Ferrets, Finches and Wallabies, Oh My!

Owners: Nicole and Buddy Teters

Address: 4404 W. Walnut St., Suite 10, Rogers 72756

Phone/fax: (479) 636-7306/636-7362

Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday

Startup: March 30

E-mail: [email protected]r

Web site: www.thepetstoppe.comr

Growing up, Nicole Teters always had unusual pets in the house — her family coddled possums, raccoons, finches and ferrets.

So, when 22-year-old Teters opened The Pet Stoppe, she decided to carry some extraordinary creatures.

Prairie dogs, wallabies, exotic birds and kinkajous — a mammal similar to a raccoon that features a prehensile tail and a long tongue — are just a few of the companions Teters sells. Big cats, including a 40-pound serval, also frequent the business.

Not all of the peculiar animals are in stock at the same time, Teters said. Some of them are only available at certain times because of breeding seasons. Prairie dogs, which breed once a year, retail in the store for $100, kinkajous sell for $4,500 and wallabies cost $2,500.

The Pet Stoppe carries supplies and also stocks standard pets such as goldfish, rabbits and hamsters.

Launching the 3,500-SF store cost about $100,000, Teters said, because she and her husband Buddy bought almost everything new. Upon opening The Pet Stoppe, Teters said she was inspected and licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture to sell exotic animals.