We learned about JR’s Aquatic Animal Rescue from Chris Hammerla, an aquatic invasive species coordinator with Golden Sands Resource Conservation and Development Council. Chris thought it would be a good idea for us to let the community know about this service that keeps aquatic invasive species out of wild places.
What is JR’s Aquatic Animal Rescue?
In simplest terms, we are a pet rescue and animal shelter that focuses on aquatic animals like fish. To get a bigger picture of what we do, and why we do it, I will tell you a little bit of our history.
I have been working in the pet industry since 1994 and my educational background is in natural resource management. Where those two lines meet is, unfortunately, invasive species. A few years back I stumbled upon a Facebook post in an aquarium group where a person described finding a fish in a tank that she thought was empty and, having no other options, released it into the Fox River. After all, there is no “pound” for fish.
I was the president of the Green Bay Aquarium Society (GBAS) at the time and decided to do something, to give people options. In 2016 the Green Bay Aquarium Society, under my leadership, started to hold Exotic Pet Surrender Events and operate a surrender network so people would have some options for their unwanted pets other than releasing them into the wild. In early 2020, the Green Bay Aquarium Society decided to scale back on their programs and events and I, with the help of my wife Rosa, formed J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue so we could continue offering surrender events, the surrender network, and open a shelter for unwanted aquatic pets.
One of your Google reviews shared this comment, “Doing a good thing to help fish from being released to the wild.”
Why is it not a good idea to release your aquatic pets into the wild?
It’s not good for the pets, the environment, or people. Released pets often struggle to adapt to a new environment. Most of the animals that you can find in a pet shop are tropical animals that would not survive long in Wisconsin. On the flip side of that, animals and plants that do survive and thrive are often considered invasive species. These are organisms that cause ecological or economic damage. They could eat native animals, compete with them for space or other resources, or even spread diseases. Pet releases also lead to the passing of legislation that bans animals, red swamp crayfish and water hyacinth, are good examples of animals that were kept in the pet trade that have been established in WI and have been banned.
What are the services you provide?
Animal Surrenders: We have a small animal shelter that we maintain out of my home in Menasha. We also maintain a network of bonafide animal shelters that work with animals that we may not be able to accommodate. This allows us to be able to quickly mobilize and accept an animal, no matter what it is.
Animal Adoptions: We find homes for all of the animals that are surrendered. We do ask for an adoption fee. This fee goes to support the care of the other animals at the shelter.
Fundraising Events: We hold several fundraisers such as the Fox Valley Fish Fair, Fox Valley Plant Fair, and Fox Valley Craft Fair, and a Rummage Sale every year.
Surrender Events: We hold Habitattitude Exotic Pet Surrender Events throughout the state of Wisconsin.
Can you tell me about some of the different aquatic pets that people surrender?
Last year we had over 1000 animals surrendered. And this was our first year in operation. We get lots of fish, but also a lot of reptiles. Everything from tiny guppies to 2 foot long alligator gars. We don’t just accept aquatic animals. We never turn away a pet, or person, in need. We have taken in birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and arachnids.
I understand you offer pet surrender events. Can you tell me more about these events?
We started working on these with Tim Campbell of the UW SeaGrant in 2016. We had the idea of holding these events where people could drop off their unwanted pets in a safe space with no questions asked. Some animals are illegal to keep, and we did not want there to be a fear of coming forward. I was doing this with the Green Bay Aquarium Society, at the time, and we did not have a facility for keeping fish long term and if someone dropped off an animal that wasn’t a fish, we would have no way of dealing with it. The answer to the “keeping fish long-term problem” was that we would hold the events the day before the GBAS auction so we could find the surrendered fish homes at the auction. The answer to the “other pets” problem was that we would invite other rescue organizations to participate so we could accept the surrender of any unwanted pet.
Breaking away from GBAS has allowed us to offer these events outside of Northeast Wisconsin. We now offer Habitattitude Exotic Pet Surrender Events in Kaukauna, Milwaukee, Madison, Eau Claire, La Crosse, Stevens Point, and Superior.
Where are you based and what is your service area?
We are located in Menasha and are open for carside service by appointment only. We have had people contact us from all over the midwest. We have had people drive their fish up from Illinois to surrender them because there is no one out there that does what we do, like we do it.
What kinds of pets do you have available?
We have over 200 animals at the moment. We have fish, lizards, snakes, turtles, corals, snails, and even an American alligator.
How can I adopt a pet from you?
All of our available animals are on our website at www.jraar.org. You can also find the application form and a bunch of other administrative information.
Follow JR’s Aquatic Animal Rescue for upcoming surrender events. The next exotic pet surrender event will be at the Hilton Garden Inn Milwaukee on April 17th.