Is there an adoption fee? 

No. Spirit Keeper Animal Sanctuary does not sell animals and we do not put a price on lives. If you are able and would like to contribute to our mission of providing sanctuary for special needs and at-risk animals, please consider donating via PayPal Giving Fund: paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/1213006 

Is there an adoption fee? 

No. Spirit Keeper Animal Sanctuary does not sell animals and we do not put a price on lives. If you are able and would like to contribute to our mission of providing sanctuary for special needs and at-risk animals, please consider donating via PayPal Giving Fund: paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/1213006 

Why won't you ship snakes?

At Spirit Keeper Animal Sanctuary, we make every decision with the animal’s welfare at the center and not convenience or tradition. Snakes are not inanimate objects. They are living, sentient animals who experience stress, fear, and physiological distress when exposed to unpredictable and uncontrolled environments, especially during shipping.

While it’s common practice in the reptile trade to ship snakes via FedEx or courier services, we do not believe this is ethically defensible. Transporting a snake as if it were a package through temperature swings, vibrations, handling by untrained personnel, and without real-time oversight exposes the animal to significant risks, both physical and psychological.

Many of the snakes in our care have already endured neglect, malnutrition, unsanitary conditions, or trauma. They deserve better. Instead, we only adopt out animals through direct, in-person handoffs so that:

• The animal's safety and comfort are preserved.

• The animals have direct, constant supervision and monitoring.

• The adopter receives real-time information on how the snake is doing.

• We uphold an ethical standard we believe all animals deserve.

This isn’t just about policy — it’s about protecting vulnerable lives.

In some instances, when pick up at the sanctuary is not possible, we may be able to work with you to arrange transport and an in-person hand-off or to meet adopters partway. 

I am interested in adopting but need to wait a couple of months to get things together. Should I apply now? Will there be snakes available later? 

If you are serious about adopting one of the snakes, yes, apply now! Fill out the application and go through the approval process. If you are approved as a good match for your desired snake, we will hold the snake for you until everything is ready for him or her to join your family. If you want to wait to start the process, we will be adding adoptable snakes to the list over the next 6-12 months as they receive clearance from sanctuary staff and our veterinarian to move on to new homes. 

Will I need to do anything special or different with feeding or should I feed them normally?

Once the snakes are placed on the adoptable list they are feeding normally and eating appropriate sized prey for their body size. We will provide individual adopters with information about what their snake has been eating such as prey type (mice, rat, quail) and prey size. If there are any special concerns for an individual snake those would be noted in the snake's biographical information, and the team will discuss this in advance with interested adopters. 

What, if any follow-up support will there be if I adopt one of these snakes?

You can contact a member of the adoptions team or the sanctuary directly at anytime with your questions or concerns about your new snake family member. We also have a private Facebook Group that is just for people who have adopted one of these specific snakes. In that private group, which is monitored by the adoption team, you will not only be able to share updates about your snake and connect with other people who have adopted these snakes, you will be able to ask questions and get help and advice if anything comes up. 

Have the snakes been assessed for temperament and handleability?

Yes! Each of the snakes is constantly monitored and notes are made about their behavior during veterinary visits and any interactions at the sanctuary. Interactions include being weighed, enclosure maintenance, water changes, medical treatments, feeding, and general behavior when people are in the room. Our adoptions team will discuss your potential new snake family member's temperament and personality with you prior to the adoption being finalized. Remember, temperament is consistent across time and space; however, personality and behavior will change with time, health, environment, circumstances in the moment, and through learning and experience. 

Are the snakes receiving training?

Yes! Each of the snakes is being target trained at mealtime. Depending on the individual snake this ranges from classical to operant conditioning, or as a focusing tool for the neurologically challenged snakes. 

Have the snakes received veterinary care?

Yes! Each of the snakes was seen within their first week of arrival and given an individual exam and treatment plan by our veterinarian, Dr. Liza Pfaff at Critter Care Animal Hospital. Follow-up appointment and rechecks are routinely conducted as needed and no snake is adopted without a medical clearance. The most recent date each snake was seen by the vet will be listed on the adoption contact. 

Do I need to bring anything with me when I pick up my snake?

You may bring an approved trasnport container, or the sanctuary will provide one for the snake to travel in. Depending on the conditions outside and with in the vehicle and the length of your trip consider a hot or cold pack, bottled water, a Govee or similar temperature guage, and paper towels in case the snake soils the tub during transport. 

SKAS will send the snake with paper or similar container lining, a cardboard hide, light-weight water dish, and possibly one or two personal items from the snake's enclosure if they are safe for the snake to travel with. We can provide a travel bin if the new family is not bringing one. 

Does my snake come with supplies?

Prior to the adoption being finalized, each new owner will have provided the adoption team with a photo or video of the snake's permanent set-up in the new home and all supplies are expected to be in place in the new home prior to the snake's transport and arrival. 

Each snake will leave the sanctuary in an individual transport container (either one of ours or one brought by the adopters) with a cardboard or similar safe hide, light-weight water dish, paper towel or similar substrate, and potentially one or more personal items from their habitat here. The items must be safe and be items that will not harm the snake during transport. 

Should my snake get an annual veterinary check-up?

Yes, we recommend that all animals, including snakes have an initial exam done when joining their new family and then annually after that. This is to establish a relationship with your veterinarian, establish a baseline for your animal's health, and monitor any changes that may occur. This will be especially important for these snakes due to their neglected status and poor health prior to our intervention. We are not releasing them without being cleared by our vet; however, animals with poor care during development and a history of physical neglect may be more apt to develop health issues later in life. This is not necessarily going to be the case but the snakes should be monitored for anything that may come up.