The Ark E-Newsletter

[Gunnar Frey]

Spring Is In Sight!

Welcome to this edition of The Ark newsletter! I hope that 2014 is finding you well so far and that you're all keeping safe and merry. It can be difficult keeping both ourselves and our animal companions snugly warm at this time of the year, so I hope that the coupon attached to this email will help you to bring a little comfort to the lives of your pets. After all, a happy pet makes for a happy owner! Just print out this email and bring the coupon along to the store to claim your discount.

So what is new in the store this month? Well, we are very lucky to now be a stockist of gargoyle geckos and killifish, both in a variety of colour morphs! Also, thanks to long-term efforts with a local specialised breeder our avian department is now filled with the vibrant singing of some spectacular Gouldian finches, bound to bring a splash of colour and energy to any aviary.

And to top it all off, my own championship winning corn snakes have presented a clutch of truly stunning anery striped hatchlings! Their markings are well defined and they are a good size and build, and I am certain they would do very well in the exhibition ring or would make top quality breeding stock or even pets. There is a very limited number of them available though, so if you are interested make sure to get in touch soon!

Well, I think that just about rounds it up for this month. Keep safe everyone. Roll on spring!

~ Gunnar Frey, owner and manager.
The Ark, Pilot Ridge, Vermont.

[Gunnar Frey]

Summer is well and truly here!

Welcome to this edition of The Ark newsletter! I hope you are all managing to keep cool and refreshed now that the weather has improved dramatically. It is great to be able to walk through the park and see all the dog owners out playing with their pets, and the store is looking so bright and cheerful with all the yellows, oranges and greens of the summer seasonal lines!

I hugely recommend popping in to visit the store at the moment. The cages are filled with youngsters born in the spring that are now ready to go to new homes; the birds in particular are looking incredibly majestic in their colourful, mate-attracting plumes.
From now until the end of September, there will be a sitting area and a stand in the lobby area of the store selling a selection of Ben & Jerry's ice creams, as well as iced treats developed especially for your canine friends visiting the store with you!

We have a huge range of summer essentials at the moment - everything from dog sun lotion to beach toys to cat sun loungers to rodent water baths. Look out for the orange stickers on products in-store, and don't forget to make the most of the 20% off coupon! Just print out this email and bring the coupon along to the store to claim your discount.

So, what is new this month? Well, I am hugely thrilled to announce that we have acquired a few VERY special rare morph snakes. Two of them will be kept back for breeding, but there will be two male and three female 2011 orangetail hytec het ivory anery boa constrictors available in two weeks time. They will be available to serious, experienced keepers only. Please call for more information and prices.
We have also got Dutch rabbits back in stock in black, steel and tortoiseshell, and I am delighted to say that the bushy-tailed Jirds are back in action after their winter break and the first youngsters of the year will be ready and in store by the end of June.

It really is all go at the moment!

Hoping to see you in the store soon. Enjoy the summer sun!

~ Gunnar Frey, owner and manager.
The Ark, Pilot Ridge, Vermont.


Notice Regarding The Spider Gene in Pythons:
Due to an increasing interest in the Spider gene in pythons and an increasing number in the amount of them offered to us for sale, this announcement has proven essential. Whilst The Ark does occasionally purchase reptiles for breeding purposes that have rare or unusual morphs, we absolutely will not be purchasing any royal or ball pythons carrying the Spider gene. This gene does produce magnificent colours and patterns yes, but it is responsible for the neurological disease known as cork-screwing. This is a serious condition affecting ALL animals with this gene, and we will not be purchasing or rehoming any such animals. It is our strong belief that a pretty colour never, ever outweighs the health and well-being of the animal.
Thank you.

[Gunnar Frey]

Competition Time!

Today I am breaking away from the usual newsletter to tell you about a competition ongoing now, with awesome prizes to be won!

Firstly, an introduction is in order!

This handsome man is an extremely rare ebony Uromastyx (also known as spiny tailed dragons), an agamid lizard in the same family as bearded dragons, frilled dragons and water dragons. Uromastyx lizards come in a large range of colours and patterns, but ebony (jet black) ones are incredibly rare and The Ark is very lucky to have this fully grown, healthy male coming to join the breeding colony here!

This lizard will not be for sale, but since he will be a part of the breeding programme here he does need a name, and that is where we need your help!

Name The Uromastyx!

You can submit up to two names for the jet black pancake, and the winner will be chosen and announced on 26th July 2014.

Prizes:
1st – Name the lizard.
The chance to come in on a closed day and have a private meet-and-greet with some of the animals that live behind the scenes, including Slender the black palm cockatoo and Tiny the 9ft boa python.
$100 store gift voucher to spend on the day.
A personal shopper for your visit.
Goodies including a t-shirt, ball cap and wristband.

2nd - $50 store gift voucher.
Goodies including a t-shirt, ball cap and wristband.

3rd - $25 store gift voucher.
Goodies including a t-shirt, ball cap and wristband.

To enter, please email your name ideas (remember, he's a boy!) to the Ark email address with Name Competition as the subject title. Under 16's must have parent/ guardian permission to enter and must have a parent/ guardian with them to claim their prize.

Have fun, and good luck!

~ Gunnar Frey, owner and manager.
The Ark, Pilot Ridge, Vermont.

