Five years ago, Jim Dix got a phone call from a friend informing him that a shelter in Salt Lake City would be euthanizing a box turtle if someone didn't pick it up.

When he heard they were going to destroy a harmless reptile, Dix went to the shelter and forked out the $5 to save the turtle's life.

"Who kills a turtle — that's crazy," Dix said.

Buying the 5-inch-long turtle inspired him to start Reptile Rescue, a nonprofit organization formed to save and rehabilitate reptiles. Dix said there is nowhere in the state for abandoned reptiles to go. When shelters get them, they keep them for only 10 days before they are destroyed.

Before Reptile Rescue, the only care reptiles received was a 50-gallon tank in a shelter in Salt Lake County. Dix said if the tank has a 4-foot iguana and a 5-foot snake, the tank is already full.

"I decided I was going to help these little guys," Dix said. "It's sad they're not looked upon like dogs, cats, cows, sheep or goats."

When he started the rescue operation, it involved only a few animals here and there. Now he deals with hundreds a year. He has also expanded his rescue efforts into California, Nevada and Arizona.

Reptile Rescue saves about 400-500 reptiles a year. After five years of a no-kill policy, Dix has only had to put down 10 reptiles for health reasons. Another 12 died before he could help them.

"We keep them as long as we have to until they have a home," Dix said. "I want to give them another chance to continue living."

The reptiles Dix has taken in or rescued include Burmese pythons, rock pythons, an American alligator, a desert turtle and iguanas, among many others.

He said he is very careful to make sure the reptiles are adopted into suitable homes. He said if someone calls asking for a 12-foot snake, for example, he knows they are a breeder and won't allow them to adopt because he knows the snake will be bred to death for money.

One place he does adopt out to is Reptile Adventures, a mobile reptile exhibit. Danny Conner, who is in charge of the exhibit, has worked with Dix about a year and has adopted some Burmese pythons and snapping turtles.

"His (Dix's) house looks like a pet store," Conner said.

Conner said if he can help him out a little bit by giving the reptiles a home, he'll do it.

"It's a certain kind of person that will take care of animals that aren't theirs," Conner said. "He's not making any money off of this. He's just a nice guy.

"I have all the admiration in the world for people like Jim. He spends all his time and most of his money on these animals."