Exotic Pet Care Education from Boone County Animal Rescue

Boone County Animal Rescue is dedicated to educating potential adopters about the significant needs of reptiles, rodents, and birds. The rescue, founded by Keir Schutte, began as a safe haven for bunnies but has since expanded its mission to include nontraditional animals.

"The saddest is the bunnies,” Schutte said. “It’s every single week... and of course after Easter. It's not as bad as it used to be. I think people feel a little more guilty about Easter... but every week I get calls.”

The rescue recognizes that many people don't research pets before adopting, leading to a higher level of care being overlooked. To bridge this knowledge gap, Schutte keeps one of each type of animal commonly surrendered at the sanctuary, allowing people to see firsthand what is required to care for them.

"It comes down to there is just a problem overall with people not researching pets before they get them,” Schutte said.

Michele Isenhower, a volunteer at the rescue, emphasized the importance of compassion in caring for exotic animals. "Animals need humans to help them. Animals are born into situations that they can't help. So for me, I just have a lot of care and compassion for animals,” she said.

The rescue is holding an adoption event on Saturday, August 16, to help find homes for these often-overlooked animals. The cost involved in caring for exotic pets is also an important consideration, as they typically require very specific diets and habitats that can strain a budget.