About Us
From the therapeutic effects of nursing home residents petting our animals to the smiles and gasps they bring to children at parties to the appreciation and respect they engender in students, our interactive animal visits provide fun, entertaining, and educational encounters in a wide range of contexts.
Services Provided
- Interaction with interesting, rare, and endangered animal species
- Specializing in seniors
- Activities for all ages & needs
- Birthday Parties
- Promotional Events
- Photoshoots and TV
- Exotic animal sitting
Testimonials
"Seth's pet therapy programs engage older adults with his unique array of exotic animals and his personable personality shines when he interacts with people in all types of group sizes."
– Jean Nogueira, ADS, St Christopher House
"As a Activation student doing my placement hours at a long term care facility there was a woman who never spoke or ever looked in my direction as i tried to engage her time after time, she just always had the expression on her face where it seemed like she was lost in another world. The first time she saw Kovach the big gentle Russian Hound, she nearly leaped out of her wheel chair beaming with excitement. I heard her voice for the very first time and she spoke so lively with very witty things to say about the dog, she smiled and laughed and squeezed Kovach tightly. That day i witnessed a miracle, the absolutely undeniable power of animals and their special ways to bring out the human spirit."
– Phuong Tran, Activation Coordinator
"Seth is kind and gentle in his interactions with people and the animals. A wonderful experience."
– Sarah, Activation Coordinator Gerontology
"When Seth walks into the building, news always travels fast the he and his “furry” friends are here! Seth and the animals bring a wonderful feeling to our residents and that can be seen through all the smiling faces. In long term care indivuals can find it very hard to not have contact with animals. We are lucky at our home we have a cat and dogs that visit family memebers weekly, BUT these animals are a little more special then our average Cat or/and dog. We have a lady who is 105 years old and think it is the neatest thing in the world to hold a Macaw/ Nile Monitor or Tarantula.
Kovatch always gets a lot of attention to and the residents look forward to knowing that Kovatch, Seth and exotic animals are on their way!!"
– Emily B, Geriatric Recreation Coordinator
"I wanted to thank you and your team for hands down the best entertainment we have experienced in a party. You showed up to the event early and stayed late answering questions and we appreciate it. Your pets were extremely well behaved, and your wide selection of animals was great. You were able to keep both the small children and the adults entertained at all times, there was never a dull moment. Your presentation skills were great and your professionalism was even better. We look forward to having you, at not only our, but all our family events in the future! Thanks again for an amazing job, we look forward to seeing you guys soon!"
– Jehan Ramez
"I just wanted to say thank you again on behalf of the Al Green Resource Centre for the wonderful presentation. The clients (and staff too!) really enjoyed themselves and were very excited after we left your house. They spoke a lot about liking the hands-on aspect and were thrilled with the opportunity of holding the birds... and the scorpion. We also enjoyed seeing your fish tanks. You were very knowledgeable and answered any questions we had.
We really appreciated your patience and flexibility in terms of the changes in time and location. It was very kind of you to open your home up for us... and what a beautiful home it is!
Also, I just wanted to say thank you as well for the way you interacted with the clients. I know you were a little concerned about the "target audience", but you used language that was simple and direct and I don't think any of the clients had any trouble understanding what you were saying. It was great!"
– Tamara Dachuck,
Employment Consultant at Al Green Resource Centre
Meet the Staff
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Seth Falk
Seth has always been intrigued by the unique relationships human beings have been privileged to have with all the creatures of the world. From a young age Seth has worked with animals professionally, spending time as a zoo keeper and working with rehabilitation programs at the University of Guelph. His time spent living in Central America and the Amazon has only strengthened his resolve to work with and protect exotic animal species. Seth wants to make it his life’s work, through Hands on Exotics, to promote the healthiest animal-human relationships at every level, from family care of pets to conservation of endangered species.
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Delivis Niedzialek
Delivis was born in Poland where his love of animals first developed living on a farm outside of Lublin. He is passionate about public science education and currently attends the University of Toronto studying genetics and the philosophy of science. Delivis met Seth in 2010 when they both attended the annual Canadian Parrot Conference. Since then they have teamed up to bring the fun, education, positive social interaction, and respect for the natural world that Hands on Exotics offers to as many people as possible.
