Saving lizards and snakes
3/5/2025
Reptiles. Most people cringe or back off when encountering a slithering snake, a prehistoric-looking lizard or any other sticky-toed reptile.
Other folks keep these animals as pets but find they can no longer care for the reptiles.
That’s where Cam and Cole Reiman come in. They established Spock’s Sanctuary, a place where pet owners can surrender and adopt reptiles.
At the sanctuary, snakes, geckos, lizards, frogs and more all coexist in their cages and enclosures.
The Reimans’ idea to create a reptile rescue came about after witnessing a lack of resources. They searched for a pet during the pandemic, intent on buying fish. The store suggested a seasoned water tank, which would take weeks. Instead, they could get a chameleon right away. They named him Spock, because his hands looked like the “Star Trek” character.
On the way home, they researched how to set up the pet’s enclosure, which varied from the store owner’s instructions.
“Everything they told us were lies. It was eye-opening for us. There needs to be more education for reptiles,” Cam recalls. “That’s when we said, let’s open an animal rescue.”
Later, they purchased a used animal enclosure from an online site.
“The owner told us there might be a lizard in there. At 10 o’clock that night, we found one,” Cole says. “We asked the owner if they wanted the lizard back. They said no. We took it as a sign that we needed to provide resources for reptile owners.”
During the next few years, they acquired more enclosures and animals. A nearby Target store gave them a tree frog that hopped a ride on a plant. A tortoise, Norman, is 40 years old and weighs 120 pounds.
Bo — a boa constrictor — was surrendered to them. The owner had left the snake with a live rat, and the snake was covered in rat bite marks. The snake had recently eaten, and snakes don’t feed if they’re not hungry.
“Bo couldn’t eat solid foods. It took a year to shed his skin,” Cam says.
Spock’s Sanctuary doesn’t accept venomous snakes. They have had animals dropped on their doorstep in boxes. Many people surrender because of living situations or misinformation on caring for a reptile. They will quarantine the pet for several weeks to understand its personality and ensure it is not contagious or aggressive.
Some animals they receive are then rehomed or adopted, while other animals serve as “ambassador” animals, which are used for education. Cages contain warnings about the animal’s personality.
While holding Bo, Cam says, “Snakes aren’t slimy. Their skin is smooth.”
The Reimans say their main purpose is to educate the public.
“Geckos and lizards are not all the same. They are like dogs and have their own personalities. We make sure they are compatible and a good fit for what owners are looking for,” Cole explains.
To make sure the animal is engaged, they provide branches and leaves and put bugs in a ball for lizards to “hunt” them. Ultraviolet lights and automatic misters — such as those found in grocery stores — provide the needed environment to survive.
They realize the public is often afraid of reptiles, yet, the opposite often occurs.
“Reptiles are usually afraid of humans. They deserve love just as much as any animal,” Cam says. “They can’t speak for themselves. We want to be a voice for the voiceless.”
Both say that Bo, the snake, is one of the sweetest animals.
“The animals fall in love with us, even though they don’t thank us verbally,” Cole reflects. “It’s rewarding for us to show people how to care for the reptiles and find the right home.”
