Amnesty program allows exotic pets to be turned in without penalty

MELBOURNE, Fla. – Floridians with non-native pets had the chance to turn them in Saturday through the Exotic Pet Amnesty Program.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission held the event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Wickham Park Pavilion in Melbourne.

The event allowed exotic pet owners to surrender non-native pets for free with no penalty.

Amnesty Day events are held around the state. Once pets are handed in, every attempt is made to place all healthy animals with qualified adopters, according to FWC.

The events are an effort to reduce the number of non-native species released into the wild by pet owners who can no longer care for them or no longer wish to keep them.