I had lived in McComb for over a year before someone casually mentioned there was an exotic pet shop in town.
I remember being genuinely surprised. Somehow, I had completely missed it.
Not long after that conversation, my kids and I decided to go check it out for ourselves, and now it has become one of our favorite places to visit.
Walking into Animal Kingdom Pet Shop feels a little like stepping into another world tucked away in McComb. The sounds of parrots and cockatiels immediately fill the room while rows of enclosures hold everything from bearded dragons and chameleons to axolotls, turtles, iguanas, gerbils, and snakes. There are Pac-Man frogs burrowed down in their habitats, parakeets chirping nearby, and even a caiman that always seems to catch people’s attention the moment they spot it.
The shop also features an outdoor area with a koi pond, adding even more to the experience for families and animal lovers visiting the store.
For my kids, it quickly became more than just a pet store.
Even when we are not planning to bring home a new reptile or supplies, we still find ourselves stopping in almost weekly just to look around and see what animals are there. Somewhere along the way, those visits turned into a genuine interest in reptiles and exotic animals, and our own collection at home slowly started growing too.
What makes Animal Kingdom special is not just the variety of animals. It is the experience of getting to see creatures up close that many kids would otherwise only see online or in videos. Every visit turns into questions, conversations, and curiosity. My kids leave talking about habitats, feeding schedules, temperatures, personalities, and all the little details that come with caring for exotic animals.
Places like this add something unique to a community. You do not expect to walk into a small-town pet shop and find axolotls, chameleons, parrots, and a caiman all under one roof, but that is exactly what makes it memorable.
Animal Kingdom Pet Shop officially opened in October 2024 and is located on Highway 51 South in McComb. For families like ours, it has become one of those unexpected local places we are glad we discovered.
