Keeping Families and Exotic Companions Safe During Crisis
Safe Scales is a developing, referral-based program that may provide confidential, temporary emergency care for reptiles and select exotic companion animals belonging to survivors of domestic violence or families experiencing crisis.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
For confidential domestic-violence support in Yuma County, contact Amberly's Place at 928-373-0849.
If you're working with a domestic-violence advocate, victim-service provider, or crisis-service partner, they can help coordinate a referral to Safe Scales on your behalf whenever possible.
How Safe Scales Works
Placement is considered case by case and depends on available safe housing, species-specific care needs, quarantine capacity, legal requirements, animal health and temperament, and available resources.
Safe Scales is designed to support temporary care and safe reunification whenever possible. It is not a public intake program, and acceptance cannot be guaranteed.
Who We May Be Able to Help
- Reptiles, including snakes, lizards, geckos, turtles, tortoises, and amphibians
- Select exotic companion animals, considered individually
- Families experiencing crisis
- Survivors referred through domestic-violence, victim-service, or crisis-service partners
What We Cannot Accept
- Wildlife
- Venomous animals
- Animals possessed illegally
- Animals requiring permits, facilities, or specialized care we do not have
- Any animal beyond our space, safety, quarantine, or care capacity
Our Commitment to Privacy
We do not publicly share confidential case information, animal locations, foster details, or reunification plans. This protects the safety of everyone involved—the animal, the family, and the volunteers providing care.
If you are a survivor considering Safe Scales, please avoid posting details of your situation publicly, including on social media. Coordinating through a verified domestic-violence, victim-service, or crisis-service partner is the safest way to reach us, though you're welcome to contact us directly as well.