There is a Testament song that I adore called "Practice What You Preach" and I do. Going back in our blogs as far as 2011 (check it out here and take the pepsi challenge), you can see me talking about the importance of public outreach and having positive public outreach. With rescue, I have been doing that for 32 years because honestly, that is how you find animals homes. This weekend however marks the 21st year of Pet Expo MKE, a huge pet event with a focus on rescue where no animals are sold or adopted out. It is dry goods only. I have run the reptile exhibit for 20 of the 21 years and we bring it bay bay! Our event usually averages around 10,000 people through the door in one day.

Reptiles always get people excited so I always end up on the news. You can check out the news piece here, I have two shots, the first one pops up right away and is a general one. Please forgive my poor ball python who started shedding yesterday and well, it's very hard to get the humidity up right now and he does not like humid hides. However, I got a reporter to snuggle that ball python. Typically, we just share the press tease of the event because I do a TON of press for it and usually do something goofy like this and just leave it at that, but I thought I would share a little about what exactly we do.

A devastating fungal pathogen has reshaped amphibian populations worldwide, but its true origins have long remained uncertain. By combining historical museum specimens, genetic evidence, and global trade records, researchers traced one major strain of the fungus back to Brazil, well before international frog farming began. Credit: Stock

The devastation of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, otherwise known as chytrid fungus, to frog populations worldwide has been absolutely devastating, even wiping out entire species. How did it exactly start? Researchers think they finally have the clue.

Researchers believe the worldwide movement of Bd is closely tied to the commercial trade in bullfrogs (Aquarana catesbeiana), a species native to North America that is raised for food in many countries. Bullfrogs were first brought to Brazil in 1935, followed by another introduction several decades later during the 1970s.

One particular variant, known as Bd-Brazil, was first identified in the country in 2012 and named accordingly. Its origins were later questioned after a 2018 study published in the journal Science proposed that the strain may have emerged on the Korean Peninsula. As a result, the genotype was subsequently referred to as Bd-Asia-2/Bd-Brazil.

To learn more and how they are working to stop more spread, read the full article here.

Actual photo of author working on forums, circa 2010 in either Tinley Park or Daytona

I don't know about you but the world has been extra heavy lately. I find myself coming home and just locking down with my boyfriend, the animals and my music. Let's be honest, that is not healthy. I am having entire conversations with the bathroom frog y'all! Everywhere you turn it is gloom, doom and people want to fight.

So you know what, I am going to be surfing our forums. We are still working on a lot of things behind the scenes and the forum update is still down the road a bit, but I am looking for people who just want to talk about their animals and leave the other stuff behind.

Do you have some awesome pairings coming up this season? What are you keeping? Heck, how did you survive this cold? And while I don't want to deal with the fighting, I am game for a good debate so tell me what do you think of kingsnake hybrids?

Yeah, it is a bit outdated, but that is a nostalgic charm. Let's give ourselves the escape to a simpler place where the biggest fight we had was over localities and hybrids. I hit the test forum to play a little and grabbed a few screen shots of our tips and toys section and the body of a message I posted. You will find that after the bump.

PHFaust is in Da House. Let's play my kiddies. I'll see you on the forums.