Nine years ago today, I got a box in the mail containing a wild swamp animal. Now, she’s eating caviar cake in my apartment. We’ve seen a lot together! In those nine years, she has met over a thousand college students, kids from all over the Chicagoland area, and has been handled by everybody from toddlers to grandparents. She’s been a fantastic ambassador for her species and has helped educate people about the dangers of invasive species and the importance of proper reptile care. She has been a vital part of my mental health journey- caring for her is sometimes the only thing that can get me out of bed in the morning- and it’s very safe to say that she’s not just a pet, she’s family. She was probably about a year old when I got her, so she’s probably about 10. Here’s hoping we have many more happy years to come!
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