Hand in Paw’s professionally-trained volunteer handler and animal therapy teams help improve people’s day-to-day lives in more than 100 schools, hospitals, nursing homes and human service organizations throughout Birmingham and North Central Alabama.
Scroll through some of Hand in Paw's therapy animals below.
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We know UAB employees love their pets, but what we didn’t know is just how many types of pets our employees own. We spent some time chatting with Billy Connelley, Vice President of Ambulatory Services, who told us a little more about his animals, which make up nothing short of a small zoo!
Select a thumbnail below to learn more about Billy and his exotic pets. -
Q: How many total animals do you have?
A: Too many to count. Counting all farm animals and pets alike, probably over 100. We have 12 goats, two sheep, seven horses, four alpaca, two camels, two kangaroos, two ostriches, eight emu, one rhea, 13 coatimundi, six monkeys, six lemurs, seven zebu (miniature cows), two Patagonian cavy, five tortoises, two East African crowned cranes, one zebra, five dogs, three cats and geese, chickens, peacocks and turkeys. -
Q: Are any of your animals rescued?
A: Yes, two of the cats, the lab mix dog, two of the Sulcata tortoises, a goat and a horse. -
Q: What's the most surprising thing people wouldn't know about these unique animals?
A: Most of the exotics I own do not have to have any special licenses but some do require that I have paperwork that they were acquired through a licensed USDA breeder. Each species is unique in their needs, from specialized enclosures to special dietary needs. I have to order some of my feed from the same places zoos order their food. Also, most people don’t understand the non-verbal and verbal clues animals are making. I routinely have people making gestures and sounds to some of the primates and I have to let them know you think you are being cute, but you just invited them to fight.Probably the surprising thing people find (about me) is that they see me in business attire through the week and they only see that one aspect of my life and would be very surprised to see me at the farm. -
Q: Is there a special bond between any of the animals specifically?
A: Yes, some of the animals I bottle fed from just a few days old so naturally you form a closer bond with those. One monkey, a snow macaque, I bottle fed from just a few days old. I actually had to pick her up in a hospital in Tennessee. Her breeder had a heart attack the morning I was picking her up. One of the kangaroos stayed with us at the condo for the first six months to be bottle fed — stayed in a pouch hanging on the door knob. -
Q: If you could have any animal that you don't have currently, what would it be?
A: Probably next will be a male zebra to go with my female zebra, Zelda, but after that would be various African hoof stock — antelopes of various varieties. I’ve already had a porcupine so I’ve already done that. -
Q: What inspired you to host the exotic animals you have?
A: I grew up on a farm and as soon as I could ride a bicycle I was taking in small animals. Animals have always been a part of my life.
Week 1: Oliver Bean
Danielle Ivey, Annual Giving
Week 2: Bocephus
Christina Rachael Blalock, Pharmacy
Week 3: Yukimi
Billy Connelley, TKC Administration
Week 4: Harley Davy Doodle
Donna Dixon, Neurosurgery