Ellen Perez’s parents thought she’d outgrow her childhood interest in birds, but 30 years later, she still loves animals and owns an exotic pet store.

While planning to study veterinarian medicine, Ellen brought 23 birds and a raccoon with her to college. The school provided a greenhouse for her to put them in. But after one year, Ellen went back to south Florida and decided to open a bird shop, which she had for three years.

“One of the reasons I didn’t stick with veterinarian medicine is that I couldn’t see myself in an office every day caring for somebody’s parakeet and puppy,” she says.

Grand Opening
In the first 13 years of their marriage, Ellen and her husband, Gilbert, raised 400 pairs of exotic birds. In 1992, Hurricane Andrew destroyed everything they had in Florida, so they rebuilt. Some years later, the government decided they wanted their land for everglades restoration, so the Perez family moved to Tennessee.

At first it was difficult to make ends meet because the birds weren’t breeding due to the move. Ellen questioned whether they had correctly heard God’s calling to move, but then she believed the Lord leading her and her husband to open a shop in Sevierville, Tenn.

Now the Perez family raises exotic cats, monkeys and other mammals such as kinkajous and coatimundis in addition to birds. The more exotic cats sell for about $3,000. Monkeys range from $2,600 to $6,500. Ellen says the hardest thing about selling pets is that she gets attached to them, especially the babies raised on a bottle.

Customer Service
As Ellen talks to customers, she can learn if they are aware of the different needs of exotic pets by the questions they ask. If they want the type of monkey that was on Pirates of the Caribbean (capuchin) and most of their questions center on what size cage they should buy, that won’t work.

“The people who successfully have a monkey like that in their family raise it almost like a family member,” Ellen says. “Until those babies are sold, they sleep in bed with our daughters. They wear diapers and everything.”

Customers spend time with the Perez family and ask questions. “It’s not unusual for us to get lots of phone calls when [the baby] first goes home,” Ellen says. “We always send a care sheet home with the babies, and it’s customized to that particular baby because one baby kinkajou might like grapes and the other likes cantaloupe.”

Business Hours
Ellen’s Exotic Pet Center is closed on Sunday, but Ellen says she never has a day off, even on Thanksgiving and Christmas, because the animals have to eat and aren’t on a schedule. Ellen doesn’t know when a mother dog might choose to have her puppies or if something will get hurt or ill and needs nursing.

“I’m not on call 24/7 necessarily for the customers, but for the animals I am. It’s a lot of work, but there are great rewards to having your own schedule [by owning a business].”

Fast Facts
How many digits in a paycheck?
After many years’ experience breeding and selling exotic animals, Ellen and her husband make a comfortable living, even with five children.

“Hey, I think I could do this!”
Are you . . .
• confident around large animals?
• patient for your business to grow?
• flexible with your time?

Making It Happen
• Read field guides, a veterinarian manual or care booklets for the type of animal(s) you’re interested in.
• Volunteer at a summer program at the zoo or work after school at a pet shop.
• Think outside the box. Careers with animals include working at a zoo, practicing veterinarian medicine and home grooming.
• Sharpen your math skills. Math will help you measure food and medicine, estimate when an animal will give birth, and determine if you’re making a profit after expenses are subtracted.

Wise Words
“Put your interests in the Lord’s hands. Your passion isn’t there just by chance. Things other people might not think are possible, are possible with God.” —Ellen Perez