SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — When it comes to Valentine's Day festivities, some people may be bugged by their past relationships. A San Angelo reptile rescue is offering to alleviate this irritation while also feeding its animals at the same time.

Ella's Reptile Sanctuary and Rescue, located at 117 Paint Rock Road, is hosting its first-ever "BUG YOUR EX" event. From Jan. 11 to Feb. 16, those wanting closure courtesy of cold-blooded creatures can call or message the sanctuary to order a bug or mouse, name the soon-to-be snack after an ex (or anyone else) and have it fed to the rescue's resident reptiles.

"Naming something after your ex and disposing of it can feel really gratifying, and we would love to be of help to people who want to experience that," Kaila Switalski, co-owner of Ella's Reptile Sanctuary and Rescue, said.

Those who take part in the event can receive "a personal video of the bug being fed," according to the event's Facebook entry. Participants ages 14 and over can even schedule a time to feed their aptly-named insect to a reptile themselves.

Pricing for the event varies depending on the type of prey selected, with the rescue listing the following reptile food options as being available for purchase at their associated prices:

• Cockroaches - $1.50
• Crickets - $1
• Mealworms - 50 cents
• Hornworms - $2
• Mice - $2

All funds raised through the event will go toward funding the rescue's medical bills for its animals. Rescue co-owner Avacyn Miller stated that prices for medical bills often range from $45 to $80 for check-ups to upwards of $100 and $300 for extensive care.

"We do get a lot of animals in, and they don't always come in the best care, as well as the animals we already have do need maintenance care as well," Switalski said.

Miller and Switalski also hope that the event will help promote the rescue. Miller shared that there are times when the sanctuary goes for a week without people coming to visit, which both owners believe is caused by an inability to purchase noticeable advertisements and a lack of public awareness about the rescue.

"Ever since the opening, we've had maybe a family or two come in a day," Miller said. "A lot of people don't know that we're here still, and a lot of people are confused at where we're at sometimes."

At the end of the day, however, Switalski and Miller intend for the reptile-feeding event to be a way for locals to assist the rescue through giving while also getting something in return — in this case, unorthodox catharsis.

"We think that this would be great to get people who aren't necessarily into things that we provide where they can still get involved and feel like they're helping, but also get a little bit of sweet back," Switalski said.

News Source : https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/local-news/local-reptile-rescue-offers-to-name-bugs-after-exes/