In Montreal, journalist Louis-Philippe Messier travels mostly by running, his office in his backpack, on the lookout for fascinating subjects and people. He talks to everyone and is interested in all walks of life in this urban chronicle.
Since traditional shelters are limited to mammals, a couple of good Samaritans with a passion for reptiles are taking in abandoned snakes and lizards and looking for foster homes for them.
When you enter the home of Jean-François Bergeron, Annie-France David, their two teenage children and their 27 scaly boarders, you feel a thermal shock.
“Here, it’s like the tropical section of the Biodome!” admits Mrs. David, laughing.
This is because lizards and snakes like to live in a climate that is around 30 degrees.
“We decided against air conditioning the house because it would require us to turn on the heating lights in the terrariums,” explains Mr. Bergeron.
“Our children have air conditioners in their rooms!” says Ms. David.
Very allergic to furry animals, Mr. Bergeron turned to reptiles.
When a snake breeder friend had to move, he volunteered to look after some of the snakes and find them homes.
The Southwest Reptile Sanctuary has only been in existence for two years.
“We CANNOT accept venomous snakes, crocodilians or large snakes,” Mr. Bergeron is keen to point out.
The main difference with an SPCA type shelter is… the silence!
The Bergeron-David family lives among its thirty or so silent survivors.
In the living room/video game room alone, upon entering, I count 13 populated terrariums.
The living room has many terrariums that house the residents separately to prevent the big ones from eating the little ones. Photo LOUIS-PHILIPPE MESSIER
In the basement, about ten newly rescued snakes are in quarantine.
Two large glass terrariums, for a boa constrictor called “Rocky Belle Boa” and for a royal python called “King Kong,” border a large bed.
“Yes, this is our room!” exclaims Mrs. David.
In the kitchen, among a dozen or so smaller terrariums, I notice a hydroponic salad growing wheel… which Mr. Bergeron plans to use to save on food costs.
“It costs me $200 a month for rats for the snakes, $100 for salad and $100 for bugs for the lizards,” he estimates.
“I buy giant locusts and mealworms for a thousand.”
Homes wanted
The couple introduces me to a young savannah monitor lizard, a female called “Rudy,” who needs to be adopted quickly.
“Rudy is going to get too big for us to keep her here… so if any of your readers who know about reptiles are interested in her, it would be great if they let us know!” said Mr. Bergeron.
Savannah monitor lizard Rudy needs to find a new home quickly. Photo LOUIS-PHILIPPE MESSIER
The reptiles available for adoption are listed on the shelter’s Facebook page, but the couple doesn’t necessarily have time to keep these files up to date.
These survivors are sold at about a third of the price in the pet store.
“I ask to see the equipment of potential customers and I assess whether they know what they are getting into,” warns Mr. Bergeron.
Shifu, this crested gecko, is also looking for a buyer. Photo LOUIS-PHILIPPE MESSIER
Outside, Rocky Belle Boa arouses an immediate fascination in some.
“Wow! Its patterns are really beautiful!” exclaims Olivia, a passerby who is delighted to be able to touch the snake.
A fascinated passerby, Olivia, asked to touch the snake while I took a picture of it outside. Photo LOUIS-PHILIPPE MESSIER
May this column bring more people to this shelter who are ready to adopt than people who are looking to abandon.
