Student promotes exotic pet care through business

Cameryn Schafer, holding a lizard, standing next to Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen — Cameryn Schafer, senior in animal ecology, is the co-proprietor of Spock’s Sanctuary, an animal rescue operation for unique species. She and her pet lizard, Tsuchi, a blue-tongued skink, posed with Iowa Point out College President Wendy Wintersteen at the CyStarters Demo Working day Reception in which she promoted her business enterprise model past summer.

By Amber Friedrichsen

When Cameryn Schafer adopted her pet chameleon, Spock, two yrs in the past, she still left the pet retail outlet feeling misinformed. She started out investigating reptilian residing specifications and quickly recognized she was caring for her colour-transforming companion all incorrect.

Schafer, senior in animal ecology, is passionate about unique pets, which is why she established Spock’s Sanctuary. She and Cole Reiman (‘21 agricultural and lifestyle sciences schooling) opened this animal rescue operation at their household in Fontanelle, Iowa, to rehabilitate and rehome reptiles and amphibians that beforehand been given inadequate consideration. They also try to instruct pet proprietors about animal health and welfare.

“We really prioritize training and make guaranteed individuals know what they are having into when they undertake an animal,” Schafer claimed.

One way she and Reiman connect their mission is through community instruction. They give presentations about some of their rescued subjects at group events to market Spock’s Sanctuary and inform the audience about correct pet management, primarily for geckos, lizards and snakes.

Schafer also presents pet entrepreneurs nutritional assistance to ensure animals are consuming properly. In fact, she has formulated a line of pet foodstuff termed Nutri-Cubes, which are pre-portioned servings of blended substances. Schafer initially started generating these cubes for her own lizard right before growing her access to the relaxation of the unique pet sector.

“Nutri-Cubes is not like just about anything that presently exists on the sector,” Schafer stated. “The substances deliver all the vitamins and minerals animals need from all-natural sources, and I’m operating on refining my recipes so they are precise to different species.”

In advance of declaring a major in animal ecology, Schafer examined dietetics and kinesiology. She explained learning about human physiology and comparing it animal physiology has been instrumental to her creation of Nutri-Cubes.

In addition to rescuing reptiles and consulting consumers, Spock’s Sanctuary delivers boarding expert services. These quick- and lengthy-expression care solutions are specially well-liked among the college students who acquire a semester off to operate at an internship, total a co-op or examine abroad.

Schafer attributes a big element of her startup’s accomplishment to her involvement in Commence Anything College or university of Agriculture and Existence Sciences. This initiative within the Higher education of Agriculture and Lifetime Sciences helps learners with startups fortify their business designs and scale their functions to worthwhile stages.

As a section of Start One thing CALS, Schafer attends weekly meetings for the Pupil Incubator Application. There, she interacts with other pupil organization house owners to ask concerns about her very own endeavors and study from theirs. Schafer mentioned the group’s discussions frequently lead to breakthroughs and new tips, and she appreciates the feeling of group.

“To be in a space with other people who fully grasp what it is like and are heading via what you are heading as a result of is seriously nice,” she mentioned. “We are ready to appear up with methods to each and every other’s troubles because of our diverse perspectives and ordeals.”

Kevin Kimle, director of Commence Anything CALS, reported the Pupil Incubator Software was made to mentor youthful business owners with startup concepts or established compact corporations. He usually arranges visitor speakers to be a part of the team and give assistance to gain their organizations, but from time to time college students like Schafer are the kinds with the most important perception.

“Cameryn really understands that a huge element of the entrepreneurial method is supporting other folks,” Kimle mentioned. “She’s performing on the frontline of this trending challenge of rescuing reptiles, but she is often curious about what others are doing work on, far too.”

Schafer also attends pitch competitions, networking gatherings, and many workshops by means of the Change-Maker Academy. This method within just Start off A little something CALS awards scholarships to college students to take part in the very least 10 of these on-campus opportunities for the duration of the faculty year.

“Networking activities are seriously practical to learn from persons who have previously made progress in their organizations. Pitching has also helped me figure out how to articulate my very own company and what I do,” Schafer mentioned. “The scholarship is just a cherry on prime.”

She and Reiman were being also a component of the 2022 CyStarters Cohort. This accelerator through Iowa Condition University’s Pappajohn Centre for Entrepreneurship is designed to aid students advance their startups and strengthen their brand name identities. Through the 11-7 days application, they targeted on increasing their marketing and advertising approaches. These days, Spock’s Sanctuary now has a web page, Fb site, TikTok account (@Spocks.Santuary) and YouTube channel where by customers can seek information and facts about caring for lizards, geckos, snakes and much more.

Wanting in advance, Schafer wishes to keep on to grow Spock’s Sanctuary and maximize its capacity to accommodate rescued animals. She is also wanting forward to launching Nutri-Cubes, which will be on the current market as quickly as following month.