Marc Morrone 3721077 214986311 2008-05-26T05:28:12Z Mrschimpf 255060 still on the air, if in rerun form <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Pk topic bio.jpg|thumb|right|Marc Morrone handling a dog in a publicity photo.]] --> '''Marc Morrone''' (born in [[The Bronx|Bronx, New York]]) is an [[United States|American]] animal dealer and breeder and host of ''[[The Pet Shop with Marc Morrone]]'' for [[Mag Rack]]. He also hosted ''Petkeeping with Marc Morrone'', a [[television program]] produced by [[Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia]], which ended its run on [[September 17]], [[2006]], although several stations throughout the country continue to air old episodes to meet their [[E/I]] requirements. ==Background== At age four, Morrone adopted his first pet, a [[parakeet]] named Jinxie. By age 18, Morrone’s pet collection had outgrown his parent’s house. In 1978, Morrone opened a [[pet store]] "Parrots of the World." with his business partner Nick Guerra in [[Rockville Centre, New York]]. In addition to importing and exporting exotic birds, mammals, and reptiles, the store breeds and sells hundreds of companion animals each year. Parrots of the World is now a 10,000 square-foot business. Morrone’s television career began as a guest on the News 12 program ''The Family Pet''. In 1994, he started a cable show, ''Extra Help Pet Show'', later renamed ''Metro Pets''. His practice of crowding dozens of animals in a small space on-camera was allegedly born of necessity — Morrone claimed it was needed to keep the animals warm in the unheated television studio. (The bright lights of a typical television studio are in fact very hot, but are compensated by keeping the studio very cool.) The local cable show led to Morrone’s guest appearances with [[Martha Stewart]] on her television program [[Martha Stewart Living]], starting in 1997. In 2001, Hearst Entertainment began syndication of ''The Pet Shop With Marc Morrone''. Morrone has been criticized by animal welfare advocates for his promotion of animal purchases from pet shops over adoption from humane societies and other animal rescue organizations. Marc Morrone is not to be confused with Marc A. Morrone, former Fordham University football player (97-00), who resides in Lyndhurst, NJ. ==''Petkeeping with Marc Morrone''== In 2003, [[Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia]] gave him a half-hour show, ''Petkeeping with Marc Morrone''. The program was taped on location in his pet store, and no longer is in production. [http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=page-cat&id=cat18638] Morrone was also a frequent contributor to [[Kids (2000s magazine)|Kids]] magazine, also published by Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and currently hosts a weekly radio program ''Petkeeping'' for [[Martha Stewart Living Radio]], on [[Sirius Satellite Radio]]. ===Pets which have appeared on ''Petkeeping''=== *Bubbles and Squeak, [[prairie dog]]s *Chaunticleer, a [[rooster]] *Dante, a [[raven]] *Darwin, an African Grey [[parrot]] *Goofy, a [[Goffin's Cockatoo]] *Harry, a scarlet [[macaw]] *Harvey, a [[rabbit|Flemish giant rabbit]] *Mel and Seymour Goldstein, [[guinea pig]]s *Murphy, a mixed breed [[dog]] *Prunella, an [[agouti]] *Splash, a [[ferret]] *The Three Musketeers, four [[chinchilla]]s, which appear on television three at a time. ==''The Pet Shop with Marc Morrone''== In March 2006 Morrone was featured on Mag Rack, in the [[Video On Demand]] series ''The Pet Shop with Marc Morrone''. The program follows a similar format as ''Petkeeping,'' and aims to offer helpful advice on caring for a variety of animals. It also includes appearance by his pets including Harry, a [[macaw|scarlet macaw]]; Splash, a [[ferret]]; and Harvey, a 13-pound [[rabbit|Flemish rabbit]]. Twenty five episodes were developed for the first season, and cover various topics such as alternatives to dogs as pets, [[housetraining]] pets, caring for smaller animals, and tips on setting up and maintaining [[aquarium]]s. ==Thieves rob "Parrots of the World"== On [[August 15]], [[2007]], robbers broke into Morrone's Parrots of the World store through a back window and stole 45 parrots, including [[cockatoos]], [[African grey|African greys]], and a [[toucan]], valued at over $60,000. Morrone expressed concern for the pilfered parrots because they require special food and care and could die if they become overstressed. None of the stolen birds were Morrone's pets that have appeared on television with him, although many of them also live in the store. ==References== <references /> *{{cite web | url=http://www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/2007/08/15/2007-08-15_dirty_rats_steal_45_exotic_birds-1.html | title=$58,000 overnight heist at 'Martha' pet guru's Rockville Centre shop (NY Daily News) | accessdate=August 15 | accessyear=2007}} *{{cite web | url=http://www.petkeeping.com/page.jhtml?type=page-cat&id=cat18609&navLevel=3&navHistory=cat6%2Bcat18638&site= | title=Marc Morrone's Bio | accessdate=January 14 | accessyear=2006}} *"The Wild World of Pet Retailing." Business Week Online. May 13, 2005. *"Talking to Animals, and About Them, on TV." New York Times (Late Edition (East Coast)). December 28, 2003. p. 4. *"If Only He Could Talk, Squeak or Squawk to the Animals." New York Times (Late Edition (East Coast)). January 4, 2004. p. 59. * Breen, V. [http://www.critterhaven.net/youth/pm_battle.htm The Battle Against 'Puppy Mills'] == External links == *[http://www.petkeeping.com/ Petkeeping with Marc Morrone website] *[http://magrack.com/thepetshop/ The Pet Shop with Marc Morrone] *[http://www.parrotsoftheworld.com/ Parrots of the World] {{MSLO}} [[Category:Living people|Morrone, Marc]] [[Category:American radio personalities|Morrone, Marc]]