Formerly known as the Akron Rattery, Witch Doctor Reptiles has combined its business with the well known Firestone Park Akron landmark, Tanks A Lot Pet Shop, to bring a full service focus to the breeding, rescue, education and service to the non-traditional pet owner and the other businesses that support them.
Founded by Dr. Mark Meacham, MD, General Practitioner and Medical Director from the Cleveland Clinic Brunswick Family Medical Center, Witch Doctor Reptiles partnered with the successful feeder business, the Akron Rattery, when the owner, Rob Everley and Meacham became friends.
Meacham, whose first degree is in Zoology, has always had a flair for the rare and exotic. “When I saw what Rob was doing — and doing it so well — and I found the pet shop for sale, it was almost a no brainer. Rob is an unbelievable expert in the area of exotic rescue and has tremendous respect from the area Humane Society and related networks across the country. I knew I needed him and he was looking to expand. It was just perfect timing for both of us. I have learned so much and can’t wait to see what we look like in a year.”
Everley, who is an unlikely candidate for the limelight by all accounts including his own, comes to life when he gets to share his love for the animals with the new customers he now welcomes into the store. “I have to work so hard to get my own breeding and feeding stuff done now because we are really coming to life in the community — and its just wonderful. I’m busier than I ever dreamed and we haven’t even started promoting the store or Witch Doctor Reptiles yet.
Witch Doctor Reptiles will serve both the feeder customers that followed Everley from his business in his old location as well as cater to a larger, newer audience of pet owners that are interested in reptiles, exotics, snakes and related non-traditional animals for pets. Tanks A Lot will continue its full service pet shop focus and meet the needs of the traditional pet owners looking for less unusual pets to bring home.
“We are not a traditional pet shop that is for sure,” jokes Meacham. “For the most part the mice, hamsters, gerbils, rodents and rabbits we sell have a dual purpose. But there are a lot of kids, including my daughter Madelyn who works with me in the store, who try really hard to sell the bunnies first as pets instead of as breakfast — which is just fine with us,” Meacham laughs.
Witch Doctor Reptiles and Tanks A Lot will be holding educational classes, doing outreach in partnership with the Humane Society to the schools in the area and will be making the shop more like a destination than a retail store. “We want to see kids come in and handle the animals — learn — have birthday parties here — come be a vet assistant for a day,” says Everley. “We want to teach kids, and their parents, what a powerful relationship that is possible with these rare animals. Most kids will never see them outside of a zoo– or on television — and we feel it is an important part of development to focus on the rare and unusual. It settles so many fears and questions and they end up having so much fun.”
Private parties and appointments can be made by request through the store at 234.706.2033.
Witch Doctor Reptiles 