Milwaukee to Host Exotic Pet Surrender Event on February 7, 2026
Community event provides a critical alternative to releasing exotic pets into the environment
Milwaukee, WI — J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue (JRAAR), in partnership with the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant/Water Resources Institutes, will host a free Exotic Pet Surrender Event on Saturday, February 7, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Kosciuszko Community Center, located at 2201 S 7th St #205, Milwaukee, WI 53215.
This event offers a safe, judgment-free opportunity for individuals who can no longer care for exotic pets to surrender them responsibly—rather than releasing them into the wild. Across the United States, communities are increasingly encountering released exotic animals, including pythons, turtles, and even alligators, in local ecosystems. These releases put both the animals and the environment at serious risk.
“In many cases, people don’t release pets because they don’t care—they release them because they don’t know what else to do,” said Macy Wolke-Yohr, Invasive Species Specialist with JRAAR. “These surrender events exist to give people a real option other than release. When an animal is surrendered, it can be properly cared for instead of becoming another invasive species story.”
Animals Accepted (No Questions Asked):
- Fish
- Invertebrates
- Reptiles
- Pet Birds
- Exotic Small Mammals
- Aquarium and Non-native Plants
Animals must be brought in secure, waterproof, escape-proof containers that can remain with the animal.
Animals Not Accepted:
- Domestic pets such as dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, pigs, and chickens
- Wisconsin native wildlife taken from the wild
Owners needing assistance with domestic animals should contact local humane societies. Those with native wildlife should reach out to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Birds, reptiles, and mammals originating from outside Wisconsin must be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI).
All surrendered animals will enter a mandatory quarantine and evaluation period before becoming available for adoption through JRAAR.
More info can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/share/14Q9Xo6JVUY/
Upcoming surrender events can be found here: https://www.jraar.org/exoticpetsurrenderevents
Why This Event Matters
In many regions, there are few or no rehoming options for exotic pets such as fish, reptiles, and birds. Without alternatives, owners may believe release is the humane choice—when in reality it can lead to animal suffering, environmental damage, and public safety concerns. Events like this bring together rehoming partners to stop that cycle.
About J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue
J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue is Wisconsin’s #1 exotic pet and turtle rescue. Since 2020, the organization has rehomed more than 11,000 animals and works statewide to prevent the release of non-native species through education, rescue, and community-based surrender events.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Press Release
