Arrowhead Reptile Rescue - Reptile Intake


Do you have an unwanted reptile? Did that cute little python get to be just a bit too large? Mom put her foot down and forced you to give up the dragon? Located in or near Ohio? (We are in Cincinnati, OH) CONTACT US... WE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP! If you are not in our area, visit www.anapsid.org and click on herp rescues to find a reptile rescue closer to you.

	THERE IS A LONG WAIT TO PLACE IGUANAS Please be aware that as a rule we do not have time to reply to all the requests to take in iguanas. We get bombarded with requests to take in these reptiles, and we are simply unable to keep up with the demand. We urge you to continue pursuing alternative means of placement for pet iguanas as we cannot take them. There are simply too many of them out there. We appreciate your understanding and we regret that we do not have the resources for thousands of unwanted pets.

Arrowhead Reptile Rescue will help you find decent, loving homes for your pet. We research potential adopters as thoroughly as possible to ensure that the new home will be beneficial to both the new owner and to the animal. As a general rule, we try to help any reptile that comes to us, but cannot always take your pet. Animals that do come into our care are provided excellent diets and habitats in one of our many foster homes. We offer our animals accurate environmental conditions as well as clean, humane, and safe enclosures. Medical care is always provided when necessary. If we can take your pet reptile into one of our foster homes, we ask for a small donation to take in a pet. These donations help us provide food and care to the animals, and help cover the costs of wildlife rehabilitation of native reptiles. Your donation is tax deductible. You have to bring your reptile to us at a location in Greater Cincinnati. If you are located outside of Ohio, northern Kentucky, or southeastern Indiana, please try to find a rescue organization closer to you before contacting us. You can find one by going to anapsid.org. Be advised there may be state and federal restrictions transporting certain species across state lines.

Arrowhead will always take nuisance, orphaned or injured wild reptiles that you find. We are licensed and approved by the Ohio Division of Wildlife and Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife for reptile and amphibian rehabilitation. Wild reptiles are released whenever possible, and are never adopted out as pets. There is no fee for us to take an injured native wild reptile. Donations are accepted and appreciated.

Alligators, crocodiles, and caiman are only accepted in Indiana. You must transport crocodilians to our foster home in Indiana. ARR accepts Ohio restricted snakes and dwarf caiman. Contact us to see if we have room for your Ohio restricted snake. WE NO LONGER ACCEPT POND SLIDER TURTLES The Ohio Division of Wildlife enacted new rules in 2014 for wildlife rehabilitators prohibiting them from dealing with both injured native wildlife and native pet reptiles as well. This includes pond sliders, some map and painted turtles, and most species that are native to the state of Ohio. Due to these Ohio Division of Wildlife regulations and policies, we are no longer accepting pond slider turtles. Unfortunately we were forced to choose between helping injured wildlife for rehabilitation back to the wild, or rescuing native pet reptiles for adoption to new homes. Since most injured wild reptiles that come to us are hurt by human beings and their vehicles, construction, habitat destruction, and other man-made factors, we chose to continue helping those reptiles. We regret that state laws and rules impede on our ability to help reptiles in need. The ODNR Division of Wildlife’s 2014 Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation In Ohio states: “Persons conducting wildlife rehabilitation shall not barter, sell, or trade native wildlife species. Wildlife that are being rehabilitated for release back in to the wild shall not be housed at the same location where a licensed commercial propagator is operating.” Feel free to call the Ohio Division of Wildlife at 1-800-WILDLIFE to lodge a complaint about ODNR rules and regulations that restrict our ability to help animals.

Wild animals will be rehabilitated and then released into the wild if possible and appropriate. Captive reptiles are adopted to new homes whenever possible. We scan all new reptiles for existing microchips or tags. Lost reptile pets will be returned to their owners. All reptiles, captive or wild, are given expert veterinary care if necessary. Our vet, Dr R.D. Dahlhausen, specializes in reptiles and exotics, and we have in-house veterinary technicians on our staff. We provide on-site intensive care, including IV's and tube-feeding. We have a firm no-kill policy... we only euthanize due to an untreatable medical condition. If you are bringing your pet from out of state, be aware there may be federal regulations and state import/export requirements that must be met. We WILL NOT provide professional veterinary or medical care for your personal pet. Please contact your nearest veterinarian specializing in reptiles if your pet needs medical attention. ANIMAL SHELTERS, HUMANE SOCIETIES, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PLEASE NOTE: We will accept emergency intakes resulting from neglect or cruelty cases, confiscations, abandonment situations, etc, and we will waive any fees in these cases. However, we prefer not to take unwanted pet surrenders through shelters and humane societies. If you have someone who has a pet reptile they no longer want, please refer them to Arrowhead directly. Please be aware that if you call us out to help with a reptile, and then you do not use our services, we reserve the right to charge for our time, fuel, and expenses related to dispatching our volunteers and equipment. We would love to help any reptiles in need that you have, however we do not appreciate our volunteers time being wasted.	Who else besides pet owners have trusted their reptiles to Arrowhead? Some of our many clients: OH Dept of Agriculture West Chester Police Department Capitol Area Humane Society Lexington Humane Society SPCA of Cincinnati Boone County Animal Shelter Kenton County District Court US Fish and Wildlife Service OH Dept of Natural Resources Second Chance Wildlife Cincinnati Zoo Cincinnati Nature Center Hamilton County Park District Ourreach for Animals West Chester PD Sharonville PD Liberty Township PD Animal Planet: "Confessions: Animal Hording"