Over 14 Exotic Pets Surrendered, To Be Rehomed

Fourteen animals were turned in at an exotic pet surrender event in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, at the beginning of March. Thirty-five people attended and the event reached 19,000 people on Facebook.  Among the surrenders were clownfish, crescent geckos, ball pythons, a chameleon, and an axolotl!

The Exotic Pet Surrender Event took place on March 1st, 2025 between 12 PM and 3 PM at the 1000 Islands Nature Center.  J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue was accepting fish, invertebrates, reptiles, pet birds, small mammals, and plants — no questions asked. Thanks to this event, J&R is able to now provide a safe, responsible rehoming option for 14 surrendered animals, including clownfish, lizards, and snakes.

This event wouldn’t have been possible without the 18 responsible participants who chose to surrender their pets rather than release them into the wild. In some areas, there are limited or no rehoming options for exotic animals such as fish, birds, and reptiles. Some pet owners may believe that releasing the animal is the right thing to do, but doing so can be harmful to both the animal and the environment. Thanks to these responsible decisions, these animals will receive proper care and find loving new homes.

This event brought together a network of rehoming partners that offer safe alternatives for exotic pet owners who are no longer able to care for their pets. J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue (JRAAR) hosted the event with support from the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

For questions regarding the Exotic Pet Surrender Event or future surrender opportunities can be directed to John Moyles of J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue. He can be reached at adoptions@jraar.org.

For information on upcoming pet surrender events happening across the state of Wisconsin, visit https://www.jraar.org/

Photo Credit: J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue, Chris Acy

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance on our Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance Facebook page or @fox_wolf_watershed_alliance on Instagram! You can also sign-up for email updates at fwwa.org.

The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.