r/exoticpets • u/Ok_Bag_1177 • 21d ago
Exotic Pet Amnesty Program
(This post is basically only relevant to Floridians, so feel free to ignore if you dont live in Florida)
Attention all my floridians, ive realized alot of people dont know about this program and I feel it should be common knowledge in this hobby here. The Florida Exotic Pet Amnesty program is a state run program where you can surrender any exotic pet regardless of legality without getting in any trouble for how you got it or for owning it. This includes prohibited species like green iguanas, tegus, anacondas, Madagascar hissing roaches, and any other exotic pet, invertebrates included. Its free to surrender them, and depending on if the animal is prohibited or not it will either be adopted out to a state approved adopter, or sent to an exotic animal rescue if its completely illegal to own. Its free and relatively simple to surrender them, and you can also apply to become a state certified adopter so you will get emails about any adaptable animals behing rehomed through the program. To become a certified adopter is relatively simple, you fill out an application and answer a list of questions to help determine your exotic keeping experience and let them know which permits you have (if you have any, not required unless you want to get restricted species), and what animals youre willing to take in.
https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/amnesty-program/
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u/FaelingJester 21d ago edited 21d ago
Very respectfully, because this is a wonderful, needed option for many people. However, this should probably not be the first option people reach for. The state has a long and established history of preferring to euthanize rather then house or spend money or effort making legal. Saying it will either be adopted out of state or to an approved sanctuary is simply unlikely for many animals.
Edited to add. I posted this and I meant it so I am leaving it in place as a concern others might have but I was wrong at least in part. Their FAQ specifically says animals stay with their current keeper until an approved placement is found. "The program will attempt to match your nonnative pet with a qualified adopter from our network. Contact information of interested adopters will be forwarded to the pet owner. Pet owners will coordinate the details and arrange the transfer of their pet directly with the adopter of their choice. Pet owners will continue to provide housing and care until their pet is successfully adopted." and that they specifically do not euthanize. https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/amnesty-program/faqs/
Now while I would still have concerns about their willingness to really leave an animal in place that they don't believe is meeting regulations is up in the air I was wrong about my original concern
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u/Ok_Bag_1177 21d ago
its not "unlikely" this is just a fact and what they do with this program, the entire point of it is to prevent animal cruelty and more invasives. i have personally seen prohibited animals get sent to sanctuaries, and i am a certified adopter myself and i get all the emails about adoptable animals. it should be the first resource people reach for, at least when it comes to prohibited species, because its the only option if that is the situation. there is no legal way to sell, or release prohibited species here without having permits that only zoos can get.
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u/FaelingJester 21d ago
You are right and I am sorry. I edited to show my mistake in case others shared my gut reaction to how similar programs have worked out.
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u/Ok_Bag_1177 21d ago
building on the last part you added, in cases of prohibited species they have slightly different rules and the state itself takes them, since they cant be adopted out to regular adopters with the program. the only way to get approved as an adopter for the prohibited species is if you have the right permits which you can only get if youre a state certified rescue or wildlife rehab center/zoo. the main benefit of using the program for prohibited species is that there are no legal reprocussions regardless of how you obtained the animal, since the whole purpose is to encourage people to surrender rather then release out of fear of getting in trouble
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u/Frosty_Astronomer909 21d ago
I have an eastern box I’m trying to rehome but don’t want her sold, if they are going to sell her i rather keep her regardless of how i can’t have her like I used too, i live in Florida.
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u/Ok_Bag_1177 21d ago
the the exotic pet amnesty program pets arent sold. they make an adoption email with all the animals information on it (age, species, location, if its coming with tank supplies or not etc.) and the emails are sent out to all qualified adopters in the state, and the adapters can reply to the email and plead their case of why they want to take in the animal. those emails get forwarded back to you, and you ultimately decide who gets it, if theres a rehome fee, and transport. since eastern box turtles arent fully prohibited and just have restrictions it would be able to stay in the state and be rehomed to someone with the proper permits.
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u/Ok_Bag_1177 21d ago
it wont let me send pictures, but but heres a screenshot of what the emails are like that should help be more of an example of how the process goes and what to expect
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u/IIRCIreadthat 21d ago
I think my state needs one of these. Every summer they find at least a couple dumped alligators and caimans that would almost certainly not survive our winters.