Rocky's Permanent Residents

The animals that you see on the following pages are our permanent residents. They are all non-releaseable due to a birth defect or a severe injury that doesn't allow them to function normally. We also have those that were former "pets", that were turned over to us. They will never have the "wildness" or the "survival skills" needed to be out on their own. We love them all, but it's not easy to live with these animals.

One of my biggest pet peeves in life, is people who decide they want an exotic animal, (or any animal for that matter) and don't do their homework on that species. All they see is that cute little baby, and "oh, I've got to have one". Big Mistake! For them, and the animals.

Those babies are cute, heck all babies are cute. The problems start when those precious babies start acting like they are suppose to, and not like what was thought . Raccoons and Skunks both can be very destructive, they will tear up linoleum, carpet and wallpaper. They will dig holes in your sheetrock. They will empty out your cabinets, your closets, your dressers. They will tear the screens out of your windows if the window is open. They will play in the toilet, and put everything they can get their hands on down that same toilet, including your toothbrush! Discipline is not in their vocabulary. They will bite if you try to make them stop doing something, or take something away from them. I've even had some that would bite for no apparent reason. You can't keep them in a cage, that will cause them to literally go insane. Then you don't have a "pet", you have a wild insane animal.

In order to live with these animals, you need lots and lots of   PATIENCE!!!  I can't stress that enough. Expect to have things torn up and broken. Expect your mattress to become a den site, and find them laid up in the middle of that mattress.

I've had more than my fair share of exotic pets turned over to me when they reach about 6 months old, and start acting like they are suppose to. Their former "parents" (and yes that is what you become) walk away without looking back, and I'm left with a baby animal that doesn't understand where his family is. I see the crying, the depression, the hurt in those sweet eyes. I've seen the abused ones too. It takes a lot of work and money on my part to "fix" these problems, and some will never be "fixed".

I do not recommend that you have ANY type of pet without doing your RESEARCH on that species first! Go visit someone who has the species you are interested in. Talk to others. EDUCATE yourself so that the baby animals are not the ones to suffer in the long run.

If you happen to find an orphaned animal, please have the heart to do the right thing, and call a wildlife rehabilitator. It will be better for the animal in question, as well as you.

Now...on to the pictures! Permanent Residents