Our mission is to work with other recovering addicts to help save animals in need. Our mission: "To do what others won't, to handle what others can't, and to love what others don't." So, you wanna know our story, and why we call ourselves "Recovery" Rescues. Nick and I (Reeci) were both heroin addicts. We were the bottom-of-the-barrel gutter junkies you'd never even consider letting in your home.
We'd lost all trust with our loved ones, served jail time, lost custody of our kids, and were drowning in despair out on the streets. Friends and family were completely done with us. Neither of us ever dreamed we'd find a way out, and death would have been preferable to the lives we were living... and had we continued our ways, that's exactly where we would have ended up. One day, just like that, everything changed. Recovery WAS possible, and we were saved. We never knew each other in our active addictions- we met in rehab, and found mutual interests through our love of reptiles and exotics. We were both in the same profession, working as exotic veterinary technicians, and had even worked for the same doctor at different times! Thanks to Nick putting in a good word for me with the doctor I'd previously worked for, I was hired back into the field I loved- and was given a second chance to get my life back on track, saving animals while redeeming my broken, healing soul. I will ALWAYS be eternally grateful to Dr Darlene Lundberg Eslick, for having more faith in me than I ever had in myself, for showing me trust and love and encouraging me to be the tech I am today. Thanks, Doc, neither of us would be where we are today if it hasn't been for you giving us each a chance. When we first got together, we had a mutual mission - to save the ones who no one else thought were worth saving. Of course we identified most strongly with them because WE were the ones no one wanted to save - someone had to do it, and we figured we were the ones to do it. Nick's been clean since March 2015, I've been clean since April 2016, and we are truly living our dream. While also working full-time and raising two girls, we took in our first rescue - a bearded dragon we named Ducky. He was underweight, worm-ridden, and pissed off at the world. That was our calling - Ducky was the one who started it all. Since August 2016, we've taken in HUNDREDS of animals of varying species and medical conditions. We began on our own, through contacts in the animal and veterinary industries, but as word got out that we'd take in the un-save-able, more and more were thrown our way. We now partner with the FWC, taking in surrendered animals between Amnesty Events. We began our rescue in accordance with the 7th tradition of all 12-step recovery groups - with no outside funding. As we grew and expended, we realized that we simply could not save them all on our own dime, and became a 501c3 nonprofit in March 2019. We obtained our USDA Class C exhibition permit, to legally give tours and events with our Animal Ambassadors, as well as to adopt out some mammals and breed endangered species. We also obtained our Florida Wildlife Rehabilitation license, specializing in bats and wild reptiles- again, taking in the misfits that others do not want to work with. Bats are my heart, and every release gives us motivation to push harder and continue saving as many as we can! We provide mobile, hands-on educational events and "meet the animals" tours by appointment only. All proceeds from our events go to the day-to-day maintenance, feeding, and medical expenses incurred by the animals in our care. Many of the smaller educational events we provide for schools and scout troops are free, for the love of what we do. We offer very reasonable rates for birthday parties, private events, corporate team-building events, and other events. We offer individual sessions teaching husbandry, care, and handling of specific exotic animals - we can use our animals or yours, depending on your needs. We offer exposure therapy classes to help conquer fears of snakes or other reptiles. Contact us for more information, and let us know your needs! If you have a reptile or exotic pet in need of rescue or rehoming, please contact us. We are licensed through the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission to possess and exhibit Class III Wildlife and conditional/non-venomous reptiles. We are also exotic veterinary technicians; every animal in our care receives full veterinary services and wellness exams before rehoming or attending any events. When we DO rehabilitate and decide to rehome, our rehoming fees are nominal, and potential adopters are thoroughly screened. Please do not take offense! We care deeply for our animals and are passionate about their well-being - they are welcome here as long as they need to be until the right adopter comes along. This may mean that they wind up becoming a permanent member of our extensive animal family! Contact us for information on animals up for adoption. Our rates fluxuate on a case-by-case basis and are subject to change and/or negotiation based on individual circumstances. We are a legitimate 501c3 nonprofit, also recognized on GuideStar, and all income from private tours, donations, and/or additional fees are 100% tax-deductible. We do accept and train volunteers; however, spaces are very limited, and we cannot promise that we always have availability. We are always happy to answer any questions regarding husbandry or rehoming; however, being technicians in the veterinary field, our advice is just that - ADVICE. Please do NOT contact us asking specific questions regarding medical conditions of your own animals - we will kindly refer you to an exotic veterinarian :)
