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For a list of the 22 Petco stores offering adoptions, visit about.petco.com/2010/02/dallas-adoptions
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ARLINGTON -- It is the ultimate -- and probably one of the more unusual -- pet rescues.
While most rescue operations involve neglected dogs and cats, this one involves critters such as hermit crabs, iguanas and fire-bellied toads.Still, WildRescue Inc. hopes that people will open their homes and their hearts to the 2,000 animals, all of them taken from U.S. Global Exotics in December during the nation's largest exotic-pet seizure."We're so thankful to WildRescue Inc. They are going to be placing animals that we would have had a hard time placing," said Maura Davies, spokeswoman for the SPCA of Texas.The hamsters, fancy mice, lizards, toads, snakes and other small animals will be offered at 22 Petco stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. WildRescue is an animal welfare partner of the Petco Foundation.The animals were among the 27,000-plus seized by the city of Arlington because of inhumane conditions at U.S. Global Exotics, a pet wholesaler. This month, the city turned custody of the animals over to the SPCA of Texas, which has placed many of them with zoos, animal sanctuaries and welfare groups.The adoption of the 2,000 animals will continue until they are all placed, organizers said. The Petco Foundation, which provides supplies and support to animal welfare groups, will collect an adoption fee."We were appalled by the situation that happened at U.S. Global, and we're thrilled to help in any way we can," said Petco spokeswoman Lisa Epstein. "We need to find these animals good, loving homes."At the Mansfield Petco off U.S. 287, pet lovers can choose from small fire-bellied toads, corn or garter snakes, assorted lizards, geckos and tree frogs."We would much rather adopt one than sell one," said Mark Yarberry, manager of the Mansfield store. "We want to make sure these animals go to a great home."Petco employees can advise adopters on how to care for their new pets, and each animal comes with a care sheet, Yarberry said.The Arlington store near The Parks at Arlington mall will offer various types of hamsters and fancy mice for adoption fees of $2 to $10.Davies expects the SPCA of Texas to distribute the last of the seized animals in a week or two.The Detroit Zoo took in more than 1,000 of them, including most of U.S. Global Exotic's large mammals, such as wallabies, coatimundis and sloths. Other groups and sanctuaries from across the country accepted specific types of animals, such as the arachnids, amphibians and hedgehogs."The wonderful thing is so many groups have stepped up to provide this incredibly large number of animals with the care they deserve," Davies said.SUSAN SCHROCK, 817-390-7639
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