KENT – Ellie Tobe had no problem holding a snake Saturday, Aug. 10, and thought it was pretty cool that the snake was the same age.
Ellie at 7 years old is the same age as Millie, a Ball Python snake. The Washington resident said it was the first time she’d ever held or touched a snake.
“It was smooth and a little bit smoother on its belly,” Ellie said. Her younger brother Cole couldn’t be convinced to touch it.
The snake was one of dozens of animals that were offered during the program “Animal Fun with Furry Scaly Friends.” It was held outside on the Golden Falcon Field and a steady stream of parents and children made their way to the collection of playpens set up in the shade of trees at the back of the field.
Marissa Nitsch is the owner of the company, Furry Scaly Friends, that provided the animals. As she walked around holding individual animals, she explained details about each animal she held. Nitsch said that several were “escape artists” so it was better for her to rotate them into circulation, letting children hold and touch them, and then put them back and get out a new animal.
The program marked the end of the summer reading program at Kent Memorial Library. Director of Youth Services Kate Zarin said the Junior Library likes to offer something special each year for the celebration.
“We alternate between a performer and an animal program,” she said, adding that they found Furry Scaly Friends at the library consortium website.
“It is great that a lot of these animals are ones they are not going to see everyday,” Zarin said.
Andy the prairie dog enjoyed being petted as Nitsch held him.
“My animals love the attention. They are friendly. I have a lot of rescue animals,” she shared with those touching the animals.
Children and adults moved from one playpen to another. Each has a laminated sheet that gave the name of the animals and facts about the species. Everything from turtles to guinea pigs was available to be touched and petted.
