Garden 2017!

I am thrilled that spring is upon and The Drawing Zoo's garden is back. For those who don't know, gardening is not only a relaxing hobby- it's how we feed our herbivores and omnivores. This is the year of lettuce! Last year, the gardens yielded 12lbs of tomatoes, several squashes, herbs and healthy weeds. But the lettuces just never took off.

So far, 2017 has shown huge mustards, cabbage, boston lettuce, kale, collards and of course- dandelions. I am also trying my hand at lavender, carrots and peppers for the first time. The herbs have not taken off yet. The basil is still a seedling, the arugula needs thinning, thyme is barely hanging on, and the mint is still rooting in water. There does appear to be some dill growing unplanned just outside the garden box.

Succulents and other cacti were a project I started in 2016. It took far too long for me to catch on, but I can finally propagate the succulents and christmas cactus! Just to make it more exciting, I was given an aloe plant as a gift and it is doing quite well. The cacti are not only and exciting, aesthetically pleasing learning opportunity, they're a food source for several of the animals. The tortoise, iguana, bearded dragon and uromastyx can all have these plants rotated in their diet.

As if there wasn't enough, I am collecting both ornamental and native pollinating plants to surround the turtle pond. The pond is still in the beginning stages, but it will be a wonderful habitat for both The Drawing Zoo animals as well for a little local wildlife. My hope is that from the water source and the plant life- more pollinators and amphibians will call our property home. But more details about the pond in a later post!

-Brittany

Surround Yourself with People Who Get You

Don't most of us feel a need to belong somewhere? Does anyone find it easy? No matter how subtle or obvious, everyone has their quirks and passions. But how does one "fit in" or get a sense of belonging when your idea of a good time is taming an alligator and cleaning all kinds of poop is well within your comfort zone?
This is not an all encompassing list of people I care about or support me. But these three women are great examples of what can happen when you "put yourself out there" and how awesome it feels when someone just GETS YOU.

Kerri
We met in 2007 at the MICA store. I was a wayward 18 year old starting my second job ever. Kerri was my manager for 6-7 years. That is a lot of shifts to exchange little bits of information and pieces of your lives with each other. In 2009 I had taken in Pierce, an iguana who desperately needed 24 medical care. Kerri is extremely empathetic and easy to talk to. With very little pleading, she allowed me to bring my iguana to work. This was such an exciting experience that it turned into a regular event. We bonded over appreciating unusual creatures. At the time, I was volunteering at Charm City Reptile Rescue and fell for a baby boa. I knew I couldn't adopt him because they get so big. One night Kerri came in and adopted him. His name is Steve and now he's an active model. Eventually, started volunteering for the Maryland Zoo while I started on my grad school thesis- The Drawing Zoo. She was hugely involved as I started on this journey of entrepreneurship, guiding my operations and policies.

Darcey
I walked into my first appointment at Feathers Scales and Tails wearing a custom shirt featuring a painting I did of Pierce in '09. A vet technician entered the exam room and exclaimed "Oh my God. Did you paint that yourself-Are you and artist-Do you want to be best friends!!!??" All in one breath.
Darcey specializes with wildlife and exotic pets, and also happens to be an wonderful air brush artist. We keep saying that I'm going to teach her water color and she's going to teach me air brush but it hasn't happened yet.
Darcey may as well be a saint. I blow up her phone when an animal does something silly, has surprising bumps or sneezes. She also is the enabler of my weakness... adopting homeless pets! She's involved in everything I've only dreamed of. So wild, she makes me feel tame.

Corinne
Darcey played match maker. She suggested Corrine and I as FaceBook friends. We could tell from our copious animal-selfies that we had a common lifestyle choices. Corinne is the director of the Carrie Murray Nature Center. I'd gone once in college and  meant to go back ever since- but of course never found time. For months Corinne and I "liked" each others' statuses and photos until I saw a Sip n Paint event at the nature center.  When we met in person the sparks flew! I immediately joined as their newest board member and began spending my Saturdays repainting signs, educating visitors, and helping with events. Corinne is a master falconer who's been running the nature center for a very long time. She's also an awesome painter! You can see lots of her work depicted on wine glasses given as prizes for events like Bingo Night.

