Brian Lair on WNYC.

And to end the show every day during the membership drive, we're talking about all the animals

that New Yorkers and New Jerseyans and others around here love and care for in your homes,

your pets. Yesterday we talked about the usually warm and cuddly dogs with the creator of dogist.

Today we'll go in another direction and talk about reptiles. What? Yes, they are literally

cold-blooded, but some of them could be described as cuddly,

and I don't mean boa constrictors, which are illegal in New York City. We'll talk about all of this,

though, with my guest, Sam LaRoche, the manager of Petqua, a pet emporium on what's sometimes

called the Upper Upper West Side at 98th and Broadway

that caters to all kinds of pets and their caregivers and houses quite the menagerie

if you ever seen it. Sam, welcome to WNYC.

Hello, Brian. Thank you. Thank you for having us.

Did I say the name of the store right with the QA? Is it Petquah? Is that how you say it?

It's correct.

It's Petquah, yes.

And one of the more famous residents of Petquah is a really large tortoise named George.

George.

Why is he so popular with visitors?

Oh, I really think they like the fact that, you know, he's, I would say, polite.

You know, he's easy to encounter, although some people might be a little bit scared of his

size, but he's funny means nothing to be afraid of.

You know, he's slow moving.

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