The Exotic Pet Refuge is home to 350 curious creatures – including monkeys, reptiles, unusual birds and even a 6ft alligator.

Animals are taken to the refuge from all over the UK, many of which have become too much of a handful for their owners.

For Pet Refuge owner Pam Mansfield, the task of caring for all the animals can cost up to £40,000 per year, and the centre relies heavily on donations.

Thousands of visitors poured through the doors of the latest open day at the refuge, in Station Road, Deeping St James, near Market Deeping, and other money-makers are planned to raise vital cash.
Currently, funding is needed to build a new pen ahead of the arrival of a monkey, due at the centre in two weeks' time.

Pam said: "We need a new pen because it's quite a large monkey and will need space.

"We get quite a lot of monkeys. They can be a real problem because they need to be stimulated. You can't just leave them, because they will mutilate themselves.
"They need to have things to do to keep themselves occupied.
"I certainly wouldn't recommend them as pets."

The monkey will be cared for alongside other animals which have been abandoned by owners.

Pam said: "We look after animals that other people can't keep, for one reason or another.
"The arrival of animals is never ending.

"People think a pet is a good idea at the time, and then they grow so big that people can't cope with them any more.
"We don't judge people who can't manage the pets, we're just here to pick up the pieces. It's the animals we're worried about, not the people."

The Exotic Pet Refuge is holding a fund-raising barbecue at 5pm on Saturday, September 3.

> Tickets cost £6 and can be bought by calling the refuge on 01778 345923.