This is one in a series of articles in the feature called "Helpers", devoted to people who help make the community a better place.
This week we meet Steve Featherstone, 43, of Rutherglen. You may know Featherstone as the owner-operator of the Reptile Adventure Camp, which has been operating in this area for around three years, after relocating from Hamilton where it had operated for several more.
"When we lived and worked in Hamilton, we usually spent time in this area every year on vacation, enjoying nature. Eventually, we thought we should just move here and slow things down a bit," he says.
Like many other businesses, the Reptile Adventure Camp has been impacted by the recent COVID crisis. They had to cancel their four weeks of summer camp, and several other events or appearances with their animal friends. He estimates they've had at least 70 cancellations so far.
But that doesn't stop the big-hearted man from keeping busy and helping others, especially animals that he has a great love for. Recently he posted on Facebook that they had rescued yet another creature, this one a five-foot-long alligator that had been confiscated in the Toronto area. "Who needs an alligator in a Toronto Condo? Nobody," he adds.
In fact, all of the 75 animals living at their compound are rescues.
"Right now we have reptiles and a few amphibians. We've got turtles and tortoises, snakes and lizards, alligators and caimans (an alligator-like species, also in the crocodilian family) five tarantulas and three scorpions. They're all rescues," says Featherstone.
He says in just the last three years, he's rescued another dozen animals, usually confiscated when people are illegally smuggling them up from the states.
One of their oldest friends is Mojo, a 24-year-old female gator that is popular at shows and events.
"She was the first alligator rescue and was FOUND in Hamilton. Someone sold it to a young kid as a salamander, but when his parents saw it they knew that wasn't true. They called animal authorities and eventually, Mojo ended up with me. She was very small then."
But it's not just creatures that steal his heart, but kids as well.
"My work has been impacted by the COVID situation, but before this, I was a behavioural counsellor for youth," he explains.
Plus, he and his wife Holly serve as full-time foster parents. they currently have one youth living with them but have helped many over the years.
On top of rescuing animals in need, and being a foster parent, he's been working on the front lines of the COVID pandemic, doing security at the hospital. He's also been working at the larger homeless shelter recently set up in the city. When asked when he finds time to sleep, Featherstone says "Not much. I might get four or five hours a night. But it's fun for sure"
