Grand Valley State University professor Cory DiCarlo enjoys many pasttimes, one of which lead him to starting an exotic animal rescue right here in West Michigan.

DiCarlo is an associate professor of chemistry, with a sub-discipline specialty of bio-analytical electrochemistry. He has been teaching chemistry at GVSU for five years and 11 years overall.

Other than teaching, he says he also enjoys working with animals, hockey, reading and movies. His love for animals came from his wife, he said. DiCarlo said he had never been around exotic pets until he met his wife who had a house rabbit.

“I fell in love with her and with her bunny very quickly and my love of both has continued ever since,” DiCarlo said.

His involvement in animal rescue didn’t begin until he and his wife visited an animal rescue to look at a horse a few years ago.

“After working for a few months with this rescue, we decided that we could more specifically help rabbits and other exotic pets by working from within our own organization,” he said.

He and his wife formed their own rescue organization, West Michigan Critter Haven, with the help of a few volunteers that were interested in the same thing.

“We have been working now for approximately two and a half years in the West Michigan area caring for and re-homing small exotic pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs, degus, chinchillas, rats and various birds,” said DiCarlo.

DiCarlo said the rescue operates entirely on funds donated by the public, but coordinates with several animal shelters in the area to help deal with fostering and re-homing exotic animals.

“Exotic animals are difficult to care for in a shelter with dogs and cats due to their more specific needs and the risk of health issues brought about by the high stress of the close proximity to predators,” said DiCarlo.

The GVSU Humane Society has helped Critter Haven with the educational part of their mission by holding fund raisers to help provide for the medical costs required by the animals in their care. The Humane Society allows “talks” hosted by the organization to its members.

“We are a local organization centered on serving the West Michigan area,” DiCarlo said. “We have had adoptions though from several states, including Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois, and Connecticut.”

He said the rescue is dedicated to the specialized needs of small animals and that they strive to bring the highest quality care to all the pets placed into their rescue. DiCarlo said exotic pets are cared for according to the most educated standards known.

The pets experience indoor housing only, fresh daily greens, daily safe playtime within pet-proofed rooms, safe litters and toys. And, they make sure each foster and adopter is thoroughly educated on the needs of that animal before a pet is placed into their care.

“As educators we teach the community proper care of these pets in order to enrich the lives of current and future pets, to establish a respect for the animals and to help reduce the number of abandoned and neglected pets relinquished each month,” DiCarlo said. “It is our utmost priority to educate, promote and require alteration for every pet.”

For more information on the West Michigan Critter Haven, visit www.wmicritterhaven.org.

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