Today we’d like to introduce you to Evy Killough.
Hi Evy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was always very into animals and conservation as a child. My science teacher had all sorts of reptiles like alligators and pythons that I would often help her handle.
When I started getting pets of my own, I decided to start an instagram page documenting my journey with the animals. Eventually I had various brands and people reaching out to do events with the reptiles. Now, we run our own reptile education business that we call PDXCritters, getting people hands on with misunderstood animals, and spreading awareness about conservation.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was not always smooth. We ended up meeting some pretty shady people who we later learned were involved with neglect and animal trafficking. Now, we are huge advocates against the illegal wildlife trade.
We also take in a lot of rescue animals and try to rehabilitate them, which can be a huge struggle mentally.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are an animal education business that promotes conservation, rescue, and ethical pet care. We aim to get the public hands on while still respecting our animals boundaries, making for a pleasant experience for everyone. We often connect with people who are scared of reptiles, and try to take away that fear with gentle interaction.
The wellbeing of our animals always comes first.
We offer events like birthday parties, educational shows, and photos with the animals.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
That we never scare anyone with the animals. We want everyone to leave with a positive interaction, whether it be their first time holding a snake, or their hundredth time!
When people think of these animals positively, we create more awareness of not only us, but of how to protect these species.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @pdxcritters