What each of these ladies has in common is very special. They inspire, challenge and accept me. They all have huge hearts and give friends their best. I hope that everyone finds a friend that just gets you.

-Brittany

The Unexpected

I've said before that having a pet isn't about committing when things are fun, new and exciting. Having a pet is also about committing when times are hard. Either you get sick, your animal gets hurt or your work schedule changes etc. Sticking with the theme of responsibility and commitment, this post is about our most recent case of "when times are hard".

The insect eaters here get a variety of bugs in their diet: mealworms, wax worms, horn worms, nutri-grubs, dubia roaches, hissing roaches and crickets. The last of which seems to have bitten Camille the Chameleon on the face. I didn't know that's what had happened.

All I knew is that Camille had a dark spot on her head that didn't change color when she did. I texted my vet, who advised me to keep an eye on it but not panic.... which is my usual response.

The dark spot very quickly escalated to a little bump and then into a huge bump!
Her appetite and activity had not changed- which is a big indicator of good health, but I could tell that she was not her "happy" colors as frequently.

See that big bump between her eyes!?!

At our next veterinary appointment, the Doctor said the bump could be :
A) cancer
B) the result of a respiratory infection
C) an infected bug bite

We are all very thankful that Camille is not suffering from cancer nor improper housing and her life is invaluable to us. But it is still important to note that totally innocent, unexpected situations like this cost over $150.00 and a lot of extra maintenance. Twice a day for 3 days I am charged with forcing water and medicine into her drained abscess and giving oral medicine for 10 days. It's a good thing we're prepared for such surprises!

Despite the irritating meds, Camille is SO much happier. She is a happy color all day. On a total side note, I was happy to hear that Camille quadrupled her weight since we adopted her last year. Woo!

April 2017 vs. April 2017

It is important for me to share these events because they could happen to anyone and you don't know it can happen until someone tells you.

-Brittany

Concerning Turtles

Turtles are amazing animals. We have 3 here at The Drawing Zoo, two Red Ear Sliders and one baby Eastern Box Turtle (not counting our popular Russian Tortoise). Turtles have a way of inspiring awe. Frequently when seeing a turtle in class, a student calls out "Wow! I want a pet turtle." And what's not to love? The way they open their mouths to eat, the way they scoot across the ground, their individual quirks, the ornate shells- turtles are awesome. But the lesson cannot end there. It is our responsibility to teaching students about the needs of these high maintenance animals.  Sadly, they have a history of being victims of impulse buys and misinformation. 

Pocket sized Red Ear Sliders were the "it" pet for kids in the 1960's and 1970's. 

"Boxes with cellophane windows, measuring 4 inches long, 3 inches wide, and 1 inch tall were manufactured specifically to highlight and sell baby turtles, and allow for easy transport. These boxes were also used to sell 'chameleons', which were in fact American green anoles (Anolis carolinensis). The box stated, 'make ideal pets, live baby turtles; loads of fun for children, and hand-painted baby turtles.' " -Reptiles Magazine

Calcium and a varied diet is important for turtles. Pond turtles like the Red Eared Slider enjoy plants, small fish, red wigglers, meal worms, and pellets. 

Every sun basking reptile should have access to the sun. The UVB rays are essential for these animals to absorb nutrients from their food, particularly calcium. It is a sad sight, when a turtle doesn't have proper UVB exposure. Special bulbs are available for owners to supplement the sun, but in my opinion, the real thing is best!

Heat! Every reptile in captivity needs to be able to regulate their temperature by migrating to a different climate within their enclosure.

Of course, water and space to swim and soak are musts for pond turtles. 

This just skims the surface of how much time, effort, love, money and research go into a pet turtle. 

Because veterinarians fear that most buyers aren't prepared to provide all of a turtles' needs for the 50-70 years it will live, pet stores and the general public are slowly learning more about the complex responsibility of a pet turtle. 