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OOC: To enter, please PM your chosen names (max 2 per character) to this account by close on 26th July. The winning name's character will win the prize and they can have a thread with Gunnar playing out claiming their prize if they wish
Just a reminder – The Ark does sell food/ accessories etc for dogs and cats but they do not sell those animals themselves. Anyone wanting a dog/ puppy/ cat/ kitten will be directed to one of the local rescue shelters.
Thanks, and have fun!

[Gunnar Frey]

Last Few Days!

Hello everyone!

This is just a reminder that the competition to name the male ebony Uromastyx ends this Saturday! We’ve had a number of entries but more are heartily encouraged! There are some great prizes on offer including gift vouchers, goodie bags and the chance to have a private meet and greet with some of the animals that live behind the scenes in the store!

Remember that you can choose up to two potential names for the lizard and should email them to the Ark email address to enter.

Good luck!

~ Gunnar Frey, owner and manager.
The Ark, Pilot Ridge, Vermont.

[Gunnar Frey]

We Have A Winner!

There were many, many arguments amongst the staff here at The Ark over which of the many names submitted was the most fitting for our jet black pancake. However, we were finally able to come to a decision.

Please welcome the newest member of The Ark's Uromastyx breeding programme:

WINGLESS

The winning name was chosen by Tomer Berelowitz and he wins the epic first prize! Congratulations!

Second prize goes to Daniel Hartman for his suggestion of Anchalagon the Black.
Third goes to Kiara Lilien for her suggestion of Pancake.

We have also decided to offer two runner-up prizes of a $10 store gift voucher. The winners of these vouchers are:
Ferris Macklin – Smaug Jr.
Danny Cohen – Happy

Prizes can be claimed (with proof of ID) any time before 4th October 2014. Congratulations again to all winners!

~ Gunnar Frey, owner and manager.
The Ark, Pilot Ridge, Vermont.

[Gunnar Frey]

Spring is Coming!

Welcome everyone to the March edition of The Ark Newsletter!

I would just like to start by announcing that we have made a huge overhaul of our website. We have made everything much more user-friendly and informative, as well as giving everything a much needed face-lift and update. Click here to check it out!

If you are like me, you are looking forward to winter finally coming to a close and the spring celebrations beginning properly. It seems like a year has passed since we last had warm days full of sunshine, and I for one can't wait to be able to lounge in the garden again! I'm sure all of our pets feel the same way.

However, in the months following Christmas not everyone is getting excited for the upcoming warmer months. For many animals, this is a time where they are abandoned from the homes they joined during the seasonal festivities, left out in the cold or dumped on a charity doorstep. Sadly, a great many of them never go on to find their loving forever home, and even more tragically, many do not live long enough to frolic in the summer sun.

At the Ark, we are committed to helping these animals find their happily ever after. Since our opening we have made regular large donations of food and bedding to shelters in the area, and we organise regular events to help raise awareness of and funds for them. I am now incredibly proud to announce that, from the 24th to the 27th March, the Ark pet store will be home to an adoption drive!

Come along to the Ark pet store on those dates and possibly find your new best friend. From playful puppies to fabulous felines, there will be dozens of dogs and cats available for adoption, desperate to find their loving forever home. We will also be MATCHING any donations of food, toys or bedding made to the shelters that is bought in store on those dates.

So please, come along and help improve the lives of homeless animals in any way you can, even if it is just donating one solitary tin of food. Every tiny little thing helps.

Thank you.

~ Gunnar Frey, owner and manager.
The Ark, Pilot Ridge, Vermont.


[OOC: I have started a thread for the Adoption Drive here. It is open to absolutely everyone, so please don't be shy about hopping in!]

[Gunnar Frey]

Summer Shenanigans

Hello everyone, and welcome to this edition of The Ark Newsletter!

It's hard to believe that it will be June on Monday; this year has been passing by so very quickly. Everything has been incredibly busy here at The Ark; we've got babies popping up left right and centre, as well as constant updates being made to the store and stock to ensure that we always have the absolute highest quality, most amazing selection for you all to browse through. We have recently expanded our aviary section to hold a great array of indoor and outdoor aviary decorations, and have formed a partnership with a local craftswoman who makes stunning hand-sewn dog bandanna's, which can be found on display at the end of aisle 4.

In order to celebrate the return of the longer warmer days, we have decided to re-introduce the Summer Essentials range which proved to be a massive hit last year. Covering everything from dog sun lotion to rodent water baths to beach toys, you will find everything you need to make this summer with your pet a truly epic one. Just look out for the orange stickers on products in-store, and don't forget to make the most of the 20% off coupon included in this newsletter! Just print out this email and bring the coupon along to the store to claim your discount.

In other exciting news, this year so far we have had HUGE success with the snake breeding projects! We have managed to produce an entire rainbow of healthy, well-developed hatchlings in far greater number than we could have ever hoped, and so it gives me great pleasure to announce:

The Store-Bred Super Awesome Snake Sale!

Below is just a very small selection of the hatchlings that will be available in the sale. All hatchlings are at least two months old and have shed and are feeding well. All sexings are non-guaranteed as the snakes are too young for the sexing to be 100% accurate. The sale will end on 21st June 2015. For a full list of the snakes available please contact the store.

And of course, the newsletter wouldn't be complete without the Rescue Of The Month!