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Phuong
Phuong is an Activation Coordinator who has been working with seniors for many years. Early in her education Phuong discovered that Seth (already a long time friend) has been providing pet therapy visits to the long term care home in which she was undergoing her first practicum. She saw firsthand how the animal visits met the emotional and psychosocial needs of the senior population and thus she quickly became an advocate for pet assisted therapy programs. Phoung has since helped connect the senior service industry to Hands on Exotics’ pet therapy program and has also graciously volunteered her time with the animals.
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Christina
This bubbly and energetic local animal lover has enthusiastically taken the helm of our volunteer coordination efforts. She loves to learn and talk about our animals and find other local animal lovers to join our team. She shares her life with her dog, Yakuza.
Featured Animals
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Zoe
Species Profile: Catalina Macaw (Ararauna x Macao)
Zoe prefers human interaction then the antics of her boyfriend Phelin a 5-year-old male macaw. Zoe loves to eat and happily accepts nuts and other treats in her beak gently. She loves to sit on your hand, head and shoulder and if you’re lucky will cuddle up to you while fluffing up her head feathers.
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Vega + Phelin
Species Profile: Blue and Yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna)
Vega is a 4 year old macaw that loves to eat and play with tissue paper. She is quiet for a macaw and loves to meet new people by greeting them with a kiss. Vega continues to impress everyone with her affectionate personality. Phelin is a 5 year old male Catalina macaw that is hyper and excitable. He loves to show off his tricks, including big bird, blowing kisses, and high fours.
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Kovatch
Species Profile: Russian Wolfhound (Canis lupus familiaris)
Kovatch is an extremely tall and slender dog with a very calm and loving disposition. His two favorite activities are chasing cats and laying in human beds. He loves to visit new places and when in facilities can remain off or on leash.
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Peanut
Species Profile: Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus)
Peanut maxing out at 5 feet is a trained and docile lizard that loves to sun bathe and eat, eat and eat! When visiting new places peanut wears her harness and leash and on chilly days may be seen wearing her knitted sweater. Her favorite times of the year are holidays because she gets to eat turkey giblets and bones.
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Opie
Species Profile: Russian Wolfhound (Canis lupus familiaris)
Opie is a young wolfhound with much more energy than her lazy older brother Kovatch. Opie loves to smile with her big wolfhound grin and is a fast runner. She also loves to get a good ear rub and cuddles.
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Ceiba
Species Profile: Anaconda (Eunectes notaeus)
Ceiba is a 3 yr old anaconda that is inquisitive and loves to squeeze like any good anaconda. In the summer she enjoys climbing trees at the park and sun bathing. She is a great swimmer and spends most of her time at home submerged in her pool.
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Chi Chi
Species Profile: White Cheeked Turaco (Tauraco leucotis)
Chi Chi was born in Vancouver at a breeding facility and hand raised by humans since she was a chick. She loves attention, and showing off her bright red under wing feathers. This type of Turaco is famous for having the brightest red pigment in the animal kingdom. Her colours are breathtaking. Do not let her regal looks fool you she is a little clown. Her favorite food is blue berries and grapes.
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Loki
Species Profile: Black-headed Caique (Pionites melanocephalus)
The youngest bird in the flock Loki actually just hatched late last year. Loki is playful, cuddly, clownish and very gentle. He enjoys meeting new people and interacting with the other animals. He is very good with small children and those who are new to handling birds.
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Mochi + Tak
Species Profile: Chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera)
Tak and Mochi are two male chinchillas that love running and jumping all night long. They love to nibble on sticks and wooden toys. Their fur is unbelievably soft and they maintain their coats by having several dust baths each week. Tak and Mochi love coming out to programs and being handled, especially if there are ear rubs involved.
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Diablo + Mephisto
Species Profile: Sugar Gliders (Petaurus breviceps)
Diablo and Mephisto are flying marsupials from Australia. These two youngsters love to get into trouble while looking for tasty snacks like meal worms and grapes. They excel at climbing and just wait until you see them fly. Their fur is very soft and they have amazingly long and fluffy tails.
