A weed-whacking job and an iguana seeking shade from the heat inspired Teresa Shisk-Saling to open the Reptile Hospice and Sanctuary in Snook.

“It all started in 1989. One badly injured iguana in San Antonio came into the vet clinic I worked in,” said Shisk-Saling, sanctuary director. “Some folks clearing a lot saw something move and thought it was a snake. They attacked it with a weed whacker and cut her up pretty good.  She tried really hard for about six weeks before she died.  About a week later, someone else came in and said ‘I hear you take in lizards.’  The rest, as they say, is history.”

Shisk-Saling created the Reptile Hospice and Sanctuary to aid reptiles that are injured, ill, abandoned or surrendered by owners.

“People get these animals and are ill-prepared to care for them if they get sick or injured,” she said. “Some of these creatures just need time as well as good husbandry and veterinary care. Folks lose interest if it does not get better right now.  I just wanted to give them a chance.”

Located in the Brazos Valley, the sanctuary has gained support from businesses. Shisk-Saling and her husband use the sanctuary and hospice as an opportunity to teach and reach out to children and adults, she said.

“I met Teresa and Frank [her husband] last summer through a program that they did at the library,” said Debbie Callaway, youth services librarian at Larry J. Ringer Library. “They had a program at our library with their animals last summer, and I decided that I wanted to do a program with animals for our Summer Reading Program Kick-Off for 2010.  They do a wonderful job rehabilitating and rescuing their animals.  My favorite is Cal, the tortoise. I wanted children to get a chance to see animals that they would not normally get to see.”

The hospice provides a place for reptiles to recuperate and reaches out to the community to increase awareness on proper handling and care.

“We give the general public, animal control facilities, humane societies and vet clinics some place to get these animal to that they can be properly cared for and give these creatures a chance to live out their life,” Shisk-Saling said. “We get creatures from animal control facilities or shelters all over the state.  We have had animals shipped to us from Oklahoma, Florida and as far away as Massachusetts.  Once we get them here, they are evaluated, and we get an enclosure set up for them.  Once they pass the quarantine time and it is a social animal, we may try to get it a buddy or two.  We try to give them as natural an environment as possible.”

Shisk-Saling visits children’s museums, libraries and elementary schools to educate children about reptile care.

“The fact that they reach out to kids is a good idea,” said Ashley Costales, class of 2008.  “I know I’m not particularly fond of snakes and reptiles, and I do not really know much about care and handling them, so having a presentation on them from people who work with them daily would probably be super informative. And I’m glad there is a sanctuary for them because I would not want them ending up in my backyard.”