Snakes, toads, geckos, tarantulas and a wide variety of crawling critters will be the topic of discussion among Bracebridge councillors next week.
During Wednesday’s general committee meeting councillors will consider having staff look at an exemption to the Exotic and Wild Animal Control By-law to allow the operating of an animal program.
The move comes after council received a request from Amanda Foley, the owner of Amanda’s Exotic Animals.
“I currently house most of my animals (reptiles and amphibians such as lizards, tortoises, snakes, frogs and toads) in another township with permissive bylaws,” says Foley in her request. “However, I would like to move them to Bracebridge, as this is my hometown and the area that I want to make a positive impact on.”
She says her business prioritizes education and awareness for conservation issues and responsible pet ownership through positive interactions between people and animals.
“We provide fun and informative hands-on presentations that help educate the public and dispel myths and fears about animals,” says Foley.
Foley says Amanda’s Exotic Animals has been contracted by Santa’s Village to provide a series of educational shows and they have potential bookings for multiple celebrations and events in the area. She says the animals will be housed in an escape-proof building, each in locked cages with their required husbandry.
Animals used in the show would include the Argentine tegus, tarantulas, monitor lizards, cane toads and carpet pythons, among others.
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Alicia Kelterborn says
I think this is super interesting and important for all ages of people to understand and learn about reptiles and what they do for ecosystems. Amanda would bring a lot of good information to groups of people and I believe keeping them in the same town as her would be beneficial to her business and her lessons on these beautiful creatures!
Jahred Nichols says
This sounds very exciting! Can’t wait to find out more!
Jesse Macleod says
Amanda is AMAZING with her animals I’ve visited her and them many times. She is very professional and knows what she’s doing I LOVE being around her with them! I’m so happy for her to be expanding her journey and I’m positive that she will bring lots of happiness, joy and teach people a lot about animals!
Paige says
Amanda is the sweetest soul on earth who cares so deeply for all animals! Amanda has taught me so much about so many species! I hope the town allows Amanda to bring her exotics here for even more teachings!
Kelsey Smith says
Honestly to me, without question, Amanda should be granted exemption. Not only has Amanda helped me in so many ways with my personal leopard geckos but she always has shown an interest in educating anyone in her path about these amazing creatures. When my leopard gecko was sick and not eating she went as far as taking her in to her home to care for her personally to ensure that my animal had the best chance to get better. She is so open to help everyone and I know if I ever have an issue that I can contact Amanda and she will do everything in her power to provide me with education and advice about my reptiles. Without any reservations I believe that Amanda is one of the best reptile keepers I have had the pleasure to be around and know that her animals are getting the optimal care. She prioritizes not only the husbandry of her animals but also the safety and understand the importance of locks and proper enclosures. As someone who has lived in bracebridge her entire life I honestly think that having her to educate and provide reputable advise is extremely important to the reptile keepers but also young learners of bracebridge. She is an incredible resource to people in the reptile community and I have the upmost respect for her.
Victoria rideout says
I think would be amazing to have the experience for someone to house these animals out here and be able to properly educate people on theses animals and have that option of educate up here!
Kimberly Chivers says
To the members of council regarding this application for Amanda Foley,
My name is Kimberly Rideout-Chivers and my husband and I have been coming to our property for over a decade and once I completed my last round of Chemotherapy in 2021, we moved here permanently and have not looked back. I have since started several small businesses after moving here full time and have immersed myself in the community donating my murals to several locations including Andy’s House (Hospice Muskoka) and The Pines, long term care home and one of my businesses up here is Richi Muskoka Wedding and Special Event Planning and through that business I have hired Amanda to help me with multiple events. I would like to offer some of my thoughts regarding her request to be permitted to keep her pets in her own home with her and have exception to the types and numbers she has. My reasons for this are multifold:
Firstly, Amanda is an incredibly loving mother to her pets so requiring her to home them elsewhere, I feel, is painfully unfair. Though not everyone can understand, because Amanda loves creatures that are different that “traditional” pets, but to her they are like her children. So not allowing her children to live with her is cruel. Amanda provides the most compassionate and nurturing and appropriate care for her pets and is beyond capable of looking after them all in her own home with absolutely no affect or harm to anyone else.
