Tales and Scales Exotic Pet Rescue

by Meri Martin

Scales and Tails, Inc. is a registered corporation dedicated to helping rescue and place exotic pets.  We are a licensed shelter and charity in NJ, and have federal non-profit status. We foster, rehab, and place iguanas and other lizards, snakes, turtles, amphibians, ferrets, and other exotic pets.

Scales and Tails was founded in 2002 by Gail Elsey.  She enlisted Meri, Diane, and Patty as the ‘core group’ of the rescue.  All of us had informally been involved in the rescue of exotics beforehand, but the forming of Scales and Tails gave us a chance to pool our efforts and become more organized.  Together we were able to accomplish much more than as individuals.

Our rescue works on several different levels.  Our main focus is on the animals that we rescue and rehab at our shelter.  We work closely with several humane societies throughout New Jersey , as well as with local veterinarians.  Many of the animals that come to our shelter, both reptilian and mammalian, are in need of intensive medical care before they are ready to be placed in their new, permanent homes.  We spend much of our time rehabilitating these animals and making sure they are healthy and socialized enough for new homes.

Along with the animals we work with directly in the shelter, Scales and Tails also provides a nationwide adoption service through our webpage – http://www.scalesandtails.org.  Anyone who needs to place a reptile or amphibian can list them on our site free of charge for as long as needed.  Scales and Tails staff will screen any applications for the listed animals, and forward approved applications to the current owner of the animal for their final approval.

Scales and Tails works closely with the New Jersey Herpetological Society, both in rescue and in education.  Meri is the Vice President of the society, and she and Gail both head the Rescue Committee.  We are strongly committed to education on the care and keeping of exotic pets, and have provided educational lectures and materials at events and expos such as the Super Pet Expo and the Reptiles & Amphibians Weekend at Liberty Science Center .  Scales and Tails has also been interviewed on a public access radio station.

As a non-profit organization, we rely solely on the funds raised from adoption fees and donations.  All monies raised go directly towards the care of animals in the shelter.  If you would like to support Scales and Tails, we accept PayPal donations at gail@scalesandtails.org, or you can donate items such as gift certificates to pet stores, cage supplies, cleaning supplies, spray bottles, paper towels, wood stove pellets, or caging.  All donations are tax deductible and we would be happy to provide a receipt.  For more information on donating to Scales and Tails, or to adopt, foster, or sponsor an animal, please contact meri@scalesandtails.org or visit our website at http://www.scalesandtails.org.

A Scales and Tails Success

These Are the Before Photos

These Are the After Photos