Route Helper
Select the option that best matches the situation. This does not submit a request, it simply points you to the correct service route.
Choose an option above and we will show the most suitable next step.
APES Shelter and Rescue | Services
Services for animals, owners, rescuers and supporters
Use this page to choose the correct APES Shelter and Rescue service. Start with the Route Helper, or use the floating Services menu to view adoptions, trial adoption, foster scheme, shelter and surrender, rescues, wildlife rescue, or lost and found support.
Responsible adoption routes with screening, suitability checks, setup review and aftercare support.
A developing route for matched placements where adopters can build confidence before final adoption.
A developing scheme for temporary, vetted support homes and short-term care capacity.
For owners who can no longer safely care for their exotic or small companion animal.
For stray, escaped, abandoned, unwanted or public-sector animal welfare cases.
Support for some injured, trapped or at-risk wildlife, including hedgehogs and small wildlife by assessment.
Register a lost pet or report a found pet using APES ShelterManager forms.
Apply to provide temporary care where APES needs safe, vetted support capacity.
Help fund ongoing food, care, enrichment and medical support for rescued animals.
Find pet care clinic support, primate welfare guidance and responsible ownership education.
All APES services
Search or filter the APES service directory. This view is the only section where the full filter system is shown.
Adopt an animal
View animals currently marked as adoptable, read their profiles and begin the reservation and adoption process.
ReservationScreeningAftercare
Trial Adoption
A developing placement route designed to help adopters build confidence, check compatibility and understand long-term welfare before final adoption.
Coming soonMatch checkNewsletter updates
Adoption fees and add-ons
Information about reservation fees, administration fees, adoption responsibility, included documents and optional add-ons.
FeesAdd-onsCare pack
Shelter and surrender services
For owners who can no longer safely care for their exotic or small companion animal. Cases are reviewed by welfare urgency and capacity.
No surrender feeTriageOne form per pet
Rescue services
For animals that are not yours, including stray, escaped or abandoned exotic animals, unwanted exotic visitors and some injured wildlife.
Found animalsEscapesWildlife
Corporate and public-sector rescue
Support route for rescues, police, local councils, housing associations and landlords dealing with specialist animal welfare cases.
CouncilsPoliceLandlords
Wildlife rescue
Support for some injured, trapped or at-risk wildlife, including hedgehogs and other small wildlife by assessment.
HedgehogsSmall wildlifeLive chat
Register a lost pet
Use the lost pet form to give APES the animal's details, identifying features, last known location and contact information.
Lost petForm ID 26
Report a found pet
Use the found pet form to register an animal you have found so APES can record the case and help route the next steps.
Found petForm ID 25
Foster Scheme
A developing temporary care route for exotic animals during overflow, rehabilitation support, emergency capacity or specialist welfare needs.
Coming soonTemporary careVetted setups
Sponsor an animal
Support rescued exotic animals through monthly or annual sponsorship, helping with food, care, enrichment and medical treatment.
SponsorshipSupporter updates
Primate welfare and education
Educational resources covering behaviour, enrichment, nutrition, health awareness and private primate licensing rules in England.
EducationWelfareUK law
APES Pet Care Clinic
Affordable routine care, consultations and support for animals including reptiles, invertebrates, cats, dogs and rabbits.
Routine careLow income support
Adoptions
This view shows only APES adoption service information, including adoptable animals, trial adoption, fees, checks and aftercare.
How adoption works
- Choose an animal
Review current adoptable animals and read the animal profile carefully before applying. - Reserve and apply
Submit the required reservation or adoption information so APES can start suitability checks. - Suitability review
APES checks your contact details, housing setup, husbandry knowledge, welfare readiness and ability to meet the animal's needs. - Approval and aftercare
If approved, APES confirms the adoption arrangements and provides core aftercare guidance.
Adoption fees, inclusions and add-ons
Use the search, filters and calculator below to find the likely APES adoption fee. Each animal profile should still be checked before applying because the confirmed fee and welfare notes may vary by individual animal.
£30
Required to reserve an animal in your name during the adoption process.
£15
Applies to each adoption application and supports processing, paperwork, checks and adoption administration.
£5 to £25
Approximate daily cost per animal while they are in APES care before adoption.
Adoption Certificate, Species Care Sheet and a two-week aftercare check.
About APES adoption fees
Adoption fees are minimum donations that help APES recover part of the cost of rehabilitation, veterinary care, feeding, housing and welfare support.
Some animals may have higher care costs because of health, rehabilitation or specialist welfare needs. Always check the animal's individual profile for the confirmed adoption fee, suitability notes and care requirements.
