News & Events

Are you 14 or older? Have you always wanted more pets? Do you want to learn more about animals? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, consider our Pet Shop Management Class starting on Jan 8, 2012. The schedule is available in the store so just come in for your copy.

Individual Sunday classes are also offered and include Parrot Psychology Jan22 and Bird Breeding Feb 12. Preregistration is advised.

We care about Pets and we care about you.  We now offer a 2% discount anytime you pay with cash for all the foods and supplies you purchase for your pets. We were concerned with the Durbin Amendment which promised to reduce the fees charged for accepting credit cards and wrote a letter to Congress. As a result, a reporter named Robin (a bird name. ) from the Wall Street Journal called and Ruth was quoted in the Nov25 WSJ.  Robin had to get a consultant to try to understand our charge statement. We would rather pay you than the charge folks!

2% does not sound like much but it does add up. We are offering you a  2% discount on any sales that you choose to pay for with cash. Just ask.

The fall schedule is underway with Oct 18 being “From Bench to Bedside” a presentation by Dr Ewing from NIH.

Nov 15 topic is the Science of Communication, a program I expect to learn a lot from.

Dec will be another researcher from NIH.

We are getting more questions about bird behavior as the summer ends and we spend more time with our birds so once again you are invited to a group discussion about behavior.  The class meets from 3 to 5 PM on Sunday Oct 9 here at Animal Exchange. Please register in advance. There is a $15 fee.

Sunday June 19: Parrot Psycology

Sunday July 10: Safe Toys and Toymaking

Are your Birds driving you wild? Once we admit they are smarter than us, there are lots of ways to creatively coexist so both of you enjoy life to the fullest. Both of the scheduled classes will get you on the right path to a long and happy life together.

Please register early by calling the store at 301-424-PETS. There is a $15 fee for each class.

If you have been in the store recently, you probably went home with an invitation to a Science Cafe. Animal Exchange has been coordinating discussions with local scientists monthly for the last 2 years. We meet at Branded “72 a barbecue restaurant on Gude Drive to eat at 6 if we wish and then participate in some really fascinating discussions at 7PM.

Tuesday, May 17 Dr Scott Peterson from the Ventner Institute will bring us up to date on the Human Microbiome, the friendly germs within you.

Tuesday, June 21 Dr Michael Fuhrer from UMD will show us how Nanoscience Teaches Old Materials New Tricks.

Tuesday, June 28 Dr Ray Hoff from NASA willexplain how they are sampling the air column in our area.

Summer will include a discussion on Invasive Plants and a Star Walk.

There is always something new at Animal Exchange.

Since it’s May, it’s time again to Bless Your Pets! Animal Exchange has sponsored an ecumenical blessing on Friday of Memorial Day weekend at 4:30 PM every year since 1989. It is the most heartwarming afternoon as people and pets, young and old assemble for a brief ceremony and then a chance to have one or all of the clerics bless their pet. I guarantee not all will be dogs and cats : one year we even had a  goat. So join us here at the store on May 27 for a wonderful event.

Now that we have flowers blooming and Spring here, it’s time to check your pet birds wings. Feathers drop out (molt) and regrow in a 3 week time frame so if you see  a clipped feather on the floor, a new one will be in soon. They don’t all drop at the same time so we are gradually going thru the prenuptial molt right now. Cockatiels can fly when they have just one feather regrown and as we go in and out more in the nice weather,all too many will decide to go out with you and usually they are gone for good.

Call the store if you want us to trim feathers for you or watch our YouTube video on wing trimming and do it yourself but please, please keep your bird safe.

It’s that time of year again when Animal Exchange offers a series of classes for potential employees and/or pet lovers. The Sunday classes are available on an individual basis at $i5.oo each and include:

Jan 9      Small Animals

Jan 16    Fish

Jan 23    Birds

Jan 30    Parrot Psychology

Feb 6      Reptiles

Feb 13    Bird Breeding

We answer a lot of questions every day at the store but these 2 hour classes give you an opportunity to get a more comprehensive approach to each topic. Call to reserve a seat if you are interested.