Whenever a child or parent considers a pet turtle on a whim, I always encourage and suggest that they volunteer at their local nature center or rescue before making a purchase. Volunteer work is very rewarding. You and your child can feel the joy of the responsibility, getting to know the animal individually, and paying it forward. All without the financial or 70 year commitment!
If you have the desire to volunteer with wonderful animals like turtles, check these local organizations:
Carrie Murray Nature Center
Irvine Nature Center
Oregon Ridge Nature Center
Soldier's Delight
Phoenix Wildlife Rescue
Frisky's Wildlife Rescue

Keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram as we build our own turtle ponds and habitats!

http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Turtles-Tortoises/Turtle-Care/Pet-Hatchling-Turtle-History/

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/19116437/ns/health-pet_health/t/tiny-pet-turtles-could-make-comeback/#.WK9ZZ7YrLK0

Empathy

One of the most exciting aspects of The Drawing Zoo is how many new applications I get asked to approach.

Empathy is so obvious and natural, I'm definitely thinking "Why didn't I think of that?"

Through Young Audiences of Maryland, I am visiting schools in Anne Arundel County to expand upon their "Be kind" program.  This program repeatedly encourages students to:

-Treat others with respect and patience

-Use appropriate language

-Have an open mind and accept differences

-Solve problems in a calm and mature manner

This new spin off program is still STEAM powered, but highlighting the "how to touch" portion of the lesson. The method we use to touch the animals is based on how they interpret our actions. We cover many ideas like "How would an animal feel if a stranger poked it's face?" and even dive into specifics, like how a turtle can feel you touching its shell.  It requires us to imagine we are small animals, with instincts fit for being at the bottom of the food chain and picturing how certain interactions would make us feel.

In detail, empathizing with animals teaches us to see from a perspective that does not match ours. Animals are diverse with a variety of needs and therefor points of view. For example, the chameleon feels safe by hiding in plain sight. Camille hates being in a confined space. As far as she's concerned, she's green + her plant is green = she's hidden and safe. Snakes on the other hand like to be in the tightest space possible. Some immediately call out "abuse" when they see my snake squeezed into a toilet paper tube, which is firmly wedged in a plastic container. But if it can feel the container (whether it be a rock in nature or a toilet paper tube in captivity) on all sides of its body, it cannot be surprised. As far as they're concerned, they've prevented another animal from sneaking up on it. Also, it means that in a bumpy car ride, they're not being flung around. Even in their big cages, I need to provide them lots of nooks and crannies for them to squeeze into.

More snakes in tubes here

How can this apply to every day life?
Think of an argument or disagreement you've had. We've all been guilty of preparing our own statements and rebuttals while the other person is still talking- at least once? Animals, however do not participate in dialogue. They communicate through body language, secreting odors and sometimes making noise, which forces us to listen to what they are saying instead of trying to sway them.
And who doesn't love a good listener?

The best part is how much fun the students have exploring their skills with animals. I love this new program so much, I could go on for 10 more paragraphs. However, I think I've hit the important points and I'd love to hear what you think! Comment below.

-Brittany 

The Dull Side...Paperwork

As adults responsible for children, "insurance" and "liability" are words that pop into our heads. It's no surprise that some paperwork has to be filed before our visits.

In house Checklist
As we promote on all of our platforms, we only bring animals who have proven to be good with children, travel, strange noises and smells. This comes with experience, which I have detailed in our "Animal Practices" post last year. This covers not just my personal experience with animal behavior, but the animals' experience as well. For example, Coby the Corn Snake is going on 18 years old! And he's been great with kids the whole time.

Policies
Should you poke an animal in the face just because I said it won't bite? Should I poke a teacher's face just because I'm confident he/she won't bite? No!
Respect is a foundation of this service. Just because this team of animals can handle stress, doesn't mean we're subjecting them to stress needlessly. We have company polices in place to protect our animals from disrespectful and potentially harmful situations. All educators contracting The Drawing Zoo must read and agree to these safety polices.

BCPS Guidelines
At The Drawing Zoo, we follow the Guidelines for the "Use of Animals, Plants, and Other Organisms in the School Setting and in Outdoor Science Programs" as written by the Baltimore County Public Schools Towson, Maryland Office of Science. This not only ensures another level of safety, but also convenience for the school. You know that our services are compatible with your goals, needs and rules! (http://www.nsta.org/about/positions/animals.aspx). 
Insurance
And as responsible owners, we carry liability insurance and will provide the COI and any additional details that administrators may need.

