- Do you guys take in reptiles/amphibians/invertebrates?
~Yes, we take in herps in need for whatever reason. - Do you guys take in pet mammals/birds?
~When we can. This depends on our workload at the shelter at the time. Mammals and birds take much more time to care for than reptiles, and our space and time are not unlimited. If we cannot accept your animal, we will help you place your animal with the right home or resource if we can. - Do you adopt out animals? How much does it cost?
~Yes, L.E.A.R.N. always needs good adoptive homes. Please visit our adoption application page to apply. We do not charge adoption fees or any fees for anything that we do. - Does L.E.A.R.N. do out of state adoptions?
~ While we do not have a specific policy against out of state adoptions, we do prefer to adopt locally when possible for several reasons. However, circumstances may arise where we particularly need a home for an animal and have been unable to find an appropriate resource locally. In such cases, we would consider adoptive resource homes further than we otherwise would. - Does L.E.A.R.N. ship reptiles?
~ Again, we do not have a policy against doing so, but we have not yet shipped a reptile. We prefer to find a ride for the animal with someone who can watch over it during the trip if we are adopting out of the area. - I live several hours away from your shelter, can I still surrender my animal to you?
Yes, of course. There are several ways to go about that. The most direct method, if course, is to bring it to us. We will try to meet partway if we can. There is a severe shortage of rescues focusing on the animals we focus on, so people quite often drive from New Orleans or Dallas or Little Rock to bring us animals. However, we understand not everyone has the ability to do that.
Another option available for reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates (not mammals or birds) is overnight shipping. Visit https://shipyourreptiles.com/ or http://www.reptilesexpress.com/ for more information on how to order the appropriate shipping supplies and get instructions for your animal. Our facility address is at the bottom of this page.
Yet another option is finding a volunteer to transport the animal. While not an everyday occurrence, it does happen that we can sometimes find someone who is traveling from your area that wouldn’t mind carrying a critter to us.
Also, we can try to find a home in your area and forego the transport. See the next question for details. - Can you help me find a home for my pet?
~ Yes, if you prefer to find a home directly instead of surrendering it to us, we can network with placement homes directly with you. We need: a good photo of the animal, your contact info, the location of the animal and as many details about the animal as you can provide. We will post that to rescue sites and our social media followers and see what we can come up with for you. Please specify how you want to be contacted and how far you are able to travel. An email link is at the bottom of this page. - Do you guys take in squirrels/owls/songbirds/raccoons/etc.?
~ We are unable to take in wild mammals or migratory birds. Please click here to find out how to locate the appropriate resource for the animal. If you can not find someone, you may call or text our intake coordinator for assistance. - Can I come see the rescue?
~Yes, if you come to one of our open houses or make an appointment. Check out our events or contact us to do this. - Do you have any Macaws/African Grays/Tortoises/etc. for adoption?
Typically what we have at the shelter waiting for homes are beginner level species (eg. leopard geckos, bearded dragons, ball pythons). While we do take in a variety of species, we typically rely on pre-screened adoptive resource homes for intermediate or advanced level animals. If you would like to be considered for these types of animals, the best way to do so is to fill out an adoption application. We keep applications on file, and when a new species of animal is marked as adoptable, we typically draw first from existing applications to match the animal to the best home available. - How do I care for the reptile/amphibian/bird/mammal I just purchased?
~ L.E.A.R.N. strongly advocates for pet owners buying and reading books about the species they own or are considering owning. While advice from friends, pet store employees or the internet is not necessarily always wrong, no one can impart to you in a brief conversation the many nuances of animal husbandry. Many exotic pets in particular will not communicate their needs as a dog or cat might, and in fact will hide illnesses until they are too severe to conceal. It is up to the owner to know what the animal needs at all times, and to learn how to be alert to warning signs of ill health. Book authors and publishers tend to go through a more rigorous research and review process than most websites, and the information contained in a book is liable to be much more comprehensive than information you will find elsewhere. - I have a tank or supplies I would like to donate. How do I do that?
~ Text or call Micha at (318) 773-9393 and describe what you have. He will coordinate picking the item up or set up an appointment for you to bring the items to the shelter. - You say your primary focus is indigenous reptiles and environmental conservation. Why do you deal so much with exotic animals?
~ Well, for one thing, we love critters and don’t want to see them be homeless or sick. More important, though, is that there are still many people who will simply release pets into the wild when they are no longer wanted. L.E.A.R.N. is the only non-profit corporation in Louisiana that focuses on accepting many of these species, which reduces the impact to our ecosystem that introduced species can effect. - Can you bring some animals to our school/event/etc.?
~ L.E.A.R.N. strives to respond to as many requests as it can for animal interactions and education. Please visit our event request page to set this up. Please note that L.E.A.R.N. does not participate in commercial activities, so we are unable to attend events which are not free or do not have an educational focus.
If you have a question not answered here, feel free to contact us!