Q. Do you place reptiles? If so, under what circumstances and conditions do you place them, and what special qualifications do you require of adopters?

Bob Downey, executive director
Capital Humane Society, Lincoln, Nebraska

In selecting reptiles for adoption we try to ask ourselves the following questions: Is the reptile legal to possess? Is the reptile easy or dangerous to handle? Can the adopter provide housing large enough for the reptile? What is the health status of the reptile?

The adoption application explores the adopter's knowledge about the reptile. Wrong answers don't disqualify the adopter; they just help us determine what information needs to be passed along to the adopter. Our adoption fee is set at approximately the 60th percentile level of what people would pay for the reptile in a pet store.

Once the adopter has been approved, he makes an appointment with a veterinarian who handles reptiles. We deliver the animal to the appointment and the adopter takes him home from there. This helps to ensure that we haven't made any mistakes in assessing the health status of the reptile and that the adopter has another opportunity to learn more about proper care and the importance of veterinary medicine during the lifetime of the pet.

Nicky Ratliff, executive director
Humane Society of Carroll County, Westminster, Maryland

We do place reptiles if we can find an adopter who we feel is responsible enough. We don't get that many reptiles, but the larger or more exotic they are, the more we scrutinize the applicants to make sure they have the experience and/or ability and willingness to care for them properly. A home visit is sometimes required so we can see the enclosure in which the reptile will be kept. While they're not the norm, follow-up home visits can be made to ensure the reptile's proper care, and all adopters sign an agreement to that effect. In the agreement, we also state that the reptile may be reclaimed if the animal is not being cared for in a manner acceptable to us.

Bill Garrett, executive director
Atlantic Humane Society, Atlanta, Georgia

Our policy on reptiles is under review, but right now, we have several guidelines on reptile placement. Uninjured wild reptiles who are native to our region (like alligators, various amphibians, non-venomous snakes, turtles, etc.) are reintroduced into the appropriate habitat. Some injured reptiles may be rehabbed at a local nature center or with a licensed—repeat, licensed—rehab volunteer. Our objective is release. We may also turn the reptile over to the state's Department of Natural Resources, and there are some interstate transfer and release programs.

With non-indigenous reptiles (such as Nile monitors, komodos—yes, we've actually had them!), we follow local and federal codes: We will release them to zoos that are approved by the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums. We'll sometimes place reptiles with veterinary schools for observation and life care.

We'll place reptiles with individuals with appropriate credentials, but we're very limited in this area and we don't consider it an adoption. Some animals are illegal to "own" but you can have a license to "rehab"—the animal just doesn't go back to the wild. Some people with enough financial resources can hold animals in comfort and give them an appropriate habitat free from exhibit and exploitation. To put it simply, in those in-between cases where the choice is this or euthanasia, we believe animals can lead a quiet, non-exploited life with some enrichment.

Diane Allevato, executive director
Marin Humane Society, Novato, California

The Marin Humane Society places reptiles who have been surrendered or found stray if the animal does not have an aggressive temperament and isn't dangerous. We make judgments about whether the animal is dangerous based on size (taking the animal's potential for growth into consideration), and by species. We are more likely to adopt out reptile species who are routinely kept as pets; in these cases, known standards for veterinary care, supplies, food, and housing can be maintained. We also do a home check before any reptile is placed.

Belinda Lewis, director
Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control, Fort Wayne, Indiana

We do adopt reptiles out in special circumstances. We usually ask that adopters have a record of previous ownership and experience with the species concerned, as well as knowledge of the species and an appropriate and safe environment in which to house the animal. For us, the problem is that there are so few appropriate adopters for these animals that we are running out of placement options within our community; we get far more reptiles in the shelter as a result of hasty pet store purchases than we get people wanting to adopt them. When we get a really exceptional animal, we do work with a Michigan reptile rescue that has a good track record, but unfortunately, many of the reptiles we receive have to be euthanized.

Jim Tedford, executive director
Humane Society of Rochester and Monroe County, Fairport, New York

As with all adoptable animals, we screen any reptiles with regard to health and temperament. Temperament testing an iguana is no easy task! Basically, if an animal "passes" his health examination with our veterinary staff and our animal care staff is able to handle the animal with relative ease, he is considered a candidate for adoption. Specially trained staff members who have experience in caring for reptiles counsel potential adopters; these staff members can determine whether or not the applicant adequately understands the special needs of the species in question. Due to recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control regarding the possible spread of salmonella, we do not adopt reptiles into households that include children under the age of 18.

Pam Burns, president and CEO
Hawaiian Humane Society, Honolulu, Hawaii

Here in Hawaii, the closest things we get to legal reptiles are turtles, and we do adopt them out with an informational sheet. We have no snakes, and most of the other types of reptiles that come into the shelter are illegal for private citizens to own as pets, so if we receive them they are turned over to the Animal and Plant Quarantine Branch of the Department of Agriculture.

Eric Blow, director
Jefferson County Animal Protection, Louisville, Kentucky

We attempt to "place" reptiles and other exotics, as well as livestock. I emphasize "place" as opposed to a routine adoption, because there are frequently special considerations with these animals.

We have developed relationships with area veterinarians and zoo personnel who can help us in placing reptiles. It is our experience that the public does not look to us as a source of such animals; therefore, many such adoptions of exotics would likely be "spur-of-the-moment" decisions. Trying to ensure a good, caring new home for domestic dogs and cats can often be a difficult enough proposition; reptiles are a whole other story. Since all of these species generally require special care, as well as thought and planning prior to obtaining them, we believe it is more responsible to place them with individuals who have experience with them.

We charge no adoption or placement fees. A new owner is required to sign an "Owner Agreement" form. This form obligates him to care for the animal properly and to abide by all state and local laws pertaining to the maintenance of that species. The agreement also specifies that if for any reason the owner can no longer keep the animal, the animal will be returned to us.