Dec 5, 2023 By Melissa Gibson 3 min read

From the time she could walk, Marie Hall loved chasing and catching garter snakes in the field near her home.

As she grew older, she learned more about snakes, lizards and other reptiles. Eventually brought a snake home as a pet.

“Getting my first snake started everything. When my neighbors found out I owned a snake, it freaked everyone out,” Hall said.

Her plan: to breed corn snakes, giving others the opportunity to love them like she did.

The plan changed when Hall learned of an issue impacting reptiles already on the planet.

“People started coming to me and they had heard I had snakes. They have a lizard or a reptile they no longer want and asked me to care for it,” Hall said. “I realized I didn’t want to be a part of bringing more animals in the world that had the possibility to end up abandoned.”

She began taking in exotic pets and in that first year, unexpectedly received around 100 different animals.

By 2021, Hall had applied for nonprofit status, officially creating a foster-based program. So far this year, she has taken in 450 animals and counting.

In addition to providing a home for unwanted reptiles, Hall said there’s a lot of education involved as well. These scaly friends aren’t as scary as they sometimes appear.

Take Prince Parmesan for instance.

He’s an albino tegu, whom Hall said is similar to having a dog. He steals shoes and chews them. He steals pillows and brings them back to his enclosure to take a nap. He’s also very lazy and doesn’t want to do too much unless there’s food involved.

“A lot of people will tell you they don’t feel anything and they have no attachments,” Hall said. “They know me. I love them. Do they love me? Probably not. There’s not an attachment on their end to me, but with that said, I believe they all have personalities. I know when my snakes are crabby, who is curious and which one is goofy.”

While many are wary of reptiles, Hall said they have a purpose.

“They play a role in our environment and they aren’t here to hurt you. They also make great pets for those with busy schedules because they don’t require a lot of attention but still provide companionship,” Hall said.

Currently, Hall is housing the animals in her home, family members’ homes and willing foster families, but the need for a facility is great.

“Reptile organizations often don’t qualify for grants. We’re completely dependent on fundraising and support from businesses and the community,” Hall said.

Marie Exotics Reptile Rescue hosts meet-and-greet events at the local mall. The event dates are posted on their Facebook page. In addition, visitors can find Hall at the Westmoreland Reptile Expo on Dec. 17.

To support Hall’s mission, find donation information on the Marie Exotics Reptile Rescue on Facebook or mail to 1095 Addison St., Washington, Pa., 15301. For those interested, reach out to Hall via Facebook to foster an animal.