A mum’s reptile house
9:07am Thursday 6th September 2007 in Search Module By Amanda Smith
MOTHER-of-three Denise Frain has more on her hands than most other busy mums. In addition to a husband and three children, she has an exotic collection of snakes, tortoises and reptiles.
She juggles her home life in Tonge Moor with a passion for caring for the creatures, many of them pets no longer wanted by previous owners.
Among her current collection of tropical animals are three boa constrictor snakes which were seized at Heathrow Airport because they had been brought into the country illegally.
She also has 25 terrapins, two tortoises, an iguana, a bearded dragon and, possibly her most famous resident, a grass snake called Fred, who was rescued from Radcliffe last week.
Fred made headlines after causing panic among staff at Ashworth's plumbers' merchant, in Higher Ainsworth Lane, where one of the warehouses was shut for almost six hours amid fears he was a poisonous snake accidentally imported with a shipment of pipes from India.
Mrs Frain also has two dogs and three cats.
She worked as a volunteer at Horwich Wildlife Centre before setting up an animal rescue centre at home two years ago.
She said: "I set up the rescue centre because it is something I have always wanted to do - I just love reptiles."
Mrs Frain pursues her passion with the full backing of husband Philip and children Stefan, aged 14, Cora, aged 12 and Philip, aged eight.
She said: "My family have been really supportive. The kids love the reptiles, too, and try to help out."
The animals are kept in special tanks throughout her house, with the exception of the terrapins, which live in a garden pond.
Mrs Frains makes no money from her reptile centre but says that caring for the animals is a form of therapy that has helped her come to terms with the death of her brother, David O'Connell.
He died suddenly of a heart attack in July, 2005, aged 29.
His death came as a shock to the whole family and Mrs Frain has suffered from post traumatic stress disorder since she saw his life support machine switched off. Mrs Frain, aged 37, has rescued 237 animals from across the UK since she started the centre and looks after them until they can be rehoused.
Her work has been recognised by various animal welfare organisations.
These have included the RSPCA, Blackpool Zoo, Bolton Aquarium and HM Revenue and Customs. For more information on the animals, call Mrs Frain on 07843 943069 or visit ww.reptilerescueden.co.uk.
