About Us
Feathers, Scales and Tails is a sanctuary for unwanted, neglected or abused exotic pets such as reptiles, amphibians, birds, small mammals, and insects.
We pride ourselves in giving the rescued animals the absolute best care while they are with us, and making sure they have a perfect forever home when they leave us. We have the highest standards of animal care!
We work hard to rescue, provide medical care, and adopt out as many animals as possible, while also providing pet owners with education about the standard of care that all animals should receive.
Our organization offers community outreach, educational programs, fundraisers and events in order to positively impact animals, pet owners, and the community!
What happened to the Sara's Pets and Plants storefront in Sharpsburg?
Sara's Pets and Plants was a small pet supply store opened in October 2018. It was clear that there was a need in the area for a sanctuary for animals that are often overlooked, so we become a pet store that focused solely on rescuing exotic pets!
In January 2020, Sara's Pets and Plants decided to move to Sharpsburg. From 2018-2023, Sara's Pets and Plants rescued and rehomed over 600 animals, and focused on providing educational opportunities to the community.
Unfortunately in October 2023, the storefront closed down, but we are still happy to provide a safe haven for pets in need through our foster-based rescue; Feathers, Scales and Tails!
Meet the Board of Directors!
Sara, President
Sara grew up loving and caring for all animals; so much so, that she decided to make a career out of it! She graduated from Penn State with a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science. During that time she interned at the Pittsburgh Zoo, and Humane Animal Rescue Wildlife Center, and also studied wildlife conservation, ecology, and biology in Tanzania. She then moved to Dubai to work as a biologist in a rainforest biodome, and quickly became the department head of reptiles and amphibians.
While running Sara's Pets and Plants (our previous storefront), Sara completed her Master's degree in Anthrozoology. After the storefront closed, Sara moved to Florida to be a professor of Anthrozoology at Beacon College.
Sara has worked with and studied hundreds of different exotic species, and loves that she can now share her knowledge and love for animals with all of you!
Lauren, Treasurer
Lauren has worked with reptiles for over 7 years; first working for a reptile breeder, and now volunteering at Sara's Pets and Plants.
She is especially interested in building and maintaining bioactive enclosures. She has two lizards; an African fat tailed gecko and a leopard gecko, who both live in enclosures that mimic their natural habitats.
While reptiles are her focus, she also loves birds and hamsters.
In her free time, Lauren enjoys herping, painting, and baking.
Elise, Secretary
Elise is a current biology and environmental science student at the University of Pittsburgh. She is a huge wildlife lover and is thrilled to volunteer with Feathers, Scales, and Tails to help find forever homes for all of their animals. She has two lizards (a crested gecko and leopard gecko) and a White’s tree frog. She also works part-time as the student manager of the Plant2Plate Community Garden and participates in Pitt’s Club Triathlon team. In her free time, she loves hiking, gardening, and playing board games.
Jess, Junior Board Member
Jess has always dreamed of working with animals of all kinds, so when given the opportunity to volunteer at Sara’s Pets and Plants, she jumped! She has been volunteering with animals since the beginning of 2021. When the storefront closed she was offered the chance to become a junior board member with Feathers, Scales, and Tails, and she eagerly said yes. She is very interested in general animal care and behavior, especially reptile, bird, and small mammal care/behavior. She currently has two bearded dragons, a Plated lizard, a Crested gecko, a veiled chameleon, a bunny, a bunch of fish, and a dog. In her free time, Jess enjoys cooking, writing poetry, and creating art.