Digs:

"We build habitats for

Zoo-manity!"

Learn More About Us!

Who are we?

My name is Leslie and I am a seasoned, professional animal keeper decades of experience in caring for, teaching about, and designing habitats for exotic and domestic animals. I have practical experience across all taxa, though I specialize in reptiles and amphibians. My full-time gig is the natural History Museum in LA, Senior Manager of Living Collections. I also worked at LA Zoo in enrichment for 7 years, and have a huge variety of volunteer and paid experiences with exotic animals- since 1998!

Thinking of getting a new animal? Want to improve your animal's life? Let me help you plan!
I consult on, design, oversee, and build happy animal habitats, and help with care plans- call me your Animal Care Counselor! Whether it be a total habitat rebuild, or a yard spruce-up with a vet-approved custom care plan, I can find a way to improve the life of an animal and it's caretaker. You can buy whatever you want online, (and I may recommend you do that at times)! But what I provide for you is professional perspective and experience.

Just some of the animals I have created beautiful habitats for:

raptors
opossums
rats
venomous and non venomous snakes
turtles and tortoises
terrestrial and aquatic amphibians
marine aquariums
pond animals
tarantulas, and and other invertebrates

My teammates are

Robert Poe, artist, designer, editor, my husband. He makes my visions come to life with professional plans, creative use of materials and expert fabrication.
Holly Richards DVM, provides guidance on my care plans as needed. She is also a seasoned zookeeper and animal trainer.
Friends from all corners of the profession! I have connections to professional aquarists, contractors and biologists to advise me when I need to bend an ear.

Send us a message!

BeNiceToSnakes@gmail.com

-Leslie

Let's get your animals into some new Digs!

We know that you want to provide the best possible life for your animal(s) and that you want to do it at a fair price. We will consult with you at your home and provide a professional assessment of all aspects of the animal's life including any or all of the following; a secure habitat (indoor or outdoor), filtration, lighting, exercise equipment, enrichment, diet, gardening for your pet, care plans, and veterinary referrals. In most cases, my consult fee is just $75/ hour

We can provide some deliverable items as such as custom built pens, catios, plumbed terrariums/ aquariums and care plans. Our team is extremely creative, experienced and resourceful. We also want to be as sustainable as possible. Let's talk about your dream and your budget!

For needs we cannot provide directly, such as those that require a contractor, we can work with your contract team or recommend and oversee one, and guide them in their work per our agreed upon design choices.

Chat with a Vet

Another amazing feature we offer? A One of a kind service called "Chat With a Vet". Many people have immediate questions about when and if they should see a vet, or just have general questions about something like nutrition. This online chat is 15 minutes and you can present your situation to an experienced exotic vet, Dr. Holly Richards.

Click for more about Chat With a Vet

Care Counselors for Cats (and Wildlife!)

We love cats. AND we love lizards and birds.

We believe you don’t have to choose between protecting wildlife and enriching your cat’s life. That’s where we come in — your Care Counselors.

What We Can Do for You:

Prevent wildlife deaths in your yard.
Create a fun, safe environment for your cat.
Extend your cat’s lifespan.
Reduce risks of diseases like feline leukemia and flea-borne typhus.

I’ve made tigers happy in their zoo homes — I can make your cats happy in theirs.

Read more about: Protecting Cats from Themselves

Cat Habitat Inspo!

PAW-esome Catios for inspo!

Here are some images to inspire you to choose Happy Habitats.
These are not my images, just a collection of some of my favorites!

Images here are from:

Custom Cat Creations

Habitat Haven

My Pinterest Board for Catios!

I can help you plan and design you ideal respite for your furry friends using the sites above, my local LA resources, and my deep love of cats and wildlife.

Have Patio, Will Catio!
Enriched, freestanding Porch/Patio Catios

Custom Porch and Yard Barriers

There are a variety of options for keeping your cat safe outdoors. These range from simple balcony netting (tents or sheets of cat netting) to more structured enclosures.

Pop-up Catios (Great for Renters)
A collapsible, portable pop-up catio is lightweight, freestanding, and requires no installation—ideal for renters. The zippered entry works well in spaces where a traditional setup won’t align with a door or window.
Cost: ~$1,500–$2,000 depending on size, number of connected units, and enrichment features like climbers and shade structures.
See my carousel below for climber ideas.

Mounted Netting (For Existing Structures)
If you already have mounting points on a concrete or stucco patio, cut-and-hung cat netting can be a simple, effective solution.
Cost: ~$1,300–$2,000 depending on layout and modifications.

Custom Builds
Options include built-in porch enclosures, wood or aluminum frames, and fence baffles. These offer the most tailored and permanent solution but require more materials and labor.
Cost: ~$2,500–$3,000+

The stuff your cat needs to have fun!

After helping you choose a barrier method and an appropriate size, we would enrich the area with any number of climbers and hides based on your aesthetic. Because just being outside isn't quite enough, is it? See the carousel to the left for just a few enrichment ideas!

The design possibilities are endless.

Interested? Email me the following:

Your location
Detailed photos of the intended area, along with any measurements you can provide (height, length, and materials of surrounding walls or overhangs)
Whether you own or rent the space. FYI landlords rarely allow drilling into concrete or stucco walls. If you rent, a "popup" or non mounted custom build is usually the best option..
Rough budget (optional)
What kinds of enrichment you would like to include
I’ll follow up with a ballpark estimate. If it aligns with your budget and you’d like to move forward, I can provide more detailed drawings and pricing, and we can discuss scheduling an in-person visit if needed.

Benicetosnakes@gmail.com

*Digs For Animals are not licensed contractors—we’re your cat consultants and cat-capable handypeople!

Consultations Available

Custom installations are a higher investment, but if you’re more of a DIY type, you’re welcome to use ideas from this site as inspiration. Also check out Catio Spaces for design plans you can purchase.

I also offer consultations and can collaborate with your preferred handyman or contractor—helping ensure the setup is both cat-safe and cat-fun! Consultation services are $75/hour, including travel.