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Marion L. Janusz
Certified Reptile Specialist

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739 Borden Rd.
Cheektowaga, NEW YORK 14227

Because RARE cannot afford to return out of town calls, please email your request, and we will be happy to respond to you promptly. We check our email at least twice a day.
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Reptile Adoption, Rehabilitation, and Education
Marion L. Janusz/Executive Director
R.A.R.E. Inc.- Reptile Adoption, Rehabilitation & Education, Inc.
739 Borden Rd.
Cheektowaga, New York 14227
(716) 656 7273


INTRODUCTION: Since 1996, when I first founded R.A.R.E. to address the need for proper care and maintenance of reptiles and amphibians/ wild/exotic, I have had many people suggest I list my qualifications to the public. While I was initially against it, thinking it was "self-serving" , I can see now, that many people in our community don't really realize how committed I am to these creatures and their proper care, the continued education of the public and our members, and of course, my own education. So it is with reservations, I list my past ,present and continuing experiences and education .

North American School of Animal Sciences Diploma -1974

Dr. Joseph Grogan, D.V.M.- Transit Animal Hospital- 1974-1979 Large and small animal practice with occasional wildlife and zoo animals.

SUNYAB- Associate's Degree- Accounting- 1976-78

M&M School of Dog Grooming Graduate - 1978
Received Master Groomer Status- 1980

Buffalo Zoo Docent Graduate- 1982-1987.

Votech Program - Ormsby Center- Small Animal Care- 1987

Buffalo State Teachers College- Vo-Tech Ed.- Animal Care Specialist 1988-91

Pet Industry Animal Care Workshops- 1989

Cornell University, Animal Behavior Program- Sept. 1991

Wildlife Rehabilitation License - March, 1993

Certified Wildlife Trapper - August, 1993

Wildlife Rehabilitation Skills Course, ECC- October, 1993

NOAH- Veterinary Workshop.- 5 Credit Hrs. in Vet. Continuing Education. Sept. 1994

Wildlife Rehabilitation Knowledge and Skills Update- GCC - 1995 and 1997

PIJAC - REPTILE SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION- Aug 1995,
Advanced Course Sept. 1999

Toledo Zoo Reptile/Amphibian Care Seminar- April 1996

ARAV- Five day Veterinary Workshops/Labs, 31 Credit hours, August 1996

NOAH-- Iguana Workshop, Sept. 1996 and Sept. 1997

Founded R.A.R.E. - Reptile Adoption, Rehabilitation and Education, Inc.. 1996.

HSUS- Wildlife Capture and Restraint Certification New City, N.Y. 1997

Chemical Immobization Certification, SPCA, BFlo. N.Y. 1997

Rabies Vector Species Certification , Hamilton, N.Y. 1997

NYS Wildlife Rehab Seminar 3 day course, Hamilton, N.Y. 1997

Taught 8 week "Reptile Care and Maintenance" Course Science Museum. March 1997 and Sept. 1997

Taught 5 week reptile "mini-courses" at the E.C.S.P.C.A. Feb. 1998.

Taught 5 week reptile "mini-courses" at the Buffalo Club for the Deaf, May, 1998.

Was invited back to present at the ECSPCA in Sept.1998.

Was invited to present at the NYSWRC seminar in Hamilton, N.Y. in 1998.

Official Reptile/Amphibian Merit Badge Counselor for N.F. Boy Scout Council
1999, 2000, 2001 - have signed off over 250 scouts to date.

Certified Euthanasia Technician Seminar-Rochester, SPCA- Feb.1999

CET Internship ECSPCA-March/April 1999.

CET Licensed July 1999.( Carl P. Tomaschke, DVM)

ARAV--Columbus, Ohio 1999.- 14 Continuing Veterinary Education Credit Hours.

NYSWRC Seminar- Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. Nov. 1999.

Featured in "REPTILE RESCUE" by local author, Peggy Thomas. Book features reptile rescue groups from around the world. Jan 2000.

National Wildlife Rehab Council- Milwaukee, Wisconsin- Wildlife Seminar- 5 days- March 2000.

