ESCONDIDO, Calif. (KGTV) – An animal sanctuary for reptiles in Escondido is in desperate need of help and is asking for monetary donations.
Skyrocketing costs for food, lighting, insurance, veterinary care, and other expenses have forced the nonprofit EcoVivarium Reptile Sanctuary and Museum into debt, and it now faces potential eviction.
An eviction would lead to possibly closing down the sanctuary in 30 days, which would also mean having to euthanize its animals.
“My greatest fear is that we would have to go to euthanasia,” said Susan Nowicke, the Executive Director and Owner of EcoVivarium.
Nowicke said EcoVivarium is home to 400 animals, from turtles to tortoises, lizards, snakes and more reptiles.
ABC 10NewsNowicke said the pet trade business is a multi-billion dollar business that, unfortunately, takes wild reptiles and amphibians out of their natural habitats and into domestic households.
Nowicke said most of the time, pet owners underestimate the care these animals need, so many of them get turned over to her sanctuary malnourished and injured.