Drew Desjardins of Mr. Drew and His Animals Too entertains the gang on the Oxford County Truthful in 2021 with one in every of his many snakes. A big – and pleasant – snapping turtle named Wilbert wandered close to his ft. Nicole Carter / Advertiser Democrat
REGION — Maine’s favourite educator and rescuer of unique and endangered animals has been getting ready to homelessness after being ordered to vacate his Lewiston headquarters on the Pepperell Mill on Liston Avenue by March. 7.
Drew Desjardins has housed his assortment of serpents, lizards, crawlies and extra at 550 Lisbon Avenue since 2018. There he has operated an schooling middle, rescue operation and rehabilitation companies, however Desjardins can be a mainstay all through the neighborhood, bringing his menagerie to colleges, festivals and festivals and particular occasions.
Securing a web site to securely take care of greater than 200 unique animals is not any simple feat, neither is shifting them. Desjardins shortly discovered various quarters however the pace required to get there stays a problem.
Two supporters of Mr. Drew and His Animals Too, Chelsea Briggs & Cheryl Horton, began a GoFundMe marketing campaign final week to assist Desjardins discover new quarters and safely transfer his assortment, most of which require an 80-85 diploma surroundings, throughout the useless of winter. As of Tuesday, the fundraiser has exceeded its objective of $25,000 and continues to gather donations from $5 to $500.
Individuals also can assist Desjardins by visiting his schooling middle on Lisbon Avenue in Lewiston this week earlier than it closes to the general public on Feb. 25.
Mr. Drew and His Animals Too are not any strangers to households who stay in Oxford Hills.
Drew Desjardins and one in every of his animals on the Station Home Neighborhood Heart in Oxford, final November. Nicole Carter / Advertiser Democrat
Final fall Desjardins visited Oxford’s Station Home Neighborhood Heart, packing the constructing to capability in line with Recreation Director Kayla Laird. He has additionally labored the Oxford County Truthful, and took part in Agnes Grey Elementary College’s spring carnival in 2019 and 2020.
“Mr. Drew was at all times the spotlight of the carnival,” Beth Clarke, former principal of the West Paris college. “He’s tremendous nice with the youngsters, very affected person and he relates with them. It may be tough if you convey stay animals into massive teams and he does it very easily. There usually are not many alternatives the place children might be so near these forms of animals and really contact them as they be taught.”
Desjardins is not only all enjoyable and interactive studying, both. He was known as in to help the Norway Police Division in 2020 when 53 arachnids, largely tarantulas and scorpions and together with some unlawful species, have been found residing in a room on the then Inn City Motel. After a tenant was evicted from the motel, Desjardins rescued the critters left behind and gave them a extra acceptable house.
Homeowners of reptiles and bugs who usually are not geared up for the particular care and eating regimen required usually deposit their exotics with Desjardins. A few of his endlessly pets have been rescued from poor residing circumstances or from the wild.
“We will’t cease taking in animals,” Desjardins instructed the Solar Journal earlier this yr. “Who else goes to do it? , what we’re taking in, the humane society doesn’t contact.”
Donations might be made by clicking on this hyperlink: www.gofundme.com/f/rally-to-save-mr-drew-his-animals-too. Followers of Mr. Drew can catch updates of the transfer by visiting his Fb web page at: https://www.fb.com/mrdrewandhisanimalstoo.
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