I've picked up or rescued reptiles:
-from parking lots because people didn't want me to know where they lived
-with a police escort
-from another rescue that had a deplorable conditions
-from houses in scary parts of the city
-from single wide trailers that are older than me
-from pet stores
-from people who've brought them to my house
-from people who were super excited to get rid of the critter
-from people who sobbed as I said goodbye
-from people I wouldn't ever want to meet again
-from addicts, abuse victims, and abusers
-from teenagers who didn't know any better
-from families who were mourning loved ones who just died
-off internet classified ads advertising "Healthy" pets for sale
-from sobbing kids
-from abandoned apartments & houses
-from a backyard/back bedroom breeder who ended up with too many sickly babies
-from my vet's office
-from friends
-from other people who did their own "rescue" but realized it was too much
-from coworkers of friends
-from a parking lot 3 1/2 hours away from me (it was halfway)
-from families who bought their own beardie but ended up with a grumpy/sickly one
-from a backyard greenhouse
-from other places & situations I can't remember
-while on vacation in another state
-from people who ended up threatening me until I had to call the police
There have been many times when I went on a rescue expecting a good situation only to find a hellish nightmare and vice versa. I remember once driving 40 minutes to a trailer park and thinking I was going to chew out the owner for flipping animals. I found a very old trailer, but very clean and very impressive tanks. I was so surprised.
There have been times when I purposely give my friends or family the number & name & address of where I am going on a pick up so if I disappear, someone will know. There's only been a handful of those calls (thankfully).
The biggest thing I'm learning is this truth:
I see only one side of each situation and sometimes it looks far worse than it actually is. I try to not judge to harshly. I never call out owners on my blog. When I get to the point that I feel like I hate everyone in rescue, I take a break until I can "play nice."
Yes, there are some people who should NEVER have pets (or children). Yes, there are people who are ignorant and blame it on the pet store instead of taking responsibility. Yes, there are animals who are harmed or killed by bad choices of their stupid owners. Yes, all of these make rescue much harder. Yes, sometimes it's is just TOO late to save an animal. Yes, all of this is the reality of rescue. And yes, it makes it all harder. But sometimes you gotta just ignore it and get to work.
My goal is always "get in, get the animal, get out." If I have a chance to educate, I do. My first priority is always my safety and the safety of the animal. Because of that I don't often go in with "guns blazing" ready to seek justice. I bite my tongue, I get the animal, I get out. Sometimes I drive home with shaking hands; sometimes I drive home crying. When I start getting really critical and angry, I remind myself about two sides to every pancake and move on.
Luckily, all my critters keep me busy enough that I don't have time to waste on anger or seeking revenge. It's exhausting feeding these many critters and picking up their poop.