The society serves Vancouver Island, Canada. It was founded by hobbyists who often found themselves being given unwanted reptiles (shades of Alligator Bob, the Chicago gator rescuer who refuses to give his last name). Its work is very necessary in an area where the SPCA doesn’t currently accept reptiles, and wildlife centers can do only so much.

About 50 animals have been taken in by the society this past year, and 40 of those have been adopted. The rest stay with foster families, just like other pets awaiting new homes. So far, there have been no unadoptable reptiles. If the society receives one that’s too sick for adoption, it will be rehabilitated with the help of a vet.

What inspires someone to adopt a reptile? Dawn says many people who think they’re scared or disgusted by reptiles change their minds when they meet one. And reptiles can be “a good alternative for people with allergies, or who don’t have appropriate space for more traditional household pets.”

Some types of reptiles will let you interact with them, while others do better going their own way as display pets. (You can think of them as your own tiny wildlife preserve.) Research will help you decide what kind is for you.

And if you do decide to adopt a reptile, check for a rescue society in your area.

By far the most popular of the arachnid pets are tarantulas. There are about 800 species of tarantula throughout the world. Many are now available for sale at pet shops and reptile shows. Tarantulas are easy to care for, but although the ones sold as pets may be safely handled, it is not advisable since they are invertebrate and may be injured by handling. The best habitat for your pet tarantula will depend on the type you choose, but most often a screen-topped aquarium or terrarium, minimum five gallon, will suffice. Equip the habitat with a shallow water dish, a substrate layer suitable for burrowing, and a place for your tarantula to hide. They will eat crickets and other live insects and generally feed a couple of times a week.

If you start with a young spiderling, you will see your tarantula grow. Part of this process includes molting. The shedding of its skin can take up to several hours; do not be alarmed if you see your tarantula on its back, and do not disturb it during the molting process as this could kill your pet.

When tarantulas mate it is more like they are dancing the tango. Their front legs touch and then she sidesteps with him following. He caresses her and gradually face-to-face they entwine their front limbs together. The tango continues with the male hooking his front legs over her fangs and with his second set of legs bends her backward. Then the moment arrives when he reaches under to transfer his sperm into a furrow in her mid section. Because a female may kill her sex partner after the dance is complete the male quickly scrambles out of reach of her legs.

Although the sex dance is intricate and charming these creatures don’t do much but sit and wait as predators. They can’t leap or construct intricate webs or ensnare an insect with silken threads. No, they just wait for the next passers by and attack the unsuspecting one in its path with their venomous fangs.

Tarantulas can live to more than 20 years and grow to the size of a dinner plate which is too big to stomp under foot like a regular spider. But they aren’t the gargantuan scary size as seen in the 1955 film Tarantula. In this scary flick a hundred foot tarantula crushed houses and eats cattle.

No wonder the tarantula has developed an undeserved reputation when in reality it is such as shy and virtually harmless spider to the human race.