Exotic pets featured at the Twin Cities Pet Expo

Amazingly agile Abigail clears a jump on the advanced rabbit agility course.  Photo credit:  Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society

Always wanted an exotic pet but could never choose what pet would be right for you? Consider a trip to the Twin Cities Pet Expo at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The expo will be held March 6th from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 7th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets for adults are $9 and children ages 3-12 get in for $5.

The Twin Cities Pet Expo is an annual event, now in its 8th year, that brings animal lovers, vendors, rescue and non-profit groups together to celebrate pets. You can learn about living with rabbits at the Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society booth, appreciate parrot antics at The Parrot Nannies of Minnesota, Inc. booth, and meet exotic reptiles at the Minnesota Herpetological Society booth.

Here are some of the 2010 Expo exotic animal highlights that you won’t want to miss:

• Agility trained rabbits demonstrating their elite skills on the complex agility course
• Meet and greet guardians of therapy rabbits
• Play the “Poop Toss” game at the Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society booth and help raise funds to support the 100+ rabbits in foster care
• Learn about the 68 rabbits that were rescued in November 2009
• Parrot roller skating, flag raising ceremony and the must see parrot maze
• Photo opportunities with the parrot stars (TBD)
• Reptiles on display including turtles, tortoises, lizards, and an assortment of snakes

The Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society Booth will have bios of adoptable rabbits available as well as foster parents for you to talk with. Over the two days of the expo, over 34 adopted rabbit ambassadors will delight you with their agility and beauty. The MCRS will also have many volunteers available to discuss their therapy rabbits that visit nursing homes, schools for disabled children, day camps, and hospice centers. 

At The Parrot Nannies of Minnesota, Inc. booth Juli Sands and Mary Karlquist will be showcasing the amazing skills parrots have as well as educating visitors about avian husbandry, nutrition, behavior, and training. The Minnesota Companion Bird Association will also be represented at their booth. The MCBA is an organization whose mission is to educate the public about challenges facing birds in the wild and in our homes. 

The Minnesota Herpetological Society booth will have reptiles available to admire and even touch. There will be several volunteers from the organization available to discuss husbandry and educational materials are available from the group. The MHS has animals available for adoption at each monthly meeting. For more information on the MHS monthly meetings and adoptions, be sure to visit their booth.

For more information on these groups please visit their webpages:

• The Minnesota Companion Bird Association
  
• The Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society
  
• The Minnesota Herpetological Society
  
• The Parrot Nannies of Minnesota, Inc.
  
• Twin Cities Pet Expo