A Lifetime Passion for Animals Leads to Toys with Purpose
So you want to know a little bit about me? Where to start? There is so much to tell...How about how I got started making toys for small animals?
I've been passionate about animals my whole life. I love, love, love them, but that in itself is not passion. Passion is backed up not only by emotion but by beliefs. Strong, firmly rooted and long held beliefs. Passion not only describes me when it comes to pet care but it describes my very nature, I do nothing half way.
I've been passionate about pets since as long as I can remember. Be it dogs, cats, fish or birds. I have had them all it seems, but one thing is missing, small furry critters. Due to allergies I've never actually called these fuzzy critters my own. So, where does the passion come in?
I've been fascinated by little furry and hairy critters from up close and afar. I adored the gerbils who were class pets in grade school. While others just walked by I couldn't pass up a chance to watch them dig tunnels or hop about. I swooned for the opportunity to hold them. Mice and rats are just so smart. I can respect that, I've found them to be intriguing. Even their wild cousins are cute!
The softest thing I ever remember touching is the silver fur of a pet store chinchilla I met as a teenager. I still remember it to this day. Rabbits, hamsters guinea pigs; each one holds it's own special place in my heart as a unique and intelligent animal who deserves love and the best life possible.
As for my own pets, I have kept parrots as companions and even raised baby parrots as companions for others. Talk about a labor of love!
Nearly a decade ago, I began to make toys for my parrots to provide them with enrichment and fun. This almost immediately turned into a successful venture of providing toys for other small parrots. There was really very little available that met my personal high standards of safety, interactivity, fun and affordability.
Building upon first hand observation, research and conversations with hundreds of other parrot owners I have designed and built a collection of safe, fun and enriching toys for parrots of various sizes and species.
A couple of years ago a potential customer suggested to me that I should make guinea pig toys. Starting with our conversation, I realized that there is a huge shortage of interesting and enriching toys for rodents and other small animals. This realization sparked my passion for small animal toys.
In keeping with my priorities of safety and enrichment I set out to build small animal toys for fuzzy critters that are as appealing in appearance and price to their human families as they are to the animals themselves. These toys have been available since early 2015 at my other Etsy shop The Best Bird Toys. https://www.etsy.com/shop/thebestbirdtoys
Starting in January of 2017, I decided it was time that my small animal toys had their very own shop. So here we are at Fuzzy's Toy Shop. I am excited to get to know all of you and to learn even more about the needs and wants of fuzzy critters large and small.
As always, enjoy the toys and let me know how your pet's enjoy them too!
❤❤❤ Laurie ❤❤❤
