House of Slitherin’: Jungle Jam Spooktacular shows reptiles aren’t so scary
Bowan Schaffer, 2, visited For Goodness Snakes 8’s Jungle Jam Spooktacular with his mother, Laken, on Sunday. Schaffer said she does not want her son to have the same fear of snakes that she does. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Pictured above is a male lavender super tiger reticulated python. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
The Humane Society of the Ohio Valley (HSOV) brought the heeler-pit mix Bellatrix to visit people at the Jungle Jam Spooktacular. HSOV estimated that Bellatrix is around three years old. She has been in HSOV’s care since the beginning of August. Volunteer Fredley Tynan remarked that Bellatrix is very loving and “just wants attention.” (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Bentley Hart, 6, shows off his dinosaur rider costume to For Goodness Snakes 8 founder Adrienne Love, left, during the costume contest. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
John Gerber of Country Boy Constrictors waits for customers with a VPI Pink Panther Boa Constrictor around his neck. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Bowan Schaffer, 2, visited For Goodness Snakes 8’s Jungle Jam Spooktacular with his mother, Laken, on Sunday. Schaffer said she does not want her son to have the same fear of snakes that she does. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Pictured above is a male lavender super tiger reticulated python. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
The Humane Society of the Ohio Valley (HSOV) brought the heeler-pit mix Bellatrix to visit people at the Jungle Jam Spooktacular. HSOV estimated that Bellatrix is around three years old. She has been in HSOV’s care since the beginning of August. Volunteer Fredley Tynan remarked that Bellatrix is very loving and “just wants attention.” (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Bentley Hart, 6, shows off his dinosaur rider costume to For Goodness Snakes 8 founder Adrienne Love, left, during the costume contest. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
John Gerber of Country Boy Constrictors waits for customers with a VPI Pink Panther Boa Constrictor around his neck. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
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MARIETTA -- For Goodness Snakes 8 held their second quarterly Jungle Jam on Sunday, called the Jungle Jam Spooktacular at the Junior Fair Building on the Washington County Fairgrounds.
Attendees were welcome to dress up, and vendors had candy for the children.
A costume contest for various age brackets took place. The groups were split up into three categories: age 2-6, age 7-12 and age 13 and up. Cash prizes were awarded for the top three contestants in each group. First place received $50, second place received $25 and third place received $10. There was also face painting, hair braiding and henna stations set up around the building
For Goodness Snakes 8 is a community organization that focuses on the aid of exotic pets. They help sell and adopt snakes, reptiles and other exotic pets; they also offer educational classes on how to properly take care of exotic pets.
Founder Adrienne Love said For Goodness Snakes 8 paired with Ohio Reptile Company, Country Boy Constrictors and We Luv Pets to bring proper education and opportunity to community members to learn about, adopt, or buy exotic pets.
Love said she was excited Ohio Reptile Company out of Defiance, Ohio accepted her invitation to come to this event.
"They are the biggest reptile dealer in Ohio. They drove five hours to come here. We've had people come to this event just to see them. It brings outside visitors to Marietta," she said.
Ethan Garber from We Luv Pets said We Luv Pets is adamant on proper care and husbandry for exotic pets. Garber also said We Luv Pets wants to help care for reptiles.
The Humane Society of the Ohio Valley also made an appearance as a vendor. They sold raffle tickets for a Nissan Rogue and were accepting donations. They also brought dogs that were up for adoption, including heeler-pit mix Bellatrix. Bellatrix is three years old and has been under the HSOV's care since the beginning of August. Volunteer Fredley Tynan said that Bellatrix is loving and "just wants attention."
Community member Laken Schaffer brought her two year old son Bowan to see the snakes on Sunday.
"I'm terrified of snakes, and I don't want him to be," Schaffer said. "So we are here to encourage."
Kristen Hainkel also contributed to this story.
Clara Noelle can be reached at intern@newsandsentinel.com
Kristen Hainkel can be reached at khainkel@newsandsentinel.com