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For the birds...Really!
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A long, long time ago. In a galaxy far, far away. Okay fine, it was about 30 years ago and in Rockville, Maryland. Anyway, there was a woman named Ruth Hanessian. Ruth had a dream and in that dream there were animals. Animals of all kinds, big dogs, small hamsters, slimy newts and most importantly...birds. Ruth opened a pet store, she named it the Animal Exchange, and it was good. People came from far and wide to drink deeply of Ruth's wisdom and to make a happier and healthier world for them and their animal friends.
Flash forward to today. The Animal Exchange has changed quite a bit. It's moved, now located at 605 Hungerford Dr. in Rockville and it's inventory has become a bit more streamlined. You can still get food and toys for just about any type of pet you've got but if you're looking for pets you'll only find a few reptiles, a fantastic selection of small mammals and birds. Lots of birds.
The first thing you hear when you step into the Animal Exchange is the sound of hundreds of birds. But it's not what you think. There is none of the discordant screeching, screaming and squawking. Instead there are light tweets, lilting trills and sweet songs. It really is bird paradise. Ruth and her family love birds and it shows. Upon entering you are immediately surrounded by cages, swings, ladders and you will never find more things affixed with small bells than you will here.
What really stands out to me about the place is the attitude of Ruth and her staff. I spent about thirty minutes today just talking with her and her son Pat, trading stories about the pets we have and those we've parted with (I miss you Watson), swapping trade secrets and generally being made to feel like I was a person, an asset, a kindred spirit if you will, not just another sale. I asked Pat for toy recommendations for my pet Nanday Conure, Head. Not only did he come up with two that Head isn't likely to get bored with for awhile, but he didn't go immediately to the highest priced toy on the shelf, he found two that he honestly felt the bird would enjoy. And he was right.
Like I said it's mostly birds and small mammals these days but OH! What a selection they have! The bunnies are fluffy and bright eyed with their noses just a-wigglin'. The hamsters are healthy and fat and doing all the things that hamsters should, running on a wheel here, chewing on a nut there or snoozing in a big, fuzzy pile in the corner! Yeah so I'm a little jealous of a hamster's life...don't judge me. And the birds are phenomenal, finches, canaries, parakeets and cockatiels and each and every animal in the store is homegrown from a local breeder. Let me say that again because it's important...LOCAL BREEDER. That's important not only for quality but for accountability and, in these tough economic times, keeping our dollars here at home supporting each other.
If all of these things aren't enough to get you to go check them out I've got two words for you. Artie and Andy. No not the radio show that's Amos and Andy (or Opie and Anthony if you like talk radio). Artie is a beautiful, big Black Palm Cockatoo and Andy is a Hyacinth Macaw (note: in this author's opinion, Hyacinth Macaws are the most awesomest pet bird you could ever have!) who is lively and attentive and one of the most amazing sights you'll ever get to see up close.
So if you're like me and love a pet store with a friendly touch, where the staff knows you, your pets and gives advice that you can count on, or if you just think birds are really cool and you want to see some great ones up close, go out to the Animal Exchange and say hi to Ruth and Pat. They won't let you down.
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