[cooljules]

At the moment, making a huge pond, complete with fencing etc for the rescue turtles, large ones usually, got 12 (i think)

Sold my camper to part fund it, got lots of the stuff needed for the garden cheaper, or at cost (fencing, timber etc)

but was wondering, as turtles dont make good pets, as there bought the size of a 50p peice, females get huge, and a lot of equipment, and tank etc.. and just given up or dumped in park ponds...if its a good idea, or anyone would sponser a turtle, say 50p or a quid a week, get a large foto of it, name it....and can come and see it, in a large pond doing well.. towards the costs etc of the rescue rep garden..

The subject of small rescue centres came up on a reptile forum, and my costs are at least £5000 a year..not inc vets etc and now im upgrading the garden, to stop vandals etc again, its not cheap.. i know its not a lot compared to what some pay out, but its at a point now, where i cant take any more in, yet a lot of reptiles are still being dumped or neglected etc

so is it a good idea, 50p a week to sponser a turtle? (thats 6quid a week and once all completed, would cover the food and running costs for the pond i hope) and people can come and visit them....

I know 2 we took on, already had names, crush n squirt, but the others dont..

[Strix]

It sounds like a good idea, and possibly a little more is better to ask, but do look into the financial and legal aspects of it all

you don't want any of this being examined as YOUR income and it affecting your benefits

I don't know who best to ask for advice on this, but maybe ask RainRescue as a start point?

[cooljules]

Originally Posted by Strix

It sounds like a good idea, and possibly a little more is better to ask, but do look into the financial and legal aspects of it all

you don't want any of this being examined as YOUR income and it affecting your benefits

I don't know who best to ask for advice on this, but maybe ask RainRescue as a start point?

I spoke to a couple of reptile rescues, as people offered to help if i was a registered charity, but i cant do that, as 1 you need a lot of money coming in as donations in the first place, so they told me to do it as a rescue organisation...

i dont do most of the physical work, i cant, hence asking for people on here to come and help where they can...

I have lots of reptiles, infact 95% are rescue, only a couple i bought as pets, the unwanted animals, started coming when people knew i kept reptiles etc year ago..

I have a veyy evil nasty chinese turtle(well its how they are, it doesnt mean to be nasty) that i rescued from someone off here a few months ago...taking up a lot of my living room, but the others are US sliders, cooters etc

A lot of reptiles we rescue, can find good new homes after a few monts, but turtles, ill stuff now well, and large stuff stays...

I know im going without a lot of things, even clothes etc to cover the costs...i dont mind, but its not nice, i guess just like the mad cat woman.

[Strix]

could you do as Sooz did with the rabbits?

she used to rescue herself, but now she's a volunteer for another rescue, so still does the same, but with less of the stress and financial responsibility (if I've got that right)

[cooljules]

Originally Posted by Strix

could you do as Sooz did with the rabbits?

she used to rescue herself, but now she's a volunteer for another rescue, so still does the same, but with less of the stress and financial responsibility (if i've got that right)

what did she do?

i dont know any other reptile rescues near me, plus with the amount of animals we have, it wouldnt be easy..

with my health, i enjoy doing it, rather than sat here doing nowt...

i was looking at doing public exhebitions etc, but not ready yet.

Only stress i have, is having sick and dieing animals coming in...i cant heal them all, but the ones i can, make it all worth it...

just trying to get a way to get a little coming in, to help feed the animals, running costs..without sound cheeky wanting hand outs...if that makes any sense.

[Strix]

She keeps rescue buns at home, so the only real difference between what she did before and what she does now is that the admin/finance is from a bigger rescue much better equipped to cope, and presumably it also means she has back-up from elsewhere if she's getting overloaded

you wouldn't need to find a local rescue, you could offer to be the northern branch of a southern rescue for instance

[cooljules]

Originally Posted by Strix

She keeps rescue buns at home, so the only real difference between what she did before and what she does now is that the admin/finance is from a bigger rescue much better equipped to cope, and presumably it also means she has back-up from elsewhere if she's getting overloaded

you wouldn't need to find a local rescue, you could offer to be the northern branch of a southern rescue for instance

ah got you...

sounds like a possible, good idea..

i know a couple of rescue places, one in Bolton, i speak to the woman often...and shes given me some good ideas, but told me lots of pitfalls..esp going a charity status.

I know by Apr, i need the garden fenced and secure, pond dug, lined and completed etc. so they can be out in the sun...all this started when the postman last year, brought me a turtle he come across (he thought it was a turt, but knew i kept reps) and since then more and more have come....i never kept turts as pets as not good pets really...but now, learnt so much about them, and sort of interesting!

[Lynz&Rox]

Could you do like an open afternoon one weekend when the weathers abit better and let people have a look at what reptiles you have and what work you do with rehoming etc?
It could be a good way to let people see how much effort you put in to help and people could make donations on the day too. Then if you were doing the turtle sponsering people could do it then.

