Did exotic toys drive out Visalia's exotic reptiles business on Mooney Boulevard?

Ian Lockwood isn’t the type of person to speak at Visalia City Council meetings. In fact, they were trembling, voice quivering as they spoke in front of a packed room last week.

Joined by friends and family, Lockwood begged the city for help.

Without its support, more than 40 animals will be euthanized while others will remain free to roam throughout the streets and bushes of Visalia, Tulare and the surrounding areas.

"I have assisted animal control for years now and... I unselfishly give my time and resources," Lockwood said on June 20. "Now I'm asking for your help."

Lockwood has helped save thousands of local animals over the last six-plus years as Exotic Reptiles. That suddenly changed when the rescue off Mooney Boulevard was forced to shut its doors in 2021 after Adam and Eve, an adult toy shop, moved in next door bringing with it a surprise rent increase Lockwood couldn’t meet.

Currently, Lockwood rents a 2,000-square foot facility behind Farmersville's Valley Pure in order to home potential pets like Silas, Hamilton, Daisy, Donald and Gizmo — just to name a few.

Only four of the animals are Lockwood’s, the rest are rescues waiting to be adopted – like Tag and Frat Boy were last week.

'Never-ending cycle'

Although the number of sheltered animals is currently in the mid-40s, Lockwood gets calls every day – from community members and animal control alike – asking if they have room for another.

Sometimes the answer is yes, but a lot of the time it's no.

“I’m the only one here. I like to keep the doors open so that I can rescue the next (animal),” said Lockwood, who prefers they/them pronouns. “It’s like a never-ending cycle.”

One day after Lockwood publicly spoke, The Wise Frog Reptile Rescue received two calls asking if the shop had room for reptiles they wanted to surrender.

Only one made it to the shop.

Despite urging the second caller to release the non-venomous gopher snake into the wild, the reptile was killed in the caller’s backyard because Lockwood couldn’t make the trip to Clovis until after their shop closed at 5 p.m.

“Sometimes they show up, and sometimes they don’t,” they said. “It’s daily, and it’s heartbreaking.”

According to Lockwood, around 75% of the animals surrendered to the Wise Frog fall under animal abuse.

That same day, two of the Wise Frog’s reptiles were adopted – a rare occurrence for the shop, Lockwood confirmed.

'An absolutely necessary' service

Only a limited number of adoptions have been made since Exotic Reptile’s relocation from Visalia to Farmersville in late 2021.

Moving the shop off of Mooney Boulevard drastically decreased the visibility of the store, in turn leaving business dry; something Lockwood has yet to rebound from.

The two adoptions are helping them push through July, but August isn't guaranteed.

In order to purchase a reptile from The Wise Frog, you have to provide proof of proper housing (and lighting) for the animal. Lockwood asks customers to text them after setting up the enclosure so they can ensure everything is set up properly for the reptile.

They also educate potential owners about each animal, so there are no surprises down the road.

"People need to have access to education and knowledge from rescues and people with experience," Jared Hinojos, a Wise Frog customer said. "Without it, on a day-to-day basis, these animals are being dropped off on (their) doorstep."

The last customer to stop by the Wise Frog Tuesday previously adopted a leopard gecko from Lockwood about five years ago. They donated multiple items to the shop that had belonged to their pet, who had recently died.

The owner and Lockwood shared a moment together before Lockwood accepted the enclosure along with a few more items.

Donations like these help with future adoptions, if the Wise Frog can stay open. Lockwood has been struggling – mentally, emotionally and financially – for months.

One reason is local major pet stores have continued to sell reptiles to consumers without explaining the proper care needed, leading to endless calls from local reptile owners asking for help and advice.

David Crawford, another Wise Frog customer, told the city council of his family's experience with buying a snake from a major pet store. They were sold an enclosure too small for the pet and given incorrect information regarding the food it needed, he said.

"We discovered Exotic Reptiles off Mooney and brought him in to ask Ian what to do," Crawford said. "Ian has helped us save the reptile... The service (they) provide is absolutely necessary for this community."

Another reason the Wise Frog is struggling is because Visalia Animal Control only responds to certain reptile-related situations and regularly reach out to nonprofits outside of the city for help instead.

'Nobody gives a shit about reptiles'

Visalia City Manager Leslie Caviglia said the city is looking at options for the Wise Frog; however, there are a few hurdles to jump over first.

One major issue is that "pandemic pets" are being surrendered and shelters are being overwhelmed now that consumer life is somewhat returning back to normal.

“It’s hard, especially right now with the economy going down,” Caviglia said. “And with the pandemic, so many people have adopted animals... It’s a real concern.”

The primary problem, Caviglia said, is the Wise Frog is a business, limiting the number of grants available.

This week, an unnamed nonprofit in town reached out to the city and offered to take the Wise Frog “under their umbrella” while Lockwood works through the nonprofit process.

“I am willing to do whatever it takes,” Lockwood said, although they have not received an update from the city as of Wednesday. “These guys are completely forgotten about... Nobody gives a shit about reptiles."

Lauren Jennings covers education and news for the Visalia Times-Delta/Tulare Advance-Register. Follow her on Twitter @lolojennings. Get alerts and keep up on all things Tulare County for as little as $1 a month. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Adult toy shop drives out Visalia's exotic reptiles business