Stephen Todman has 72 reptiles in his living room - and more will be on their way.
The 33-yer-old runs the Wiltshire Reptile Rescue, and has started fundraising to establish a dedicated premises for the organisation.
Since setting up two years ago, he is now moving his snakes, lizards and frogs out of his family home to a dedicated unit on Swindon’s outskirts.
The extra space in Purton will let him help more of his beloved creatures, explaining: “We've got to the point now that if we want to keep doing what we're doing and helping, the way we're helping, we need more space.”
The animals, including a 12ft python, currently live with him and his child in Marlborough, and he has managed to rehome more than 200 so far.
Steve at Wiltshire Reptile Rescue is fundraising to move to a dedicated premise so he can continue giving a really high quality of care to more little guys like this!
— Benedict Gardner (@bxgardner) February 27, 2024
You can donate here: https://t.co/kdh5lFBtNG pic.twitter.com/0Gjan5bpBv
Stephen is hoping to raise £2,500 for insulation, electricity, and specialist enclosures areas for the new space he has found.
He started the rescue after seeing a rise in abandoned reptiles online, and seeing there was a lack of proper facilities to care for them.
He said: “There were just a lot of reptiles that were needing homes.
“A lot of them end up on Preloved and websites like that and a lot of the time they can end up in homes that are not equipped or don't have the knowledge to look after them properly.”
He has loved reptiles since he was young, and has kept the interest since.
Stephen makes sure to share the joy the animals can bring, taking them for visits into nursing homes to share their mental health benefits.
He said: “It's been an obsession since I was a kid.
“My nan used to buy me encyclopedias on reptiles and I would read them cover to cover.
“Now I just enjoy working with the animals personally.
Anyone who knows me or has seen me working with the animals knows that's the case and I am at my best when I am working with the animals.”
He added: “You can see by the smile on people’s faces [on visits to nursing homes] that they are great for people’s wellbeing.”
Steve explained his long-term dream at the moment is to have a shop attached to his rescue where he can sell supplies for caring for animals.
Stephen is finding the move nerve-wracking, explaining: “It is a big risk but at the same time if it is something you love then you will take risks”.
You can donate here: https://gofund.me/7621a33c
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