Petersons rebuild Rome pet business, 1 cricket at a time

March 06-- Mar. 6--ROME -- It's been a difficult time for the Peterson family since Peterson's Exotic Pets burned down Feb. 28, but they've been able to survive because of the outpouring of support from the Rome community.

That, and the fact that their customers' pets rely on them for live crickets, worms, mice and rats.

"Everybody needs to feed their (pets), if we're not here, what are they going to eat?" said owner Patty Peterson. "There's been so many people in and out this whole weekend; it's been one right after the other. ... All of our customers, all the friends and family, it's unbelievable, but believable because I'm right here seeing it."

The store, at 305 N. James St. in Rome, was destroyed Thursday morning when a blaze tore through the two-story building, killing all of the animals inside and then spreading to a neighboring building that formerly housed Ballister's Bistro, which was empty at the time.

Peterson's, which has been open for 49 years, has since opened in a new location right down the street at 315 N. James St., where it will stay for the time being. The family did not have insurance, so the fire is not covered.

When asked about how quickly they were able to reopen, Peterson simply says, "We had to be, the crickets were here."

She had crickets arrive Friday, and mice and rats arrived Tuesday. They are often used to feed customers' lizards.

The new spot used to be a storage facility for the store, so a number of volunteers throughout the city spent the weekend cleaning and setting up the new location.

"I'm just so grateful for all of the outpouring of help and love and knowledge because I know animals, I don't know buildings," she said.

Despite the fire, customers have driven from as far as Boonville to get a few crickets. While those customers walk through the store, Peterson and her family have heard them recall their memories from over the years of how the store has impacted their lives.

There have been grandparents walking through with their grandchildren, talking about coming into the store when they were kids.

Volunteers from throughout the city, including Shaun McGlone, have lent their time to the family.

McGlone spent about 48 hours of time in about three days at the store, assisting in any way he could.

He said it was an easy decision to help, not only because he's known the family for 15 years, but it's just the right thing to do. It also helps that he has the ability to help because of his skill set.

"They're such good people," McGlone said. "But it's also because of my skill set, I can do the mechanical stuff, which is why I'm here. ... Really I'm here just to do what I can do get them up to speed as fast as possible and then there'll be some beautification stuff going on."

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