Meet Jessica Coleman | President of Lumpy Lizard Rescue

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Coleman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Lumpy Lizard Reptile, Poultry, and Exotics Rescue serves a huge area which includes Corpus Christi, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and anything in between. I like to say “we get the weird calls,” because we get called to take giant lizards, 14 foot pythons, pigs, goats, sheep, rodents like prairie dogs and groundhogs, all kinds of things. Every time I think I’ve rescued the weirdest animal yet, someone calls with something weirder

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am the President and one of the founders of Lumpy Lizard Reptile, Poultry, and Exotics Rescue. Yeah, it’s a mouth full. You can call us Lumpy Lizard.

I was actually kind of a screw up for a lot of my life. I got sober in 2012 and wanted something to do that was productive – a way to give back to a world that I spent a lot of time taking from. I started in dog rescue but wildlife and exotic animals quickly grabbed my heart. I still have that first lizard – an iguana named Darwin. She is a grumpy old lady now, but I still adore her.

Once you take one lizard, you kind of become the Lizard Lady, and from there you become the exotic animal lady. It all started with Darwin but there have been hundreds of animals since.

There are times I am exhausted and overwhelmed, but I’ve never doubted that I’m doing what I am meant to do.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am a museum lover. The Natural History Museum and Museum of Fine Arts would be first on the list. We’d also have to stop by the Houston Zoo. I have a membership.

There’s always good music at the Heights Theater, so we’d have to see who was playing there, too.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are a few people I could not do this without. My husband Brian, who just rolls with the punches when I say “Babe, I brought home an armadillo and a 10 foot snake today.” Our secretary/treasurer/brains of this operation, Shannon Ronca. She keeps us legal and not broke. My friends Allyson, Jay, and Katie, who help me with the hands on animal stuff, and a HUGE shout-out to Houston Petset, who are one of very few organizations who offer grants to rescues for exotic animals. They have been amazing to us.

Website: https://Lumpylizardrescue.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lumpylizardrescue?igsh=ZHZ5MnY2NnNhaDYy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1B9qj7TJGf/