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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Floyd the blue and gold macaw gave kisses to several of the guests at the Austintown library on June 21 for the Our Zoo to You program.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Sydney the kookaburra laughed when guests at the Austintown library made a certain noise at the Our Zoo to You program.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Children had the opportunity to volunteer and have two cornsnakes wrapped around them during the Our Zoo to You program at the Austintown library.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.One of the children had the opportunity to feed a wallaby with a bottle at the end of the Our Zoo to You program at the Austintown library.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Terri Wise walked around with her chameleon at the Austintown library on June 21 during the Our Zoo to You program.
By ALEXIS BARTOLOMUCCI
The Austintown library got a special visit from some furry, feathery and scaly friends on June 21.
Our Zoo to You, a traveling petting zoo located in Medina County, brought several of their animals for children and adults to admire and get up close to pet. There were a range of animals from mammals to reptiles. All of the animals that were included in the program are pets that Bryan and Terri Wise, owners of Our Zoo to You, have brought into their own home.
People of all ages attended the program and watched in awe as each animal was brought out of their cage. Terri walked around the library talking about each animal and gave the children an opportunity to pet most of the animals. One of the first animals brought out was a chinchilla, one of the softest animals in the world.
There was a cockatoo named Floyd who came out and gave kisses to people. Children who were older and adults could volunteer to come to the front of the room and hold Floyd as he gave them a kiss. Two corn snakes were brought out and those who were brave enough could wear them around their neck. Two adults were called to the front of the room and held Rosie, a boa constrictor, who is one of the favorites.
The last animal brought out was a wallaby named Irwin. Two last volunteers were selected to come up and hold Irwin as they fed him with a bottle.
The Wise family uses Our Zoo to You to teach people about responsible exotic pet ownership and information about different types of animals. They provide information and the chance to see dozens of animals that a person wouldn’t normally be able to see and get up close to.