Yesterday evening, Officer Ann Reed with the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in Rockingham County and worked late into the night to safely transfer a large number of exotic animals into our care.

While we are accustomed to receiving dogs and cats and in recent years have managed several large-scale intakes from cases in both the County and the City, this is a first for us.

17 birds, 16 reptiles, 3 amphibians and 2 fish arrived last night along with one very sad dog. Our team is currently conducting wellness exams and getting everyone safely settled. All animals appear to be in stable condition. However, the enclosures require cleaning, resizing, and species appropriate upgrades, something our staff and volunteers are already working on today.

Because birds and reptiles have specialized environmental, nutritional, and habitat needs, this intake requires equipment and supplies we do not typically stock. We have established a dedicated fundraiser to support their care.

Goal: $5,000 These funds will help cover:

Proper habitat enclosures and supplies
Heat and UV lighting
Species-specific nutrition
Ongoing daily care
Additional staff time providing care.

If you would like to support this unexpected intake, donations can be made now.

We are appreciative of the deceased owner’s family for working with us to facilitate the immediate transfer of ownership so that care could begin without delay.

Over the coming days, we will assess next steps for placement. Some animals may be transferred to specialized rescue partners, while others may be placed locally or regionally through adoption once stabilized and prepared.

Thank you for standing with us especially when the unexpected happens. This is exactly why community support matters.

* Funds raised will support the direct care of these animals. Any surplus will be directed to our restricted Have a Heart Fund, a restricted medical fund to help animals requiring lifesaving treatment.

Massive Exotic Pet Intake at RHSPCA

By Rockingham Harrisonburg Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Massive Exotic Pet Intake at RHSPCA

38 Exotic pets entered the care of the RHSPCA overnight on March 2nd. Help us support these animals by donating.