Preface
The introduction of a registry of real, ethical rescues implemented on MorphMarket is exciting news.
I do not work for MorphMarket.
I do not own MorphMarket.
I do not have affiliate links.
Most of the “reptile hobby” will tell you I despise MorphMarket and John Lehmann. Please keep that in mind especially if you’re already writing a comment telling me I am receiving money from this article directly from MorphMarket.
Introduction
MorphMarket has quickly become the premiere classifieds site for individuals buying and selling reptiles. Owned and operated by John Lehmann, the site quickly began attracting sellers since 2015. Moving the business of reptile sales into the online environment had certainly existed before — sites like KingSnake.com and FaunaClassifieds.com originally held an exclusive title of reptile classifieds but also sites like Craigslist offered animal sales. Most recently MorphMarket has expanded to providing access to other resources including qualified and ethical reptile rescues.
MorphMarket’s Reptile Rescue Program is a definitive step in the right direction to getting reptiles the care they deserve.
Reptiles have long been regarded as animals that don’t need special care. They are considered less intelligent than other animals. These rumors, as you know, are completely untrue. On the opposite end of those opinions are the idea that reptiles need care that is completely inaccessible to anyone except the most intelligent men. This, of course, is also not true. The first opinions lead to injured and unwell animals in department stores while the second opinion leads to some very interesting practices and scams. There is no lack of maligned application of human studies with reptiles that push homeopathic treatments ahead of veterinary care. There is, unfortunately, no lack of “ethical” branded individuals claiming to either be a rescue or solely “rescuing” their own pets.
What Is Flipping?
Flipping is a practice not unique to reptiles. You’ll hear this term when it comes to shoes, houses, cars, and console video games. The premise is that someone scouts online classifieds, newspaper classifieds, and other sources for a product they know they can relatively quickly resell for more money — often with little to no work or additional investment.
This is not to be confused with wholesaling or breeders working with larger businesses to provide those businesses with animals to re-sell. This is, and you may consider it a “necessary evil”, part of the business of distributing reptiles to help make these animals accessible to customers. This is inherently different than an animal rescue and such operations are retail — not calling themselves rescues.
“Animal shelter” means a facility operated, owned, or maintained by a duly incorporated humane society, animal welfare society, or other non-profit organization having tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code for the purpose of providing for and promoting the welfare, protection, and humane treatment of animals.
- Illinois Animal Welfare Act, link provided
One of the best scams when it comes to animals is to pose as someone “rescuing” the animal and asking for it for free or at least severely marked down. The individual then collects the animal, tosses them in limited living conditions with no medical support or health investment, and then attempts to resell that animal for a significant amount while convincing customers that adopting from their “rescue” is virtuous and ethical. This is not only not ethical but is also illegal throughout the United States especially with animals like dogs and cats. Reptiles, as usual, end up in a zone where the same laws may not apply or have no precedent.
What Is Rescuing?
Animal rescue and animal shelters are, obviously, not unique to reptiles. Both of these categories of action are government regulated and require specific licensing as well as possible inspections.
With reptiles, and other more exotic animals, people often sometimes dub themselves an “animal rescuer” at their “animal rescue”. Unfortunately this is incorrect. As defined by Illinois law, and many similar acts in other states, an ‘“Animal shelter” means a facility operated, owned, or maintained by a duly incorporated humane society, animal welfare society, or other non-profit organization having tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) …’.
Animal rescues rely on your donations to keep themselves staffed, stocked, and open to receive animals in need of help. Often veterinarians will donate their time to animal rescues, building owners may donate some or all of the leasing fees, and the staff of the facility are volunteers. Animals receive qualified medical care under strict guidelines for animal control with oversight from the local government and veterinarians.
Flipping “Rescued” Animals Is A Scam
A rescue will not ever receive a sick reptile, self-treat it with hoarded antibiotics, and then price match New England Reptile Distributors or other animal sellers. This is an obvious and ongoing scam by a hand full of YouTubers and social media presences. You should be able to identify these individuals and others that support them through careful review. Reselling animals for retail prices under the guise of an “ethical” “rescue” should not be tolerated.
This is not only not ethical but is also illegal throughout the United States especially with animals like dogs and cats. Reptiles, as usual, end up in a zone where the same laws may not apply or have no precedent.
Where Does MorphMarket Fit In?
Announced by John Lehmann, owner of MorphMarket, on August 12th of 2022, MorphMarket now has a growing directory of legitimate rescues.
You can find out more about the program here.
This program should finally differentiate flippers, retailers, and fake rescues from legitimate, ethical rescues that can properly receive animals without marking them up to retail prices.
The Ethical End
Unfortunately this will most certainly not end “ethical keepers” or fake rescues from receiving animals and flipping them back to misguided buyers. To avoid falling for the scam yourself, ask those individuals what their licensing and tax status is before paying for an unhealthy animal that has had no medical supervision in spite of being “rescued”. If you plan to relinquish an animal please do so legally at an appropriate facility.
Ask yourself why other sites and entertainers labeled as “ethical” have not implemented a similar program with the help of qualified individuals that can define what a real, legal, and ethical rescue looks like. At least one hopeful MorphMarket competitor first opened retail classifieds instead of working on a directory of rescues — a very interesting choice for a site decorated in the word “ethical”.
With just a little bit of searching you can usually find the retail store, Patreon, or monetized YouTube of fake rescues, fake “ethical” labels, individuals not rendering “rescued” animals with proper medical oversight, and other highly unethical practices.
MorphMarket’s Reptile Rescue Program is a definitive step in the right direction to getting reptiles the care they deserve.
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