Thousands of pounds raised for Black Country exotic animal rescue service
More than £2,000 has been raised to help an exotic animal rescue service during the coronavirus pandemic.
Mo Safeer, from Walsall, runs Animals in Hands, and bring exotic animals which he rescues to schools nurseries, care homes, and parties.
But now all his events are cancelled and his vets and food bills are growing so he launched a fundraising page with the aim of raising £11,500.
On the fundraising page Mo said: "I am Mo, affectionately known as Mo The Zookeeper by the children I visit in schools, in nurseries and the seniors I also visit in care homes.
"I set up my business, Animals in Hands, over a decade ago, having previously worked as a zoo keeper at the West Midland Safari Park where I got to work with a wide range of animals, from the big cats to exotic insects and reptiles.
"Having always had a passion and admiration for wildlife, there is, within Animals in Hands, an exotic animal rescue service where I rescue unwanted and abandoned exotic animals from across the country, with the only cost being to myself.
"We use an exotic vet specialist who offers Animals in Hands unlimited support with our own animals as well as those we rescue. And, on occasions, we have taken abandoned reptiles from the practice that no one else would take. The advice we receive from our vets maybe free, however, any medicines, treatments, examinations, surgical procedures for the animals, are not.
"Currently, Animals in Hands now have over 150 animals in their care equating to 80 different species, so you might appreciate why our veterinary costs last month were just over £700 not to mention the monthly animal food and animal husbandry costs! Zeus, a giant Argentinian Tegu weekly food bill alone is £40!
Worry
"Due the current Covid 19 crisis, my day to day, week to week work has come to a halt, with schools, nurseries and care homes all being part of the UK lockdown. As well as this, birthday celebration that were booked months in advance have all been cancelled. As a result, I am now having to turn people away who, due to a change in their finances, are offering me their exotic pets.
"For the first time since I left school, I don’t have any work and I worry that it will be a long time before things get back to normal, whatever ‘normal’ may mean and I need a light at the end of the tunnel to ensure that going into lockdown with 150 animals, I come out of lockdown with the same number, or, with your support, perhaps even a few more!
"If you can help, and I genuinely appreciate how times are currently hard for all of us, any donations would be greatly appreciated no matter how big or how small.
"Please visit my webpage or social media to meet just a few of my ‘babies’ or look out for my virtual YouTube vlogs, where I am continuing to bring the joy of animals to people, both children and adults, through the virtual world."
To read more or to donate visit gofundme.com/f/if-you-can-please-support-animals-in-hands
