News & Events

Do you have one? if not we can help with one of our super fast crabs. And then we suggest you start training it for the Hermit Crab Race at the Montgomery County Fair in August. There are engraved trophys for the winners.

Do you have a wonderful photo of your pet? If not, get out your camera and get busy. The Animal Exchange Photo contest is off and running. Yes, it can be a picture of just a pet but since Animal Exchange has always been interested in the human-companion animal bond, there are extra prizes when the pets ‘person is also in the picture. Entry forms are available at the store and we are asking for a donation to Second Chance Wildlife Rescue with each entry. If you would like to bring your donation in as quarters, you can choose to put it either in our frog or duck on the front counter. Wait till you hear what they do.

Is your bird quiet? Do you know why? If you answered NO to either of these questions, join the class on Sunday June 22, 2008 at Animal Exchange from 3-5 PM and let us help you get to YES on the questions above and many others.

Birds are wonderful companions and live with their owners for many long years. That makes it essential that you have a good understanding of what makes your bird tick and how you can have the best possible relationship.

 The $15.00 fee for the class requires advance registration. It’s $20.00 at the door.

Animal Exchange ‘Lend-A-Pet’ Program Receives City Honor
Program Recognized for Quarter Century of Pairing Pets and Seniors

The City of Rockville Senior Center recently presented its Corporate Appreciation Award to Animal Exchange, a 29-year-old retailer in Rockville, Md., for its Lend-A-Pet program which lets older residents borrow a pet—for a few weeks to years. Ruth Hanessian is president of Animal Exchange.
 
Lorraine Schack, Senior Social Services Manager, presented the award to Ms. Hanessian on May 20, 2008, at the Senior Center’s annual volunteer appreciation event with a plaque that reads, “In recognition of 25 years of providing joy to the senior citizens of Rockville through the pet loan program, we proudly honor Animal Exchange with the Rockville Senior Center Corporate Appreciation Award.”
 
Begun in 1983, the Lend-A-Pet program brings an assortment of pet birds and fish to the Rockville Senior Center once a month. Rockville senior center members are welcome to “borrow” an animal for a test drive of the pet ownership experience. Ms. Hanessian also provides food and supplies for the first month of the pet loan. Seniors may return the animal at any time, but most keep the pet indefinitely.

“Numerous studies have documented the benefits of pet ownership, particularly for seniors who often experience loss or loneliness. Caring for a companion animal has positive physical and emotional benefits,” Ms. Hanessian says. “It is so gratifying to see the joy shared between animals and older owners. That’s what the Lend-A-Pet program is all about.”

Rockville City Councilwoman Phyllis Marcuccio praises the program for allowing seniors “to gather another beating heart in their home. In the city of Rockville, we want everybody’s life to be as positive as possible. One of the best ways to do that is enabling the elderly to have the sense of companionship that comes from owning a pet.”

Animal Exchange has been in business in Rockville, Md., since 1979. Ruth Hanessian has placed more than 1,000 pets with older Rockville residents through the Lend-A-Pet program. Pet store managers interested in starting a pet loan program, may contact Animal Exchange at (301) 424-PETS or animalexchange@verizon.net <animalexchange@verizon.net>  for more information. 

Its time again for the training classes that we offer for anyone seeking employment at Animal Exchange or just looking for more information and understanding about pets. The Sunday  classes in the series are available individually at $15.00 each. The entire series fee is $100.00 with that amount being refunded if you are hired and work for us for 4 months [ at least 200 hours ].

         Sunday Classes                             Wednesday Classes

                                                              May 28- Introduction

       June 1- Small Animals                      June 4- Fish

       June 8-Reptiles                                June 11- Amphibians

       June 15- Birds                                 June 18 Bird Catch

       June 22- Parrot Psychology       June 25- Bird Breeding

       June 29- Companion Animals + Unusual Pets

                                                                July 2- Dogs

                                                                July 9- Cats

        July 13- Exam

If you are interested in the classes, please reserve your seat now as class size is limited. Call the store at 301-424-PETS

   Please, if you have a wonderful pet bird that is out of the cage in your home, be sure the feathers on the wing are trimmed so it can’t go out the door or window as we finally have nice weather again.

   We will be glad to trim it for you with an appointment, we always teach you how to do it but since feathers moult and regrow routinely, you must always check your birds for their safety.

   After 28 years in business, we now [4-20-08] have 2 new species in the store for the first time: black cheeked lovebird and lineolated parakeet. When Animal Exchange opened, the goal was to have all our animals locally raised in homes, many of which would be breeding animals we sold  originally. And now we are seeing the results of all the years we have encouraged the cottage industry of raising both birds and small animals.

   These babies are going to be gone soon so come and see them while we are hand feeding them. Think about what you might like to raise for us and remember that may provide some extra money for you.

We were finally able to find more of the wonderful [ and reasonably priced ] T stands that have the nice heavy base but are easy to move from room to room. The stands with an 18 inch tray are $69.99 and the 22 inch trays are $79.99. The tray height is adjustible, allowing  you to accomodate any tail length.

These will go quickly so if you are interested, come in now.

Animal Exchange has presents- lots of them for any pet you may have:

Pinatas for polly, talking mirrors, spray millet, toy,toys, toys…

Guinea pigs and bunnies love our new CARROT bowl for you to fill with hay and other treats. Bunny Blocks are also very popular.

Dogs need a BUSH doll to either cuddle or destroy and we even have a cat version.

Why not a pet as a present? Because you should choose your own child.

Even the youngest of children who visit the store will choose carefully to have the animal that most appeals to them. And it is often not the one that a parent thinks is the cutest. We often say that an animal chooses their owner and we see it happen every day. Those pets are usually the very best and lead to a lifetime wonderful relationship.

   Yes there are dwarf hamsters but they are not just small Syrian hamsters. They are actually different species and there is  more than one. There is a very nice book on the dwarfs that we encourage you to read if you are interested in these active little rodents. It is in the book rack facing the small animals.  

   One of the points that is interesting is that  the dwarf species can interbreed and so when we get these little guys in, it’s sometimes unclear which one they actually are. In any event they are all very active and are usually easier to keep together than the solitary Syrian.

   All species of hamsters are easily kept in our favorite cage, a ten gallon tank. Our money saving set up includes a book about the animal you choose and in our 28 years in the pet business, it has proven to be the safest and easiest to keep clean. Tubes and toys can be added but we look for an easy to clean home first.