Our History

Alex (founder of Ferrets and Friends, LLC) was working at a day program for adults with developmental disabilities when she had an idea.  After a visit from a pet therapy dog, Alex noticed that some participants were uncomfortable with the large and unfamiliar animal.  She was inspired to bring her young ferrets, Gambit and Sophie, to work with her.  The ferrets' small size and natural curiosity made them a favorite activity for many of the day program participants.  

When she moved to Maryland, Alex became involved with Pets on Wheels to help "lick loneliness" with her therapy ferret, Gambit.  She also began performing animal show with Painted You, a local children's entertainment company.  Alex knew that she wanted to start her own business; one that focuses on not just teaching about animals, but also building social skills and sharing the joy of interacting with animals.  

The Animal Educators

Our animal educators have a variety of backgrounds and experience.  They each bring something unique with their love of animals!

Alex

Role: Founder and Owner, Director of Accounting & Human Resources, Animal Educator
Native to: North Eastern United States
Favorite Activities: Dancing, Rock Climbing, and anything dinosaur-related.
History: Alex graduated with a Masters in Social Work in 2017.  She has worked in a pet store, a natural history museum, and a variety of social work related jobs that include working with adults with developmental disabilities and crisis response.  She hopes to be able to provide animal assisted therapy in the near future.

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Bethanie

Role: Event Coordinator & Animal Educator
Native to: East Coast of the United States
Favorite Activities: Learning new things, teaching her pets tricks, playing video games
History: Bethanie moved to the east coast when she was 12 years old.  She has always had a passion for animals.  She has a background in positive reinforcement training and she strives to better the lives of animals around her.  Her rescue bunny, Clara, has been a new favorite in animal shows!

Dre

Role: Animal Educator
Native to: East Coast of the United States
Favorite Activities: Snowboarding, concerts, and exploring nature. His favorite animals to work with are the reptiles!
History: Dre has been working with animals for 5 years in a pet store setting. He plans to go to school for art and photography.

Ali

Role: Animal Educator
Native to: New England
Favorite Activities: Reading, cross stitching and crafting, traveling to see friends and family
History: Ali has always loved animals and currently works as a veterinary technician, where she gets to work with many different animal species. She currently has two cats and a rescue turtle, and hopes to rescue more animals once she buys a house.

Rebecca

Role: Animal Educator
Native to: South Eastern United States
Favorite Activities: Horseback riding, hiking, and volunteering
History: Rebecca grew up on a farm with various animals, went to school for equine industries management, and has experience in managing Dressage stables. Now she teaches and trains horseback riding and is the Vice President of a bunny sanctuary.

Director of Operations

Peach

​Role: CEO (Cat Executive Officer)
Native to: The Ferrets and Friends Zoo
Favorite Activities: Cat-egorizing office supplies, consulting expert ferrets, advocating for shorter sleep cycles
History: Peach had some concerns when she started managing the human team, but she feels she has found a balance between keeping her humans challenged and motivated.