Palm Beach Zoo News
WHAT: Press Conference to Announce First Annual Pet Amnesty Day in Palm Beach County
WHEN: Thursday, January 5th at 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: Baum Conference Room in the Animal Care Complex at the Palm Beach Zoo
(Entrance is on Dreher Trail near the South Florida Science Museum)
WHO: Representatives from
§ Palm Beach Zoo
§ United States Fish and Wildlife Service
§ Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
§ Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area
§ Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office
§ Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control
PHOTO OPS: Zoo animal experts will show live animals including:
§ Tegu (Argentinian lizard)
§ Kinkajou
§ Parrot.
CONTACT: Claudia Harden – Palm Beach Zoo 561 547-WILD (9453) Ext 223,
Mobile 561 585-6085
Members of the media are invited to learn about the First Annual Pet Amnesty Day in Palm Beach County planned for Saturday, January 14th. The public will be invited to surrender any exotic nonnative animals they may be keeping as pets – no penalties and no questions asked. Surrendered animals will be accepted between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Surrendered animals will be checked by a veterinarian, micro-chipped, and made available for adoption by experienced individuals who are capable of caring for them. Animals that will be accepted for surrender include reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds, fish and invertebrates. Domestic animals will not be accepted. The event will be held at the West Palm Beach Garden Club in Dreher Park behind the Palm Beach Zoo and next to the South Florida Science Museum.
Pet Amnesty Day will be hosted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (ECISMA), and the Palm Beach Zoo, and is sanctioned by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The January 14th event is free and open to the public. Live animals will be on display and experts from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Palm Beach Zoo and the Nature Conservancy Python Patrol will be on hand for conversations and questions about exotic pets. The event will also feature children’s activities and informational/educational exhibitors.
The surrendered animals will be made available for adoption after 2:00 p.m. Nonnative pet adopters must be experienced and must have already applied and been approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; they must bring their acceptance letters with them. Adopter applications can be found at www.myFWC.com/nonnatives. Becoming an adopter is free.
For additional information about the January 14th event call – Lisa Jameson at 561-735-6025.