Tortoise Specialist Certification Aug.2000-Dr. Richard Cary Paull- Florida City, Florida.

Explorers Club- Medaille College/2000- Reptile Lecture/Presentation (Dr.Joseph Savarees, Dr.Roberts, Dr.Leys)

Greater Niagara Veterinary Service- Lecturer and Wetlabs- (Laura Wade,DVM) for veterinarians and vet techs.
Jan. 25th 2001.

Jan. 29th, 2001- Buffalo Museum of Science- taught museum docents about reptiles featured in "Robotic Reptiles Display".

May 16, 2001 - Lecture- Cleveland Heights Christian Church- "What's Wrong With My Snake".(Kim Leys, DVM)

June 13, 2001-Lecture-"What's Wrong With My Snake?"Avian/Exotic Veterinary Council Meeting- Eagle House Rest., Williamsville, N.Y.(Staci Minnier,DVM)

Jan. 2001 - Exotic DVM Veterinary Magazine- contributor. "Humdifying a snakes'environment."

May. 2001- Exotic DVM Veterinary Magazine contributor.-"Feeding Sick Snakes".

Nov.2001- Exotic DVM Veterinary Magazine contributor-"Resolving Retained Spectacles in Snakes".

Sept.2001 - Completed 8 wk. on line veterinary course, "Basic Reptile Medicine"by Drs.
Sonia and Steve Hernandez-Divers (Helen Roberts,DVM)

Dec. 2001-2006-Explorers Club-Medaille College-Reptile Presentation (Dr.Joseph Savares,Dr.Kim Leys)

Feb. 2003 -Tortoise Master Class (Class of Distinction) Tortoise Trust UK

Feb. 2003 - designated "expert consultant" to Exotic DVM Forum (Marc Kramer)

April 2004-IACUC- Internal Animal Care and Use Committee member-Bflo.State College

Editor of R.A.R.E.'s bi-annual newsletter , "RARE News", RARE Annual Report and the previous editor of Exotic Veterinary Council Monthly Newsletter, "EXOTIC TALES".(Minnier)

Member of VSPN (Veterinary Information Network) and continue to take on-line classes.

Recently completed classes in "Reptile Parasitology" and "Toxicology" 2007

Member of ARAV-Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians.

Member of the Avian/Exotic Veterinary Council.

Member of the Exotic DVM On-line Forum.

Have assisted local veterinarians with various reptile emergencies. Do in-house long -term, short term rehab for local pet shops, veterinarians, and RARE members. (with veterinarian review) . Am referred by local veterinarians, the Buffalo Zoo, Bflo. Museum of Science, ECSPCA and the better pet stores.

I have been available for care advice, emergency and long term rehab care and boarding, 365 days a year for the last 12 years.

My duties at R.A.R.E. include daily cleaning, feeding and health care of over 80 presently harbored reptiles, food preparation, ordering and feeding /cleaning of feeder insects, ordering and inventory of frozen feeder food for snakes, updating membership lists, membership services, membership renewal notices, keeping daily financial records on income and expenses, editor of the bi-annual newsletter and annual report. Taking newsletters to printer for copying and collating. Folding, labeling, stamping and mailing of 250 - 500 newsletters bi-annually. Answering calls on care advice, tour appointments, unwanted animals, adoptions, presentation requests, fundraisers, filing adoption forms, boarding forms and consent forms and herp correspondence. Overseeing volunteers and sending thank you cards to donors, replying to emails and phone calls for advice on care and rehab, updating website and all the other paperwork involved in running a non-profit organization.

Our tenth anniversary in 2006 was met with relief and satisfaction , but in March 2006, a devastating fire tore through the bldg. killing 40 of the 75 resident animals and gutting the inside. We moved the surviving animals to a temporary storefront on French Rd. and restoration of the bldg. started in August of 2006 .

In April 2007, we moved into our newly built facilities and to this date (April 2008) we continue our work.. This year we are planning more outdoor facilities for our resident animals to better enjoy the summer months.

Because RARE is an All Volunteer organization, and I do not receive any compensation, besides my duties at RARE, I operate a small dog grooming business down the street from the Borden Rd.House.