July 14, 2000

Perching Pets

photo of man with parrot and TV camera

Neil Michel/Axiom photo

Poco, a hyacinth macaw, eyeballs a TV news camera, using staffer Don Preisler as a perch during a recent media promotional event for Alternative Pets 2000 Symposium, hosted by the Center for Companion Animals. Poco belongs to Preisler, a computer research specialist in the School of Veterinary Medicine, and his wife, veterinary faculty member Lisa Tell. The Saturday symposium, which featured iguanas, chinchillas, tarantulas, exotic birds, rabbits, turtles and koi, drew 1,300 visitors. The campus, in conjunction with the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, sponsored the educational event to inform novice pet owners about the medical and care challenges these animals can pose.

Top of Page Contents
Dateline UC Davis is the faculty and staff newspaper for the University of California, Davis.