2025 APES adoption fees
Find the fee that applies to you
Search by species, size, example animal or add-on. Use the filters to match the format of the APES Adoption Fees page.
Reservation fee
£30Required to reserve an animal in your name during the adoption process.
Reserve feeProcess hold
Admin fee
£15Supports application processing, paperwork, checks and responsible matching before an animal is adopted.
Per applicationRequired
Daily care cost
£5 to £25Approximate cost per animal per day while APES provides care, rehabilitation and rehoming support.
Care costInformation
Small snake
£50Examples include Hognose and Garter snakes.
SnakeSmall
Medium snake
£75Examples include Corn, King and Milk snakes.
SnakeMedium
Large snake
£100Examples include Boa, Burmese Python and Anaconda.
SnakeLarge
Small lizard
£50Examples include Rankin's Dragons and Geckos.
LizardSmall
Medium lizard
£75Examples include Bearded Dragons and Water Dragons.
LizardMedium
Large lizard
£100Examples include Iguanas and Monitor Lizards.
LizardLarge
Rats
£102025 adoption fee for rats.
Small animal
Mice
£102025 adoption fee for mice.
Small animal
Rabbits
£402025 adoption fee for rabbits. Microchipping may be a suitable optional add-on.
Small animal
Guinea pigs
£302025 adoption fee for guinea pigs.
Small animal
Standard birds
£252025 adoption fee for standard birds.
Bird
Exotic birds
£2002025 adoption fee for exotic birds.
BirdSpecialist
Spiderlings
£102025 adoption fee for spiderlings.
InvertebrateSpider
Juvenile spiders
£252025 adoption fee for juvenile spiders.
InvertebrateSpider
Adult spiders
£352025 adoption fee for adult spiders.
InvertebrateSpider
Baby scorpions
£102025 adoption fee for baby scorpions.
InvertebrateScorpion
Juvenile scorpions
£152025 adoption fee for juvenile scorpions.
InvertebrateScorpion
Adult scorpions
£252025 adoption fee for adult scorpions.
InvertebrateScorpion
Small tailless whip scorpion
£152025 adoption fee for small tailless whip scorpions.
InvertebrateTailless whip
Large tailless whip scorpion
£252025 adoption fee for large tailless whip scorpions.
InvertebrateTailless whip
Neutering
£70Suitable for some animals, particularly where they may live with others. It may also provide wider health and welfare benefits depending on the species and individual animal.
Optional add-on
Adoption Treat Pack
£15A starter treat pack to help the adopted animal settle into their new home.
Optional add-on
Microchipping
£10Recommended for rabbits and other suitable small animals so they can be identified and returned safely if they escape or become lost.
Optional add-on
How fees are calculated
Adoption costs are calculated using the animal's species, size and the applicable administration fee. Some animals may have higher care costs because of health, rehabilitation or specialist welfare needs.
| Example: Medium Snake | Cost |
|---|---|
| Medium snake adoption fee | £75 |
| Admin fee | £15 |
| Total cost of adoption | £90 |
View animals available for adoption
Browse the live ShelterManager adoptable animals feed. This pulls from APES ShelterManager records using the current ASM HTML adoptable animals service.
Live ASM adoption feed
Current APES animals
This embedded view uses the APES ShelterManager account and the html_adoptable_animals method. Animals shown here depend on what is currently marked and published as adoptable in ASM.
Find animals currently listed for adoption and begin the application process.
A developing route to check compatibility and suitability before full adoption.
Fees and add-ons help teach responsibility and show the real cost of caring for animals.
Trial Adoptions
This service section is being prepared. It will help visitors understand trial adoption, matching, welfare checks and what happens before final adoption.
Coming soon | tiny hard hats encouraged
Trial Adoptions are under construction
The APES team is building this section into a clear, friendly route for people who want to explore whether an animal is the right long-term match before full adoption. Think careful matching, confidence building, setup checks and welfare-first decision making.
🦎 Match guidance🏡 Setup readiness📋 Trial placement steps💚 Welfare-first decisions
Want the launch update?
Join the APES newsletter so you can hear when the Trial Adoption guidance, eligibility notes and application route are ready.
Foster Scheme
This service section is being prepared. It will explain temporary care, foster suitability, home setup expectations and how APES will manage foster placements.
Coming soon | foster magic loading
The Foster Scheme is under construction
The APES team is preparing a practical foster route for safe, temporary and welfare-led care. This section will cover who can foster, what checks are needed, what support APES provides and how animals are matched to suitable foster homes.
