Kindraand Iwentto the exotic reptile show a couple of weeks ago at the Shawnee Expo.
It was a generally creepy place, with many people walking around with pythons draped over their shoulders and necks and row upon row of little snakes for sale.
But there were some warm fuzzies, too. Especially at the table where the lady had pygmy hedgehogs for sale. And upon further review, I realize I should edit the earlier sentence to say there were some warm spikies, since hedgehogs are anything but fuzzy.
Kindra was greatly enamored of the little hedgehogs and spent a very long time holding one and asking questions of the lady who ran the booth.
She had recently held a python, and perhaps was inadvertently terrifying the hedgehogs with the snake smell that had adhered to her, but all went well.
Pygmy hedgehogs don’t get much bigger than your hands and seem to require little care, so I didn’t object when Kindra said she wanted one.
They look like pin cushions with wiggly noses and waddle much like hamsters.
My only ask was: Let’s wait a week and make sure this isn’t an impulse acquisition.
Kindra has two horses and we live with four dogs, two cats and an unknown-to-me number of fish and aquarium creatures, so it’s not like we’re bereft of pets.
A week later, Kindra still wanted one, so I drove her to Wynnewood on Sunday to get the little guy.
And that is how an 8-week-old hedgehog came to live with us.
The hedgehog store also had five coons, a descented lavender skunk, foxes, macaws and random other animals. And the uriny odor to match.
Our hedgehog rode home quietly in a pouch, coming out a time or two to sniff. Since Kindra no longer smelled like a large predatory snake, the hedgehog seemed relaxed.
Kindra named him Hank Quilliams and had picked out the name before she picked out the hedgehog, which necessitated getting a male.
So far, so good. He sleeps during the day and roots around in his repurposed aquarium by night. Kindra has handled him and fed him crickets and such, and he seems to be adjusting well to his new address.
I have thought once or twice about nodding to the movie “The Village” and getting him a red cape, but will hold off for now.
And I have to admit, Hank Quilliams is the best pet name of the year.