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Norberta, Quay Lee + Twitch
Species Profile:Japanese Quails (Coturnix japonica)
These amazing little birds are really little characters. There is more to them than meets the eye; they have playful antics, love to burrow, and have distinct calls as well as quiet coos. They love to forage for food, especially oatmeal raisin cookies and will sit comfortably in your palm while being pat.
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Tigger
Species Profile: Carpet Python (Morelia spilota)
Tigger loves to squeeze - and I mean tight! She is very active during the day and enjoys climbing around her play area. Her sense of smell is very acute and her strike is lightening fast when she is hunting.
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Juma
Species Profile: Reticulated python (Python reticulatus)
Juma is currently our largest snake at 12 feet long - and growing! He is very friendly and enjoys sunning himself and going on road trips in the car. He is in the family of snakes that grow to be the longest snakes in the world. He has been in some big photo shoots and is beloved by many with his sweet, gentle disposition.
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Frankie
Species Profile: Nanday Conure (Nandayus nenday)
Frankie is very cuddly and loves head rubs and belly scratches. Frankie is a great flyer and has beautiful feather coloration. She is a big nut fan and will chomp on a nut while sitting on your lap or shoulder.
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Orchid
Species Profile: Rose Hair Tarantula (Grammostola rosea)
Orchid enjoys covering her tank in silk and is not shy at all. She is very delicate and non-aggressive. Her body is soft to the touch and her fangs are more for show. She enjoys eating the occasional mouse but typically feeds on crickets.
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Miko
Species Profile: African Pygmy Hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris)
Miko was a rescue so his age is unknown to us. He is very shy but does enjoy running around outside, digging up worms in the grass and gets great joy from rolling in the mud. He shares his habitat with Mochi and Tak as they are all nocturnal species.
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Periwinkle
Species Profile: Red Footed Tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonaria)
Periwinkle is a small, 3-year-old male tortoise with a big appetite. He loves munching on salad greens and fruits. Every few weeks he will get some canned cat food or an egg to munch on as well. He enjoys soaking in his pool and chasing birds at a very, very slow pace in the aviary.
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Simon
Species Profile: African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus)
Simon is a 6-year-old parrot who loves to whistle. His species is considered to be one the smartest animals in the world, renowned for their ability to learn language. His feathers may be a little less colorful but you will be amazed by his intelligence. They can even beat humans at some puzzles!
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Ming
Species Profile: Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus)
Ming is a young male pheasant that loves to run around the aviary, scouring for tasty treats on the ground. Ming likes to follow his keepers around and nibble at their shoelaces. He is a true diva with some of the most spectacular colors in the animal world. Ming is a truly magnificent creature that we love to bring out and share with others.
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Kevin
Species Profile: Himalayan Monal (Chrysolophus pictus)
Kevin is the same species as the bird that starred in the 2009 Disney-Pixar movie “Up”. Our Kevin is not flightless, though he does prefer to run on the ground while search of shiny objects. Warning: do not paint toenails bright red and wear sandals around Kevin - thank you.
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Dracula
Species Profile: Giant Brazilian White knee tarantula (Acanthoscurria geniculata)
Dracula is huge tarantula measuring in at 8.5” in diameter. She is one of the largest spiders in the world as has one of the biggest appetites of any of our arachnid ambassadors. She loves to come out for walks and is very active, rarely going inside her coconut and self spun silk hut.
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Creepy Crawlies
Species Profile: Arthropoda
We have a wide array of insects representing some of the most exciting and rare arthropoda around. They include giant stick insects, jungle nymphs, Madgascar hissing cockroaches, forest scorpions and tropical praying mantises. These creepy crawlies represent a small window into the wonderful and diverse world of Arthropoda.
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Finches and Canaries
Species Profile: Song Birds (Fringillidae)
Here at the Hands on Exotics Aviary we have several types of finches from around the world. Our star finch is Eisnstein, a Gouldian finch. We also have rare types of canaries such as our Parisian frill, named Lady Gaga. These small birds love to sing and readily fly down to the floor of the aviary when being fed.