About RiverRescues Ltd
Who We Are
RiverRescues Ltd is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and responsible rehoming of reptiles, exotic animals, and other companion animals across Edinburgh and Scotland's Central Belt.
Founded in 2023 by AJ River, RiverRescues was established to address the growing need for specialist care and support for animals that have been neglected, abandoned, surrendered, or require experienced handling. Drawing on years of practical experience in animal welfare, AJ leads a dedicated team of trained volunteers who work tirelessly to provide high-quality care and support to both animals and their owners.
Our work extends beyond rescue and rehoming. We provide behavioural rehabilitation, enclosure maintenance, husbandry advice, welfare assessments, transport assistance, and practical support for pet owners facing challenging circumstances. Whether an animal requires emergency intervention, specialist care, long-term rehabilitation, or simply a helping hand, we strive to deliver compassionate, welfare-focused support tailored to the needs of every animal and owner we assist.
Our guiding principle is simple: if we have the resources and expertise to help, we will.
Our Experience
Every animal that comes into our care has unique needs. Over the years, our team has successfully rehabilitated and rehomed animals presenting with a wide range of behavioural, medical, and welfare challenges.
Our experience includes caring for animals that have suffered severe neglect or abuse, those displaying complex behavioural issues or aggression, reptiles with advanced husbandry deficiencies, animals requiring specialist dietary management, and pets recovering from illness, injury, or disability, including limb loss and chronic health conditions.
We work closely with veterinary professionals, experienced carers, and prospective adopters to ensure every animal receives the care, treatment, and rehabilitation needed to maximise its quality of life and prepare it for a safe, permanent home.
Since our organisation was founded in 2023, RiverRescues has provided assistance to thousands of animals. Some cases require only short-term intervention lasting a few hours, while others involve weeks or months of dedicated rehabilitation before an animal is ready for adoption.
Our Mission
At RiverRescues, we believe every animal deserves the opportunity to live a healthy, enriched, and fulfilling life, regardless of its past.
Our mission is to improve animal welfare through rescue, rehabilitation, education, and responsible rehoming while supporting pet owners with practical guidance, husbandry services, and compassionate assistance. By promoting responsible ownership and providing specialist care, we aim to reduce neglect, prevent unnecessary suffering, and give vulnerable animals the second chance they deserve.
How We Are Funded
RiverRescues operates as a non-profit social enterprise and receives no regular government funding. Our work is made possible through the generosity of donations, adoption fees, fundraising initiatives, and income generated through the animal care and support services we provide.
Every contribution is reinvested directly into the organisation to fund veterinary treatment, specialist diets, medication, rescue operations, transport, enclosure improvements, enrichment, and the daily care of the animals we support.
We also gratefully accept donations of food, enclosures, equipment, bedding, and other essential animal care supplies. These donations play a vital role in helping us continue our work and respond to animals in need.
By supporting RiverRescues, you are helping provide lifesaving care, rehabilitation, and new beginnings for vulnerable animals across Edinburgh and Scotland's Central Belt.
Together, we can continue making a lasting difference—one rescue at a time.
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