Spotlight: The Village Pet Shoppe and Exotic Pets in Hanover

The Village Pet Shoppe, located at 1150 Carlisle Street in Hanover, sells all kinds of pets from the traditional cats and dogs to more exotic animals. They are currently selling a variety of frogs and toads, snakes, like, corn snakes, milk snakes, and ball pythons, bearded dragons, water dragons, leopard geckos, chinchillas, rabbits and rodents, all from local breeders. They can also special order other exotic pets like, scorpions and tarantulas, also from local breeders. In addition to pets, the store also sells supplies, books and food for most pets, even ones the store does not sell.

According to Marcha Strickhouser, the store Assistant Manager, the store has been selling exotic pets for a while, some as long as 15 years.

The Village Pet Shoppe's exotic animals are all captive bred and all come from local breeders. The store's snakes, for instance, are bought from J&T Reptiles, a wholesale breeder, based in Gettysburg, Pa.

"Animals can be comfort to people during difficult times," Strickhouser said. "All animals, including exotics."

Some people find comfort playing fetch with Fido or in the purring of a cat. Other people may find comfort in the smoothness of a snake, the beauty of a lizard or in cuddling a chinchilla.

Why the rise in exotic animals?

"It has to do with room," Strickhouser said. "Exotic pets are small and do not need a yard to run in. Young adults, young married couples and elderly people do not always have a yard for a cat or a dog to play in, so small and exotic animals are more conducive for their lifestyle."

"Exotic pets are the best," said Joe Taylor, owner of J&T Reptiles. "They don't bark, they don't pee on the floor, you don't have to send them to a kennel when you go on vacation!"

While some elderly people look to iguanas for companionship and some children feel a connection to frogs or rabbits, exotic pets are not for "one type of person", but for the right person. In reality, there is no such thing as an animal that fits a certain person.