Division Mission

How APES Shelter & Rescue delivers the wider APESCIC mission.

APES Shelter & Rescue exists to protect exotic animals through rescue, rehabilitation, rehoming, owner support, education and transparent public accountability. This page explains how the Shelter division contributes to the wider mission of the Association of Protecting Exotic Species CIC.

Read the mission View targets and accountability Contact APES

Rescue and shelter

Provide safe intake, triage and species-appropriate care for exotic animals that are abandoned, surrendered, neglected, at risk or in distress.

Rehabilitation and welfare

Support recovery through housing, nutrition, enrichment, monitoring and appropriate veterinary pathways wherever needed.

Responsible rehoming

Place suitable animals with informed adopters using checks, education and aftercare rather than quick or unsupported handover.

Education and advocacy

Help owners, supporters and the public make safer, more informed decisions that reduce preventable suffering and exploitation.

Why this page exists

This is a formal public statement of purpose for the APES Shelter & Rescue division. It is intended to show visitors, adopters, surrendering owners, supporters, partners and public bodies how Shelter activity supports the wider APESCIC mission and public benefit.

The division is not presented as a separate organisation. It operates as part of the Association of Protecting Exotic Species CIC and supports the same welfare-led, education-led and accountability-focused direction.

Mission statement

A Shelter mission rooted in the APESCIC mission

APES Shelter & Rescue exists to provide safe, species-appropriate rescue, shelter, rehabilitation, rehoming and long-term welfare support for exotic animals in need. As a division of the Association of Protecting Exotic Species CIC, its work advances the wider APESCIC mission to protect exotic species through compassionate care, responsible ownership, education, advocacy, conservation awareness and transparent community benefit.

How Shelter & Rescue supports APESCIC

The Shelter division turns the wider mission into practical frontline work.

Respond to surrender, rescue and welfare concerns involving exotic animals and related specialist cases.
Provide housing, feeding, husbandry, enrichment and day-to-day care appropriate to species needs and welfare risk.
Rehabilitate animals physically and behaviourally where recovery and safe placement are possible.
Rehome suitable animals through welfare-led screening, knowledge checks and post-adoption support.
Provide long-term sanctuary support where rehoming is not suitable or not yet possible.
Help owners before crisis point through non-judgemental advice, route guidance and practical support.

Core objectives

The division's objectives reflect the priorities already visible across APES service routes and public welfare messaging.

Rescue animals in need

Respond to animals that are abandoned, surrendered, neglected, stray, escaped or otherwise at risk, subject to safety, legality and capacity.

Deliver welfare-led care

Provide species-appropriate housing, nutrition, enrichment, welfare review and support pathways for animals accepted into care.

Rehabilitate where possible

Improve physical condition, stability and readiness for appropriate outcomes through structured support and observation.

Rehome responsibly

Match suitable animals with informed adopters using screening, preparation guidance and aftercare rather than convenience-led placement.

Support owners early

Offer non-judgemental advice, signposting and route guidance to help more owners resolve issues before surrender becomes unavoidable.

Educate and advocate

Promote responsible exotic animal ownership, legal awareness, welfare standards and ethical treatment while challenging neglect and exploitation.

Targets and accountability

Published shelter figures from 2023 to 2025 are used here as recent baselines. They are presented as historical evidence, not invented future promises.

Annual intakes baseline

2023: 32 accepted into care.

2024: 50 accepted into care.

2025: 29 accepted into care, plus 2 born on shelter.

APES will continue publishing and reviewing intake volume against welfare capacity, species needs and safe accommodation.

Adoptions baseline

2023: 15 adoptions.

2024: 13 adoptions.

2025: 17 adoptions.

APES will maintain adopter screening, knowledge checks, preparation guidance and aftercare as core rehoming standards.

Live outcomes baseline

2023: 16 live outcomes.

2024: 13 live outcomes.

2025: 17 live outcomes.

APES will keep tracking live outcomes as part of transparent welfare and placement reporting.

Animal welfare commitment

Every animal accepted into care should receive intake assessment, welfare review and an appropriate care route based on species needs, urgency and available facilities.

Owner support commitment

APES will continue building advice-led prevention so more owners can access guidance, rehoming support and safer decisions before surrender becomes unavoidable.

Education and partnership commitment

APES will continue maintaining public welfare guidance and strengthening links with adopters, supporters, vets, rescues, public bodies and community partners, with numeric public targets to be added when formally approved.

Use these public pages to move from mission into practical support, services and ways to help.