Exotic animals amaze kids at Linda Preschool

There were smiles, squeals, cheers and a lot of nervousness as wide-eyed preschoolers looked over a variety of animals visiting their school on Friday afternoon at Linda Preschool.

Levi, a 14-year-old Cuban iguana, scared some children out of their seats as it wandered around a classroom, but within an hour, he was a hit and each student had the chance to touch and pet him.

Richard Neubauer, a volunteer at Gaiser Pets, walked around the room with a Chilean rose-hair tarantula as John Gaiser educated the group of about 60 on all things arachnid.

Preschool teacher Linda Duenas said budget cuts don't allow the children to venture off campus for field trips, and she is thrilled that Neubauer and Gaiser were able to bring animals to her classroom.

"It's important that good deeds are recognized in a world where good deeds aren't always a priority," Duenas said.

CONTACT David Bitton at dbitton@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4796. Find him on Facebook at ADPhotoTeam or on Twitter at @AD_PhotoTeam.