Love for animals converts family farm into petting zoo

By By Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
At first, the Brent and Anita Lawrimore family at Punkin Center had a 27-acre farm, a house, a storage building and a pond they shared with neighbors. On it were three kids, three dogs—a Pyrenees, a pug and a Chihuahua— two pigmy goats and a few chickens. That was before April 2008.
Today, the Lawrimores have more than 100 domesticated animals housed in a dozen fenced pens and nearly that many custom-made barns and sheds. In addition, their backyard provides space for a large pavilion filled with picnic tables, a concession stand and a fully equipped playground. It’s no longer just a Brown Road private residence; it’s the Backyard Barnyard Petting Zoo.
The current residents of this carefully managed animal kingdom, not including the owners, their children and personal pets, consists of two Shetland ponies, three miniature horses, a miniature donkey, a mini-mule, four llamas, two calves, four fainting goats, 10 pigmy goats, two bore goats, three potbelly pigs, five sheep, 20 rabbits (at last count), three peacocks, a peahen, three turkeys, several pheasants and a flock of chickens and ducks.
Last but not least are a guinea pig, two parrots, a parakeet and two white doves.
The petting zoo represents a dream come true for Anita, a pet lover for as long as she can remember, a bunch of fulfilled honey do’s on the part of Brent and a long string of unending chores for their two sons, Will, 15, and Vance, 12, and daughter, Breanne, nine.
Anita said her husband, one of three brothers who own and operate Lawrimore Trailer Co. in Falkville, deserves a lot of the credit for the petting zoo.
The petting zoo is open to the public on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and there is no time limit. Admission is $5 per person and children under two are admitted free of charge. It is also open at other times by reservation
Anita said most of her pets were born and raised in North Alabama and are visitor friendly. Signs are posted in the barnyard to identify the pets and tell where they came from.
She said most children are especially attracted to the zoo’s two Shetland ponies. Both are gentle and safe to ride.
The Lawrimores continue to plan and build for the future. They are scheduling day camps for the summer and plan to grow pumpkins and host hayrides in the fall.
Group visits may be booked by calling the zoo at 502-9139.