Like many 8-year-olds, Viola Rothacker loves animals. She even has a favorite pet, but it's not furry or four-legged. It's a Mexican kingsnake named Dandelion. She's completely comfortable around snakes, lizards, turtles and other creatures, handling them like a pro, because loving reptiles is in her DNA. Her father, Jesse Rothacker, operates Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary out of his home in Manheim.

Jesse started Forgotten Friend in 2004. "I knew there were a lot of people looking for a place to rehome reptiles," he said, noting that many people underestimate how large reptiles will grow as well as their long lifespan. He realized that places like Humane Pennsylvania couldn't easily take in reptiles since their shelters were already full of cats and dogs. "I know people love reptiles, and I knew there was a need for a rescue," Jesse recalled. "I thought, 'I can start one.'"

Jesse, who grew up in southern California but moved to Lititz as a teen, has been a lifelong reptile fan. "In the '90s as a teenager, I got my first pet snake, Leon," he stated. "I loved him, and I took him everywhere." In fact, he even got a detention at Warwick High School, where he graduated in the Class of 2000, for bringing Leon to school without permission.

In the early days of Forgotten Friend, he took in every reptile he could, with the hopes of rehoming them all. As the rescue grew, he shifted gears to refer people or provide information on their reptile, although he still takes in some animals. His business, now a nonprofit, receives most of its funding from the live shows Jesse offers - often accompanied by Viola and her brother, Kenny, 12 - at local schools, churches, libraries and birthday parties. "We did 275 live shows this past year," Jesse said.

Although both kids help with the shows, and Jesse's wife, Kim, is a patient supporter of Jesse's passion, it's Viola who has really blossomed in the business, Jesse said.

"She shares my view on reptiles," he stated. "Ever since I was little, if I saw a reptile, I wanted to get closer."

By age 1, Viola was making television appearances with her dad, and he proudly shows off a video of Viola at about age 3, crying while Jesse records a large blood python. "She's crying because I wouldn't let her pet it," he said.

Viola loves helping her father with reptile care (they grow their own roaches and large mealworms for feeding their brood) and visiting the reptiles that live in the family's basement.

"I really like to hold the animals," Viola shared, noting that she also enjoys teaching others about the often-misunderstood creatures. "I like to tell people, 'It's OK. It's not going to hurt you.'"

Jesse cautions that reptiles require respect when interacting with them and noted that he's been bitten "thousands" of times, but that hasn't dimmed his desire to help reptiles.

"Reptiles are magical and mysterious," he said. "They're quiet, but if you look into their eyes, there is a light on in the attic."

For more information on Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary, visit https://forgottenfriend.org or check out the nonprofit's Facebook page.