioned by State and Federal wildlife agencies.
GRARE encourages breeding of exotic reptiles and amphibians to the ends that the animals would no longer be removed from the wild to satisfy pet trade demands. Such breeding programs should be conducted in a scientific manner, with detailed record keeping. If a species is successfully bred in captivity, the methodology and detailed husbandry requirements could then be provided to the rest of the herpetological community.
GRARE does not encourage the breeding of un-natural color morphs and albinos. It is our position that these practices are rendering the captive population more prone to recessive genetic diseases, and weakening the overall viability of the species in captivity.
GRARE position on breeding reptiles and amphibians is that only experienced herpetoculturalists should allow their animals to breed. Please consider carefully before breeding any animals. Many species are already over-bred, and finding good homes can be very difficult.
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The Georgia Reptile and Amphibian Rescue Effort, Inc.
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Creepy Critters®: Funding GRARE Initiatives Through Educational Programming
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