🏡 Foster home checks🦜 Species suitability📦 Temporary care support💬 Updates and guidance
Be first to hear when fostering opens
Subscribe to APES newsletters for updates on the Foster Scheme launch, eligibility information and how to register interest.
Shelter and Surrender
If you can no longer safely care for your exotic or small companion animal, APES can assess your case and help you take the next responsible step.
APES no longer charges a surrender fee. Optional donations help with intake and care costs.
If you need to surrender more than one pet, complete the process separately for each animal.
Where possible, animals should come with their enclosure and key equipment to support safe continuity of care.
Cases are reviewed by welfare urgency, species needs, legal status and available shelter capacity.
Use this route when
The surrender request form is for owners or keepers who need APES to assess whether a pet can be transferred into shelter care.
- This is your pet and you can no longer safely care for them.
- You can provide details about the animal, their enclosure, health, diet, behaviour and urgency.
- You understand that a separate request is needed for each pet.
- You can wait for APES to review the case and confirm whether intake is possible.
Quick surrender readiness checker
Select what you already have ready. This does not submit anything to APES, but it helps you prepare before opening the surrender form.
Tick the checklist items to see your preparation progress.
Animals APES may be able to accept
Search or filter common categories. Acceptance depends on capacity, welfare risk, enclosure availability, legal status and whether APES has the correct facilities at the time of application.
Invertebrates
Commonly kept invertebrates may be considered by assessment, including tarantulas, scorpions, stick insects and similar species.
Snakes
- King snakes
- Corn snakes
- Garter snakes
- Milk snakes
- Beauty snakes
- Royal pythons
- Hognose snakes
- Baby or juvenile boas and pythons by assessment
Tortoises
- Hermann's tortoises
- Spur thighed tortoises
- Horsfield tortoises
- Chinese star tortoises by assessment
- Other species by assessment
Lizards
- Bearded dragons
- Geckos
- Plated lizards
- Skinks and other commonly kept lizards by assessment
Small mammals
- Rabbits
- Hamsters
- Rats
- Chinchillas
- Other small mammals by assessment
Specialist cases
Large constrictors, venomous species, primates, crocodilians and animals requiring specialist legal permissions must be discussed before movement is arranged.
How surrender works
- Decide surrender support may be needed
Start by considering whether APES may be the right route for your animal. - Complete the surrender request form
The form gives APES the first details about the animal, your circumstances and the support needed. Complete one request per pet. - APES reviews your case
The team reviews welfare urgency, species needs, enclosure information, legal status and safe handling considerations. - Triage and waiting list
Your case is placed into the waiting list and priority assessment process according to urgency and capacity. - Collection or drop off is arranged
Once everything is confirmed and space becomes available, APES will contact you. Please do not arrive with an animal unless an intake appointment has been confirmed.
No fee, optional donation
APES no longer charges a surrender fee. At the end of the surrender form, APES asks whether you are able to make an optional donation to help with intake costs, including initial care, food, heating, bedding, equipment use, quarantine needs and veterinary support where required.
Donations are optional and help APES provide the best possible care for every animal taken in.
Enclosures and equipment
APES asks that surrendered animals come with their enclosure and key equipment wherever possible. This can include heating, lighting, hides, water bowls and any species specific items required for safe continuity of care.
Providing the enclosure helps APES prepare the intake safely, reduces pressure on shelter resources and may speed up the intake process where the enclosure is safe, suitable and transportable.
Surrender FAQs
Quick answers from the previous surrender page.
Does APES charge a surrender fee?
APES no longer charges a surrender fee. At the end of the surrender form, APES asks whether you are able to make an optional donation to help with intake costs.
Should the animal come with its enclosure?
Wherever possible, yes. APES asks that animals come with their enclosure and key equipment, including heating, lighting, hides, water bowls and species specific items. This helps with safe continuity of care and may speed up intake planning.
Can I surrender more than one pet?
Yes, but the surrender process must be completed separately for each pet. Each animal needs its own assessment, welfare review and case record.
Can I bring the animal straight to APES?
No. Please do not arrive with an animal unless an intake appointment has been confirmed by APES.
Does submitting the form guarantee intake?
No. Submitting a surrender request does not guarantee intake. APES reviews each case against welfare urgency, legal status, available capacity and safe handling requirements.
Can live chat help?
Yes. APES live chat can help with shelter requests, sponsorship updates and general enquiries. Use the live chat at the bottom of the website where available.
Start your surrender request
Use the online form wherever possible. It creates a structured case record and allows the APES team to assess your request properly. Live chat is also available at the bottom of APES websites for general help and guidance.
