Animal Rentals Blog

ANIMAL RENTALS very own “PIWACKETT” the SCARLET MACAW thoroughly enjoyed the Southern hospitality offered from the students of the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA in Mobile, AL on January 14, 2015. Along with Chi-Chi the Chinchilla, Sahara the Fennec Fox, Cuddles the Tarantula and other members of the renowned “Mindy’s Menagerie”, the afternoon was filled with fun, education and of course many “selfies”.

ANIMAL RENTALS is firm in their belief that only by offering people the extraordinary chance to interact with exotic animals in a personal manner, can they foster the caring for and the conservation of our world’s animal kingdom.

ANIMAL RENTALS very own animal ambassador,  Mindy the Monkey, paid a visit to one of her old stomping grounds on New Year’s Eve.  The KISS KISS CABARET on 4707 N. Broadway invited Mindy and her dad Bill to spend a few hours schmoozing with the party goers and possibly take in the show.  Mindy had previously worked at the KISS KISS CABARET when it was on Lincoln Avenue and did not want to disappoint them.  Already booked at a number of parties she managed to allow for a few hours with her friends.  The evening was magic, the people divine and the show utterly fantastic.  People posed for pictures and took selfies with the ever gracious monkey.  What a great way to welcome the NewYear.

KISS KISS CABARET       MINDY CIRCA (2013)    POSING FOR A PICTURE

 Trixie, one of ANIMAL RENTALS popular models and  animal ambassadors, was no where to be seen early  Monday  morning.   Employees offered various    reasons for her disappearance;  still in  bed, sleeping  in another part of the  building,  exploring another  part of the building,  hiding upstairs  in the apartment  or too busy paying attention to some  new arrivals.  Whatever the reason, Trixie was missing.

Bill Hoffmann, aided by employees and friends, searched the building from the roof to the basement with little success.  However, a set of keys, one of Mindy’s less favorite toys and a handful of missing pens were found.  The police were notified, fliers were printed and shelters were put on notice.  Bill, like any petl lover, was worried.  For Trixie to be gone for such a length of time was highly unusual as she was well trained and a “people and animal person”, happiest when she was surrounded by her friends.

It was Victoria, a few hours later, who heard an unusual scratching sound coming from a corner near her desk.  With all the animals of Mindy’s Menagerie accounted for, that sound could mean only one thing.  Moments later a dusty, but still happy Trixie crawled from beneath the desk with an equally dusty tennis ball firmly in her mouth.  It appeared that while attempting to retrieve it,  the little terrier became trapped.  She walked slowly to Bill, gave him her best “I’m Sorry” expression and dropped the ball at his feet.

Calls were made, posters taken down, sighs of relief filled the building.  TRIXIE WAS HOME!

Evidently the writers  of The Concierge column in the 2015 edition of the CHICAGO magazine know talent when they see it.  ANIMAL RENTALS very own animal ambassador, Mindy the Monkey, led the list of critters available for rent.  Mindy, however, is the only primate available in Chicago making ANIMAL RENTALS  your choice when searching for something different.  Besides Mindy, we offer unique entertainment including “exotic” hands-on animal shows, petting zoos, pony rides and camel rides.  Go to Mindy’s Menagerie and meet and learn more about our animal actors.

ANIMAL RENTALS helped spread some holiday cheer at a party hosted by FISHER CONTROLS in Iowa on Saturday, December 13th. Animal ambassador, Mindy the Monkey, dressed in her most appropriate seasonal garments along with Purse the Alligator, Sylvester the Skunk, Ruby the African Grey Parrot and others entertained the audience. Photo opportunities were everywhere with people taking “selfies” with our pets.

If you want to know more about our exotic animal show, check out Mindy’s Menagerie on our website. You might also want to read our updated page, ABOUT OUR ANIMALS, and see the excellent care our animals receive.

Loyola University was the last stop on our college entertainment tour for 2014. Our animal ambassadors, including Mindy the Monkey brought their hands-on animal show at the invitation of the Loyola University Pre-Vet Club. These future veterinarians shared in the fund with their fellow students as they experienced face to face interaction with members of Mindy’s Menagerie. An alligator,chinchilla,fennec fox, porcupine and skunk were just a few of our animal friends brought for the event. Check out our new “About Our Animals” page and read how well our pets are cared for.

Our magician friend Michael Kent had some fun with Mindy the Monkey, animal ambassador of ANIMAL RENTALS, at a recent party they attended. Mindy loves magic and having associated with entertainers and magicians from all over the country, she was pretty sure how the trick worked. Watch Michael make a monkey out of well, a monkey. It was all in fun and the audience really enjoyed the show. Thanks, Michael, hope to work with you again. Sorry Mindy took a bite out of your ball.

ANIMAL RENTALS visited McNeese State University located in Lake Charles, LA on November 18th, 2014 with their exotic hands-on animal display. The students enjoyed an entertaining afternoon with our animal ambassadors consisting of a porcupine, chinchilla, boa constrictor,alligator,tarantula and others. McNeese State University was just part of our very popular College Entertainment program which criss-crossed the United States. Our Mission is to educate, entertain, and foster caring for and conservation of our world’s animal kingdom by offering people the extraordinary privilege to personally interact with our exotic animals. Go to animalrentals.com for more information.

As Animal Rentals official Animal Ambassador, I love any organization that promotes the conservation and welfare of domestic and exotic animals.  Fortunately there are hundreds, even thousands, of just those types of organizations all over the world.  But out of all of them, my favorite is the one that is dedicated to me and my brothers and sisters like me – the Simian Society of America.

The Simian Society of America is dedicated to a lifetime of care for primates in captivity.   What that means is that they help people understand and care for us monkeys, and they help monkeys live the best life they possibly can.  How could I not love them?!  I am a lifetime member of the Simian Society of America, and they are my personal number one charity.  I even have an ad in one of their magazines!   So it was very exciting for me to take a break from our traveling College Entertainment and Exotic Animal Shows to attend the Simian Society’s National Convention Appreciation Day in early October.

The convention was in Branson, Missouri – about 8 1/2 hours from Chicago – so dad and I road-tripped it once again.  Once we got there, we had tons of fun hanging out and talking to people who love monkeys and other primates as much as we do.  And Dad and I got to give a good talk about living and working and traveling together.  But my favorite part of the whole thing was hanging out with other monkeys…it was awesome!  At home I get to spend time with my Uncle Monk – who tells wonderful stories about “the old days” – but at the convention I got to meet all sorts of different monkeys from all over the country.  AND I had a “date” with a really nice male monkey.  Dad says he is a prospective mate for me.  I don’t know about all of that, but it was nice to get to know him for a while.  Maybe we will see each other at next year’s convention.  Maybe sooner!

So now you’ve heard a little about my favorite charitable animal organization – the Simian Society of America.  What is your favorite animal charity and why?  How are you involved with it?