At present she has had to rehome several of her pets to other places which is traumatic for her given her deep love for these animals and though to most of us, many of her pets would seem to be “unlovable” (Shame on us for judging and fearing out of ignorance) to Amanda, these creatures are beautiful and intelligent and loving. She is incredibly educated and experienced with all of her various pets and works incredibly hard to not only undo the public prejudices that surround these creatures but she educates the masses almost daily (in numbers closing in on a million viewers) that learn and experience and lessen their unfounded fears regarding these incredible creatures all because Amanda chooses to share her love and knowledge and experiences with her “babies”.
Amanda provides education of these animals to groups and schools and even children’s parties and brings incredible experiences and knowledge to everyone she encounters with her pets. At present, due to the current situation following discovering that she was not allowed to keep her own pets with her in her home, she now has to drive extreme distances to gather all her pets from several different locations to be able to bring them together in order to educate and entertain children and adults alike, including events for me and my clients. She will gathering her pets to be showcasing some of her beloved animals at my Wedding and Special Events show Mother’s Day weekend at the Bracebridge Fairgrounds, it would be wonderful for the community to come out and see her incredible animals and how she not only cares for (and in many cases rescues them) but who she educates other about these unique creatures!
It is my hope and wish that the members who hold her pets’ fate in their hands allow for Amanda to bring her pets back safely to their home with her where they belong and where she will be able to continue her valiant efforts to educate and enlighten the world one person at a time. who knows. Maybe someday she can help us all irradicate the fear and ignorance that is all to often associated with the unfamiliar.
I would be more than happy to answer any questions regarding my knowledge of how Amanda interacts with her loving pets or with those she educates through her loving passion for these incredible creatures.
Please allow this loving mother to bring all her babies back home.
Warmest regards,
Kimberly Rideout-Chivers.
Richi Muskoka Weddings and Events
Kim Rideout says
Amanda is EXCEPTIONAL at educating the masses about creatures and pets that most would normally fear. It is quite simple really…. She needs to be able to home her pets and rescue animals in order to do that. The world would be a better place with more knowledge and understanding and less ignorance and fear…. “Knowledge of any kind…brings about a change in awareness from where it is possible to create new realities” (Deepak Chopra)
PLEASE allow her to love and care for her exotic and unusual pets in her home and continue bring understanding and awareness to the rest of us…
DBR Bracebridge says
Who are we to stop knowledge? This young woman obviously is more than capable of caring for these animals and should be allowed to keep them with her where she can continue to do the great things she is doing bringing her experience and knowledge to the world!
Check out her Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/amandasexoticanimals/ and her youtube account https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdKxlS5zV9j7G_gFerT-dSg and her tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@amandasexoticanimals (I did!) over 700,000 followers!!!!!!!!!!!
CLEARLY the world needs to see and hear what she has to say and share! Who are we to stand in her way?!
We should feel LUCKY to have such an incredible influencer in our own community!! We should let her SHINE and SUPPORT her, not EVER hinder her!!! A Fellow “Bracebridger”!
Lisa says
Amanda is very professional and experienced when it comes to her exotic animals. It is a great opportunity for the community to be educated about these interesting animals through Amanda’s business. I hope that the bylaw is changed to accommodate this request.
Lisa Carruthers says
Amanda taught my class virtually. My students were so engaged and Amanda was so knowledgeable!
Her expertise in reptiles will benefit Muskoka.
Joe Nunya says
I have no doubt she cares about these animals very much and is a great person, but sometimes it’s not about that. Poisonous and dangerous snakes and other animals should have no place being kept in a residential area. If something went wrong and they somehow got out, then people, kids, or pets could get seriously injured or killed. I hope the town does what’s right in this instance.
Jessica Terry says
Super exciting! Her business will be good for Muskoka. Amanda can teach us all so much about different types of animals, and also about their roles in our very own ecosystem! I know that I’ve begun to overcome a fear of spiders by simply learning about them and working with them, and I feel that Amanda can work on the same thing with other people and their fears of different exotic animals. Most fear comes from a misunderstanding of an animal. Handling them, or at even seeing these types of animals isn’t something most people get to do very often, so I think this will be a valuable opportunity for the community.