Those in search of a less traditional spooky experience this Halloween season need look no further than Dearborn to schedule a Hiss-A-Gram from a crawly or slithery creature of the night.
Small animal rescue Creatures by Theresa - a non-profit catering to less common pets – has launched a fund raiser to raise some hairs this year. For $75, admirers of the creepy and crawly may purchase a 20-minute personal visit from the cuddliest of reptiles, rodents, bugs and more.
“I don’t think these animals are creepy but I am partial to them,” said founder Theresa Harrington.
Harrington founded Creatures by Theresa in 2010 on her husband’s family farm in Dearborn. With a background in animal science, she worked with animals at zoos and other related businesses, then launched an educational program with her own personal animals.
“Folks started calling me asking me if I’d take their pet guinea pig, rabbit, bearded dragon and so on, so I started a rescue,” she said.
The rescue specializes in these small animals and Harrington heads up the educational programs and holds adoption events.
The Hiss-A-Gram program came from a volunteer who mentioned another shelter that did puppy-grams around Valentine’s Day.
“So we all kicked the idea around and decided we’d try the reptiles and some of the misunderstood animals,” she said. “And try to kick it off around Halloween when most people are thinking creepy stuff.”
While the program was kicked off just before Halloween, it will continue as a fund raiser – including a Fluff-A-Gram with furry critters.
“It is a unique way to celebrate Halloween for someone to give and it is a different kind of break from the work day, plus you help support our rescue,” she said. “The fees go to food and other basic needs for the animals in our shelter.”
The rescue lists its small animals available for adoption on Petfinder and participates on other adoption programs. For more information on Creatures by Theresa, or to schedule a Hiss-A-Gram, visit the website at teescritters.weebly.com.