Letter of recommendation
As and extra seal of validation, I am happy to share the expert opinions on The Drawing Zoo's animals from Dr. Vivian Ho and Technician Darcey Bowen.

Background Check
As the teaching artist who frequents classrooms, I've had my background checks and fingerprinting completed in multiple counties. My receipt is always on my person.

Entertainment Agreement
Some schools request we sign an Entertainment Agreement, which I complete promptly.

It can seem like a lot, but I do my best to make the paperwork quick and painless. I might also add that repeat visits yield an even quicker process. And what dull mornings are spent organizing the proper precautions, are more than made up in these unforgettable, colorful, adventurous lessons!

-Brittany
If you're considering working with The Drawing Zoo please email TheDrawingZoo@gmail.com

Rescues and Breeders

We have a new precious baby Chameleon, named Skittles!

He is a 4 month old Panther Chameleon. He differs from our precious Camille because this species is from Madagascar (like our popular Roaches) while the Veiled Chameleon is from Yemen. The former is a wetter climate with more colorful surroundings. But just like Camille, Skittles doesn't change color based on what he touches or is in front of. They change based on how they feel and the surrounding conditions. They have happy tones, angry patterns, cold values etc. We are quite excited to get to know him!

Skittles is the first pet since 2012 that I've purchased from a breeder. It is important to me to note this because The Drawing Zoo has allowed me to accomplish my hearts' oldest desire, helping animals in need. I'm committed to being a forever home to as many beasts in need as I can manage. Since 2012 this includes (in no particular order):

Pogo the Bearded Dragon, Camille the Chameleon, Leo, Lisa and Littefoot the turtles, Bowser the tortoise, Angel the Ball Python, Petunia the Milk Snake, Slim Jim the Carpet Python, Gunther, Sam and Miller the Ball Pythons, Jupiter, Smiley, Tucker and Dylan the geckos, Burger the Uromastyx, Sylvester the Hognose Snake, Escher the iguana, and of course my first, Pierce the iguana.

Weighing at the vet

I am and forever will be a voice for the voiceless. But taking in animals in need is hard to say the least. Most of the animals, especially Pierce, were in rough shape when they got here and cost a LOT of money, time, emotional stress and consistency to get them better. It is not for everyone! But other responsible pet owners will need to start out with healthy animals from someone who takes responsibility for the animals.

It is my opinion that responsible breeders are hard to find. Wolf-dogs, dogs, cats, bunnies, lizards etc. There will always be breeders (and pet stores) out there who will tell you whatever you want to hear to make a sale. They will also omit information to make a sale. Or even if they prepare you 100%, don't care if they ever see that animal again. Don't care if you "don't have time for it" when you get a new job, don't care if you move and sell it on Craigslist. Some pack as many animals as they can into the bare minimum space, with minimum diet thinking they'll get rich if they sell high volumes. *Cough* puppy mills *cough*
I urge that if you are not like me, putting thousands of dollars and hours into an animal with slim chances, that you spend time looking for a responsible breeder.

And it just so happens I found one. Charm City Glam Chams is a small, home business run by a lovely couple who just can't get enough of chameleons. They don't sell to kids or impulses. You have to show them you already have everything the animal needs. They also want you to make an appointment to learn about the animals and meet "the one" for you. They want you to keep in touch, send pictures etc.

"I think that we are unique breeders in that we do not advertise much online at all. We prefer to build a loyal base of customers who become friends and family to us. It is much more important for us to place an animal with a perfect home that to bring in revenues. This is not a business for me ... it is a passion ... born from a desire to put some beauty into this often not-too-beautiful world. Each one of these babies takes a piece of my heart with him or her when he/she leaves here. As much as I know we need to sell them, it is hard for me to see them leave. They are my kids! I am so happy that Star ... now Skittles ... is staying so close by!" - Barbara, Breeder from Charm City Glam Chams

I spent two hours in their house holding most of their lizards, and a huge parrot. I fell in love with Skittles! I just couldn't stop thinking about him when I went home. So I made a rare decision.
There can be a lot of heated conversations about how to best protect animal rights. Did I have to right this blog and put myself out there? No, but this is a really good opportunity to stand up for pets from a different perspective.

-Brittany