Snake, Lizard Show Highlights Summer Reading Program

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Snake, Lizard Show Highlights Summer Reading Program
Traveling Tails visits Fulton County Library
By Chanin Rotz-Mountz


Her love of snakes, lizards and arachnids has been a lifelong passion taking up much of her personal time. Ten years ago that passion turned into a dream as well as a part-time business for Lori Penrod known to local children as the “Snake Lady” or “Reptile Lady.”

Referred to as “Traveling Tails,” the Greencastle woman accompanied by her entourage of snakes and lizards stopped by the Fulton County Library in McConnellsburg Friday to educate county youths on basic knowledge of reptiles and the ins and outs of caring for her slithering friends. From American alligators to iguanas and pythons, Penrod “wowed” the children and parents in attendance with her handling skills and stories of rescuing abandoned animals and reptiles.

“I have been interested in reptiles all my life but just started working with them about 10 years ago,” Penrod, told the “News” following her 1-1/2 hour presentation held in conjunction with the library’s summer reading program known as “Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales. “I originally started doing shows for my children at school. Then I realized this was a true passion of mine.”

“I began to realize that reptiles really had a bad reputation, and I wanted to help correct that outlook. I got tired of people thinking it was cool to own a snake or lizard but didn’t even begin to know how to take care of one or didn’t want the responsibility when the reptile got too big. The reptiles were being treated like toys and then basically thrown away when the owners didn’t want them anymore. This is how I got into my Traveling Tails business,” added Penrod.

Assisting her with her business is husband Barry, who is instrumental in the custom design and construction of Lori’s reptile cages. He is also in the midst of building an addition onto the couple’s home, which will serve as a reptile room.

According to Penrod, Traveling Tails services the tri-state area of Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia with onlookers ranging from preschoolers to adults. The largest crowd encountered to date by Penrod was 100 children at a school assembly. The visit to Fulton County drew a crowd of more than 80 children, which library officials noted was the largest group to participate in the summer reading program and activities this summer. In addition, attendance in the 2006 reading program is up from prior years.

“The reaction I get from my audiences varies greatly. Everything from gasps to screams. Usually by the end of the program, the ones that fear the most in the beginning of the show are the ones that wind up holding my biggest snake. It’s amazing what a little education and understanding can do,” said Penrod. “I was extremely pleased with the reception at the Fulton County Library. Everyone was very open and inquisitive. I had a wonderful time.”

In following up on the Traveling Tails program, the summer reading program continued Monday evening in McConnellsburg with a visit from Kindly Kanines. Therapy dogs in turn visited the Hustontown branch Tuesday morning and were slated to visit the Needmore location on Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

Library officials concluded book logs for the summer program can be turned in, and prizes will accordingly be awarded at the Hustontown library on Tuesday, August 8, at 10:30 p.m. Prizes will be awarded in McConnellsburg on August 9 at 10 a.m. and at the Needmore branch office of The First National Bank on August 10 at 10:30 p.m.