BOTTINEAU, N.D. (KMOT) – A nonprofit animal rescue center in Bottineau is not your ordinary shelter. It has been a home for reptiles and other exotic animals that are either displaced or illegal to own in the state.
Founder Tasha Gorentz said it is the only one of its kind in North Dakota. The center has provided services like rescue, rehab, rehome and education since it gained its nonprofit status in 2019.
Tasha Gorentz has hundreds of animals in at the Kritter Krazy shelter, from as small as your fingertips, to as heavy as 150 pounds.
”Any big city in the United States, there’s a humane society, there’s a dog pound, there’s a cat rescue. There’s not a lot of resources for reptiles and exotic animals, especially up here in the north,” said Gorentz.
While other kids wanted puppies and kitties, her first pet was a frog. Gorentz currently has six of the third-largest tortoises in the world.
”You wouldn’t think that those animals are something that gets surrendered, or that people even own up here in North Dakota, but they absolutely do,” said Gorentz.
She said tortoises can start as golf-sized babies, but owners fail to plan on how large they can get.
”Three and five years is the average life span before most people rehome them,” said Gorentz.
She takes in about 550 animals a year and adopts out at least 400 of them. Many of them cannot be owned in the state like the snapping turtle because it is illegal, so she goes out to schools and nursing homes to teach them about the animals. The donation-based rescue does not make money from adoption fees.
”If you are making money from rescue, you’re doing it the wrong way,” said Gorentz.
She said they average about $2,000 in just keeping the lights on.
”That’s not animal care, that’s not food, that’s not supplies, that’s not equipment,” said Gorentz.
She added that donations have also been down.
”Because of the economy. Because everybody is struggling,” said Gorentz.
Gorentz said they lose money on any animal that comes in, but she knows it is going to be worth it.
”When one of those animals gets adopted, and find their forever home. It recharges your battery so quick,” said Gorentz.
She is self-taught through watching the Discovery Channel to attending zoos and exhibits.
Kritter Krazy is having a fundraiser at Dickey’s Barbecue Pit in Minot this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the organization. They are also raffling out a TV among other prizes. Anyone interested in donating or volunteering, can contact the shelter at 701-730-8005 or visit their Facebook page.
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