BRAVE veterans got up close and personal with a tarantula, a bird of prey and a four-metre long snake at a Solihull care home.
The creatures were shown to residents living at the Royal Star and Garter by former zookeeper Mo Safeer, who set up Animals in Hands and is known as the Animal Man. Among them was an albino Burmese python, white-faced scops owl, Chilian rose tarantula, bearded dragon, skunk, tortoise, chinchilla and bullfrog.
Mo said: “The residents were in awe of the animals and there were some lovely interactions. They seemed to really enjoy it, and I enjoyed being at the Home too.”
The home looks after veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia.
Lorraine, who is part of the Royal Star and Garter Wellbeing Team, said: “You could see how much the residents enjoyed it all. I had the snake around my neck and I was terrified!”