Important surrender notice
Submitting a surrender request does not guarantee intake. APES will review each case against welfare urgency, legal status, available capacity and safe handling requirements. Owners and keepers remain responsible for meeting an animal's welfare needs until the animal has been formally transferred into APES care.
Rescues
This view is for animals that are not owned by the person making the report, including escaped or abandoned exotic pets, unwanted exotic visitors, some injured wildlife and corporate or public-sector cases.
Use rescue services when
- You have found a stray, escaped or abandoned exotic animal.
- An unwanted invert, reptile or other exotic animal has entered a home, business or public place.
- A roaming pet may have got out, or someone else's unwanted pet has come onto your premises.
- An injured wild animal needs help, medical attention or safe signposting.
- The animal is linked to a premises closure, landlord case or public-sector concern.
- You are not the owner and should not use the surrender form.
APES may assist with all types of commonly kept invertebrates, including unwanted or uninvited inverts found in homes or places of business.
Rescue support may include king snakes, corn snakes, garter snakes, milk snakes, beauty snakes, royal pythons, hognose snakes and young boas or pythons by assessment.
APES may assist with commonly kept lizards, geckos, plated lizards, bearded dragons, tortoises and similar escaped or abandoned reptiles.
Rescue enquiries can include rabbits, hamsters, rats, chinchillas and other small companion animals by assessment.
APES can assess exotic animals found in woods, parks or similar locations, including animals that may have arrived in containers or parcels and then been released outside.
Large, dangerous, legally restricted or specialist species need careful discussion before any capture, collection or movement is arranged.
Wildlife support
APES rescue services now include some wildlife cases, especially injured animals that need medical attention or safe handling advice. This can include hedgehogs and other small wildlife by assessment.
- Hedgehogs that appear injured, sick, trapped, underweight or at immediate risk.
- Small wild mammals where safe containment, welfare advice or signposting is needed.
- Small wildlife found in unsafe places such as roads, gardens, sheds, businesses or public areas.
- Wildlife cases where APES may need to advise, signpost, collect, or coordinate next steps with the right service.
Emergency welfare concern
If an animal is injured, abandoned, loose in public, in immediate danger, or there is a public safety risk, contact the correct emergency route first. Then contact APES with reference details so the team can assess whether they can assist.
Wildlife Rescue
Support for some injured, trapped or at-risk wildlife. APES can assess wildlife cases, advise on safe next steps and arrange support where the team has the right capacity, facilities and legal route.
How to access wildlife support
Use live chat, open a ticket through the contact page, or call APES with the details. Live chat can be the best method because it lets the team quickly ask for location, photos and immediate risk details.
Types of wildlife APES may be able to help
Wildlife support is assessed case by case. The team may advise, signpost, coordinate care, or arrange collection where APES can safely assist.
Hedgehogs that appear injured, sick, trapped, underweight, out in unsafe conditions or at immediate risk.
Small mammals found injured, trapped, displaced or in unsafe places such as roads, sheds, gardens, businesses or public areas.
Small birds where safe containment, basic welfare advice or signposting to an appropriate wildlife route is needed.
Frogs, toads, newts or small reptiles that are trapped, injured, displaced or found in unsafe locations.
Small wildlife trapped in buildings, gardens, sheds or business premises where safe advice or specialist handling may be needed.
Cases where APES cannot directly attend but can help point you towards the right veterinary, emergency, local authority or wildlife rescue route.
What to include when contacting APES
- Where the animal is, including postcode or nearest landmark.
- What species you think it is, if known.
- Whether the animal is injured, trapped, cold, underweight, bleeding, unable to move, or in immediate danger.
- Whether the animal is contained, visible, loose, or in a public place.
- Clear photos or video, only if it is safe and appropriate to take them.
- Your contact details and whether you can safely remain nearby.
Lost and Found
This view is for registering missing pets and reporting found pets to APES Shelter and Rescue.
Register a lost pet
Use this route if your pet is missing. Provide the animal's species, name, description, identifying features, last known location, date and time missing, microchip details if known, photographs and your contact information.
Lost pet formForm ID 26
Report a found pet
Use this route if you have found a pet or suspected escaped exotic animal. Provide the species, location found, time found, condition, containment status, photographs if safe and your contact information.
Found pet formForm ID 25
What to include
- Species, breed or morph where known.
- Clear photographs, only where safe and appropriate.
- Last seen or found location, including postcode or nearest landmark.
- Date and time the animal went missing or was found.
- Microchip, ring, tag or other identifying information if known.
- Any welfare, injury, containment or public safety concerns.
