Written by Kayla Dixon 

A PSA to those doing rescues and adoptions

This is inspired by recent posts I’ve seen of people rescuing crabs off of Facebook Marketplace or other online posting sites.

When messaging with the owners, it’s important to be gentle and tactful. After years of experience with animal advocacy, I can tell you that it’s a sensitive situation. No one wants to be lectured or told their care is bad. Especially when the animals are already unwanted and being posted.

Just some tips from my recent experience:

1. Use the correct language. Don’t use the term rescue, even if it is a rescue situation. Using phrases like re-homing or adoption comes across much kinder and more tactful. We never want to get people on the defense which can jeopardize the opportunity to get the crab to a better situation. 

2. Sometimes crabs are listed for free, sometimes for a fee. You can always barter it down, just go about it nicely. Sometimes the fee is just part of rescuing as it isn’t always a surrender situation. I occasionally pass on people who are asking for hundreds for bad enclosures and crabs. It’s up to you how much you are willing to spend. This can be a difficult decision to make but ultimately it is up to you to set your limit. Rescuing can be costly.

3. Let the owners tell you how they care for them. I’ve heard some horrifying care instructions from people. But there is a better time to teach them and during pickup isn’t the time. I simply listen and get as much information as I can. This helps me shape my rehab and approach to integrating them into my existing crabitats.

4. Give reassurance that you are knowledgeable and share pictures of your current crabitats. This makes people feel more comfortable. I often will share a photo or video with them once the crab is home to give reassurance. 

5. 4. Kindly suggest resources if they ever want crabs in the future. Suggest adoption programs or easy resource videos like Crab Central Station. I usually only do this if they indicate wanting crabs again in the future.

I know we are all passionate crab keepers. This passion can often come across wrong which ultimately doesn’t help the crabs. In my experiences, I’ve seen some horrible reactions to rescuers where they change their mind or take down the listing. This is what we want to avoid!

Remember to approach these situations without judgment. People’s circumstances can cause them to need to re-home. We have to commend those who acknowledge that they are not the right home for the crabs and are allowing others to take them in. 

Thanks to everyone who takes their resources to do rescues. I see your commitment and appreciate your passion! This isn’t a call out to anyone, it’s just some advice so we can all save more crabs! Keep on crabbing!

Kayla shared this on Facebook & I loved her advice and asked if I may share it on our blog. Thank you for allowing us to share, Kayla! I think it’s really helpful suggestions!