[cooljules]

Originally Posted by Lynz&Rox

Could you do like an open afternoon one weekend when the weathers abit better and let people have a look at what reptiles you have and what work you do with rehoming etc?
It could be a good way to let people see how much effort you put in to help and people could make donations on the day too. Then if you were doing the turtle sponsering people could do it then.

I could do, i have invited many people from here to come and see whats involved with keeping reptiles, the good and bad...some have, some havent.

I could never ask for donation, feels like cheeky...but just thought, sponsor a turtle and come and see it when you want..

All this was to be done last year, but we got let down on just about everything, so it never got done, hence my living room looks like a jungle and tanks full of turtles (some as large as my head) and hence they need a large pond.

I have rehomed to good homes a few reps, to people on here, as not all are neglected, and thats good, but with some, like turts...cant do that.

[Strix]

well keep us up to date with how you get on if you talk to the woman in Bolton

[cooljules]

Originally Posted by Strix

well keep us up to date with how you get on if you talk to the woman in Bolton

ta, and your more than welcome to come over and see the reps...and how the garden is going (fencing and pond first, still will be needing help with the shed/greenhouses etc through the summer)

[redbull1]

Could you list on ebay? its a sponsor so your not selling the actual turtle. Maybe you could also sell those novely laminated signs ..beware of the turtle etc,,Im sure they cant be dear to make, i know the lizard ones seem to get quite a few bids on as i look for things like that for my beardie.
Hope your up and running soon.. Ive seen quite afew turts and reps sold in uneducated pet shops and you just know they are going to end up having to be rehomed. A few yrs back i had a friend bring my a turtle, a friend of hers didnt want it - was going to just let it go.. So my friend took it and brought it me, i nearly died when she opened the top of the plastic box and it was an aligator snapping turtle. I rehomed to a responisble turtle rescue. I could tackle my 5 ft iggy but no way a snapper....lol..

[cooljules]

Originally Posted by redbull1

Could you list on ebay? its a sponsor so your not selling the actual turtle. Maybe you could also sell those novely laminated signs ..beware of the turtle etc,,Im sure they cant be dear to make, i know the lizard ones seem to get quite a few bids on as i look for things like that for my beardie.
Hope your up and running soon.. Ive seen quite afew turts and reps sold in uneducated pet shops and you just know they are going to end up having to be rehomed. A few yrs back i had a friend bring my a turtle, a friend of hers didnt want it - was going to just let it go.. So my friend took it and brought it me, i nearly died when she opened the top of the plastic box and it was an aligator snapping turtle. I rehomed to a responisble turtle rescue. I could tackle my 5 ft iggy but no way a snapper....lol..

Well.....belive it or not, JUST had a fone call, another turtle coming on Sat, they dont know what type it is (just is a soft shell) and i have these, they cant be kept together and eat a lot of mice and insects and need heating in a large tank alone..

I like snappers, but called that for a reason...

[redbull1]

exactly they are beautiful, which they def are, but i like all my fingers nicely attached to my hand. I had that snapper ( wasnt very big only ababy ) for about a week before he was rehomed but even feeding with pinchers made me jump lol.
Ill admire from a far lol.

[Strix]

Originally Posted by cooljules

ta, and your more than welcome to come over and see the reps...and how the garden is going (fencing and pond first, still will be needing help with the shed/greenhouses etc through the summer)

thanks

I thought you'd fallen out with me over the whole 'hunting' thing

[cooljules]

Originally Posted by Strix

thanks

I thought you'd fallen out with me over the whole 'hunting' thing

was that you? oh im useless at names...no fine, not a problem

[Bloomdido]

Where abouts are you based?

[cooljules]

Originally Posted by Bloomdido

Where abouts are you based?

im at firth park, i have been asking for help digging, chopping, putting up fencing etc, before the pond can go in, for safety and to stop vandalism
as we are overrun with these, 12 i think came since last summer
http://www.julianhales.co.uk/images/...s/PICT2836.JPG

My small pond cant cope, was ok for 4 at a push....now needing to make a 15'x6'x5' at least

had some people when they can pop over and help doing stuff but the date is slipping, the turtles pond has to be completed by Apr, and were stiil struggling with the fencing, weather and when people can spae a hour or so etc etc

Im cant order the timber and pond liner until the fencing is up and completed, and my neighbours arnt too happy as i have fencing over there gardens along with a load of rubbush...

Hopefully before the weekend, im getting a much larger greenhouse, to grow plants etc for the animals, as they get through a lot and the local supermarket wont give me off cuts now

Sold my camper last week, as we ran out of cash, to cover the liner, timber etc, but theres still lots to do throughout the summer for the whole rescue rep garden and pond.

[Strix]

Originally Posted by cooljules

was that you? oh im useless at names...no fine, not a problem

It's confusing when people change avatars isn't it?

I'm up in firth park reasonably regularly, so I may just take you up on the offer soon

[cooljules]

Originally Posted by Strix

It's confusing when people change avatars isn't it?

I'm up in firth park reasonably regularly, so I may just take you up on the offer soon

no it wasnt the image, i dont even notice...just like names