Georgia Herpetological Association & Rescue
Who We Are...
GHAR is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to educating and providing forever homes for pet reptiles. Our organization offers experienced foster homes and veterinary care for reptiles in need.
Interested in adding a reptile to your family? There are a good number of healthy reptiles placed in our foster network just waiting for their forever homes. We also provide services if you should find an abandoned reptile. We predominately work in Atlanta and North Georgia.
All of our members have many years of reptile handling and education experience. Therefore, we also provide educational events for a fee for summer camps, schools, home schools, daycares, and birthday parties. The fees go directly to helping us care for sick and injured reptiles. Drop us a line at gharescue@gmail.com for a quote.
Adoption Spotlight: Pacey!

Pacey is an adult, 7 years old, female, Leopard Gecko.
Pacey is a sweet girl who doesn't bite. Don't be swayed by her age, as many leopard geckos live to be over 10 years old! She would make a great pet for a family as she is established and eats regularly. She tolerates handling sessions briefly.
Pick up in Augusta
A bit about our Founders:
Kathy Smith came to the reptile community with an interest in bearded dragons, and she most definitely is the mother of all lizards. Kathy has venomous handling training, experience with larger snakes and lizards, and has a passion for rescue. She worked for 10 years with reptile rescue all over the state of Georgia before forming GHAR, and has also been featured on The Weather Channel, "Critter Fixers: Country Vets," and Central Georgia CBS's "Tegu Taskforce." Kathy was also nominated for "Lizard Personality of the Year" in 2017 by The Reptile Report. Additionally, her animals have been featured on the FX show, "Atlanta," and she has worked as an exotic animal handler and wildlife handler for additional television series.
Dr. Katie Bell is an academic and teacher by day and a reptile handler by night. She has worked with Bear Hollow Zoo in Athens, Georgia, animal shelters throughout North Georgia, and with larger pet store chains, learning about the most up-to-date husbandry and working to ensure that reptiles kept as pets get the proper care. Not only does Katie have reptile experience, she also has had training with larger exotic animals and aquatics--she has a story about being bitten by a bear and yet living to tell the tale. She is a published researcher on the life and works of Charles Dickens, has been featured on "Critter Fixers: Country Vets," and has done animal education for over 20 years with children. There isn't an animal on this earth that doesn't have Katie's admiration.

Kathy and Katie from this season's Critter Fixers: Country Vets!



If you find an injured native species, check DNR's website for advice here: https://georgiawildlife.com/sick-injured-or-orphaned-wildlife
Kathy was interviewed about tegu on Atlanta News First/CBS
Rehome a pet:
Please note that we cannot take aquatic turtles. However, we may be able to connect you to an approved foster who introduces native GA species to the wild.
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First, contact us to see if we can accommodate your pet. Let us know where you are located. We CANNOT take your animal directly from a release form. You MUST reach out to us first. Please understand that we are not veterinarians and are unable to give medical advice.
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If we have an available foster home, we will then ask you to fill out a release form through https://www.shelterluv.com/matchme/owner-surrender/GAH/Exotic/Other. Please do not fill out a form until we have instructed you to do so.
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We will reach out to you to coordinate a day, time and location for you to drop off your animal. Please be patient with us, as we are all volunteers.
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If you are able to, consider making a donation (through the Donate tab) to help with costs for your animal.
Events: come see us at these locations. Or, if you are an approved volunteer, click to RSVP and the event will appear on your profile.
- Private Event—birthday partySun, Jul 271480 Lovvorn Mill Rd
- Southeast Reptile ExpoSat, Aug 09Duluth
- Southeast Reptile ExpoSun, Aug 10Duluth
- Fernbank Museum: Reptile DaySat, Aug 23Fernbank Museum | 3D Theater | Forest
- Show Me Reptiles: GROVETOWNSat, Nov 01Grovetown
- Show Me Reptiles: GROVETOWNSun, Nov 02Grovetown