We are so sorry you have come to a point where you may need to rehome your reptile friend.
We are here to help!
Below you will find some options to try before surrendering your reptile to the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary (PHS):
1. Rehome with a friend or family member you trust. This can be a great way to see your reptile friend and keep them close.
2. Rehome through an online resource, such as an Arizona-based reptile Facebook group. There are a few groups on Facebook that you can rehome your animal on. We recommend you do not give the animal away for free, as sometimes those animals get resold for a profit. Make sure that the person who is taking in the animal understands the care and financial needs that reptiles require.
3. Crisis or Financial assistance through Arizona Humane Society. If you are experiencing a need for a temporary foster OR need financial help, our good friends/partners over at the Arizona Humane Society have some amazing programs to help you. Find out more by clicking here.
4. Assistance with proper husbandry. Maybe your snake isn't eating or your lizard has nose-rub, and that can be frustrating. Our reptile keepers would love to help problem-solve to see if there are any ways of changing an animal enclosure to make them more comfortable. Send them an email at Keepers@Phoenixherp.com
In the event you are unable to keep or rehome your reptile friend, you can set up an appointment to surrender your pet to PHS. Please read the criteria below before you setup a surrender appointment. Surrender appointments can be made by clicking the "Surrender Appointment" button at the bottom of the page.
Surrender Fees
$45 per Animal Aquatic freshwater turtles (red-eared sliders, African side-necked turtles, etc.), Snakes (under 5 feet), Tortoises (under 25lbs), Small/Medium Lizards (under 3 feet) except Iguanas
$100 per Animal Tortoises (over 25lbs), Snakes (over 5 feet), Lizards (over 3 feet) and all Iguanas *See criteria below*
Surrender Criteria
Large Snakes and Lizards Please email casey@phoenixherp.com BEFORE making a large snake or lizard surrender appointment. PHS defines large snakes as being 5 feet or longer in length and lizards 3 feet or longer in length. Large snake and lizard species include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Boa constrictors (all species), Carpet pythons (all species), Reticulated pythons (all species), Burmese pythons (all species)
- Monitor lizards (all species), Iguanas (all species), Tegus (all species)
Surrender fees and surrender availability will be determined after your email has been sent.
Sonoran Desert Tortoises Sonoran desert tortoises are a protected and regulated species in the State of Arizona. Please contact Arizona Game & Fish (AZG&F) to inquire about rehoming your pet Sonoran desert tortoise. You can contact the Arizona Game & Fish Desert Tortoise Adoption Program with any rehoming questions at https://www.azgfd.com/wildlife-conservation/living-with-wildlife/wildlife-care-center/tortoise-adoption-information/.
Please email casey@phoenixherp.com BEFORE making a Sonoran desert tortoise surrender appointment if you are unable to contact AZG&F.
Medical Cases Reptiles that require immediate veterinarian assistance/medical care must be seen by a licensed veterinarian before they can be surrendered to PHS. Please email alex@phoenixherp.com with the veterinarian's records and/or medication(s) requirements BEFORE making a medical animal surrender appointment. A minimum of a $100 surrender fee will be requested for any medical animal(s) surrender along with the veterinarian's records. PHS will not accept medical animals if they have not been seen by a licensed veterinarian first. Surrender fees will be determined after your email has been sent
Amphibians Please email casey@phoenixherp.com BEFORE making an amphibian surrender appointment. Amphibians include axolotls, amphiumids, frogs (terrestrial and/or aquatic) and salamanders/newts (terrestrial and/or aquatic). Surrender fees will be determined after your email has been sent
VENOMOUS Please email venom@phoenixherp.com BEFORE making a venomous animal surrender appointment. Surrender fees will be determined, if necessary, by the PHS Venom Manager after your email has been sent
Invertebrates PHS does not take in invertebrate animals of any species. Invertebrate animals include but are not limited to, spiders, scorpions, centipedes, etc.
Mammals/Birds PHS does not take in mammals or birds of any species
*The Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary can refuse you the right to surrender your pet to the sanctuary at any point in the surrender process if you have not read through and understand the surrender fees/criteria above. Please make sure you have contacted the appropriate PHS staff member (per the criteria above) if applicable, to avoid being refused service before surrendering your pet reptile.
In the event you are refused a paid surrender service, any paid fees that you have already paid towards your surrender will be refunded.
Need a pet reptile picked up?
If you are unable to transport a surrendered pet to the sanctuary, PHS offers a pickup service. Pickups are based off staff availability; dates for surrender pickups can take several weeks to schedule. Please be patient while you work with our team to schedule a time for your pet reptile pickup.
Pick up fees start at a minimum of $75. A calculated price per mile from PHS to your desired location will be determined at the time of your inquiry in addition to the $75. Pickups that require more than one PHS staff member are subject to additional charges. Email alex@phoenixherp.com for pickup fees, scheduling and pickup availability.
Our No Kill Sanctuary takes in hundreds of reptiles each year. Some, which are deemed healthy and appropriate, will be placed in our adoption program to find their forever home.
Please know that surrendering an animal is final and you relinquish the rights to that animal.
All donations are tax deductible, due to our non profit 501(c) 3 status.
If interested, you may donate your supplies and/or equipment with your animal.
IF YOU HAVE AN ANIMAL WITH MEDICAL NEEDS, PLEASE CONTACT US BEFORE MAKING AN APPOINTMENT at alex@Phoenixherp.com
If you have any questions about Animal Surrenders to PHS, please call 480-825-2705
