Has That Python Become Too Big To Handle? FWC Hosts Amnesty Day

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – When your kid’s gone off to college and left his Burmese python in your care or when that cute little lizard grows into a big, ugly tegu, consider this alternative to dumping unwanted pets in the wild.

In an effort to keep nonnative, potentially damaging exotic wildlife out of Florida’s nature areas, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is hosting its Exotic Pet Amnesty Day.

Residents who have exotic pets they want to relinquish can bring them to the Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S., St. Petersburg, Saturday, May 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In collaboration with the Friends of Boyd Hills Nature Preserve, residents can surrender their exotic pets, whether they are being kept legally or illegally, during the amnesty day with no penalty or cost.

The Exotic Pet Amnesty Program offers a legal alternative to releasing exotic pets that owners can no longer keep and helps to reduce the number of nonnative species being introduced into the wild.

For those who want to keep their exotic pets but want more information about caring for them, FWC rangers will be available with information on caring for exotic pets, responsible pet ownership and potential ecological impacts of invasive species in Florida. Live animals will be on exhibit. The event is free but access to the preserve trails is not included.

Surrendered exotic pets will be accepted between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and given a health exam by a veterinarian before being made available for adoption that same day to pre-registered, experienced people who can care for them. Animals that will be accepted for surrender include nonnative species of reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds, fish and invertebrates.

Domestic animals, such as cats, dogs, pigs and chickens, will not be accepted.

Animals will be made available for adoption after 2 p.m. Exotic pet adopters need to be experienced and must have already applied and been approved by the FWC.

Potential adopters should bring their acceptance letters and any necessary permits with them.

Becoming an adopter is free, but you are required to register a minimum of four days prior to the event to adopt an animal. Adopter applications can be found on the FWC website by clicking on “How to become an FWC exotic pet adopter.”

Exotic pet owners who cannot attend this event may call the FWC’s Exotic Species Hotline at 888-Ive-Got1 (888-483-4681) year-round for assistance in finding a new home for their exotic pet.

Since its creation in 2006, the Exotic Pet Amnesty Program has successfully found homes for 2,530 exotic pets. Finding homes for these animals with pre-approved adopters helps to ensure that they are not released into Florida’s natural areas.

Amnesty Day Facts

What will happen to my pet if I surrender it?

Exotic pets can be surrendered between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., no questions asked. Every pet that is surrendered is inspected by a veterinarian, and all healthy pets are placed with pre-qualified adopters that same day. Qualified adopters are those who have submitted applications that demonstrate they know how to care for the animals they are approved to adopt.

What should I bring with me to surrender my pet?

First and foremost, your pet - preferably in a transportable container that you are willing to part with. Additionally, you can bring anything involved in the care or caging of the animal that you no longer wish to keep. Anything you surrender with the animal will go with that animal to its new home. This includes caging, food, vitamins, toys and anything else you commonly use in the care of your animal.

I have multiple animals that I need to surrender, will they all go to the same home?

We strive to place animals into new homes and environments that will provide them the best chance at living a long and happy life. If the animals you surrender are bonded together, every effort will be made to place the animals into a new home together. This is usually easy to accommodate if the animals are in pairs or trios.

I’m surrendering my animal, but would like to hear from the new owner about how my animal is doing, is this possible?

When you surrender your animal, you are welcome to leave your name and contact information for the new owner of your animal. However, we cannot guarantee that the person who adopts your animal will be open to contacting you.

What if my pet doesn’t get adopted?

So far, we have been successful with having all healthy animals adopted during an event. However, in the rare event that an animal is not adopted we will hold that animal while we contact pre-approved adopters in the area who may not have been able to attend the event.

Images via FWC