Need a pet? What not a hedgehog

Owner Sam Hilerio shows Allison Twarog her new Hedgehog that she named Shaman at Granite State Hedgehogs in downtown Franklin on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Owner Sam Hilerio picked Franklin because of its central location for both visitors and deliveries around the region. Allison sat in a temporary area to get to know the mammal. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff
Owner Sam Hilerio shows Allison Twarog her new Hedgehog that she named Shaman at Granite State Hedgehogs in downtown Franklin on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Owner Sam Hilerio picked Franklin because of its central location for both visitors and deliveries around the region. Allison sat in a temporary area to get to know the mammal. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff
Owner Sam Hilerio holds out a hedgehog for Allison Twarog at Granite State Hedgehogs in downtown Franklin on Tuesday. Allison named her new pet Shaman. GEOFF FORESTER photos / Monitor staff
Owner Sam Hilerio shows Allison Twarog her new Hedgehog that she named Shaman at Granite State Hedgehogs in downtown Franklin on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Owner Sam Hilerio picked Franklin because of its central location for both visitors and deliveries around the region. Allison sat in a temporary area to get to know the mammal. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff
Owner Sam Hilerio shows Allison Twarog her new Hedgehog that she named Shaman at Granite State Hedgehogs in downtown Franklin on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Owner Sam Hilerio picked Franklin because of its central location for both visitors and deliveries around the region. Allison sat in a temporary area to get to know the mammal. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff
Allison Twarog came all the way up from Enfield, Connecticut with her mother to get her new Hedgehog that she named Shaman at Granite State Hedgehogs in downtown Franklin on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Owner Sam Hilerio picked Franklin because of its central location for both visitors and deliveries around the region. Allison sat in a temporary area to get to know the mammal. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff
Allison Twarog came all the way up from Enfield, Connecticut with her mother to get her new Hedgehog that she named Shaman at Granite State Hedgehogs in downtown Franklin on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Owner Sam Hilerio picked Franklin because of its central location for both visitors and deliveries around the region. Allison sat in a temporary area to get to know the mammal. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff
Allison Twarog came all the way up from Enfield, Connecticut with her mother to get her new Hedgehog that she named Shaman at Granite State Hedgehogs in downtown Franklin on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Owner Sam Hilerio picked Franklin because of its central location for both visitors and deliveries around the region. Allison sat in a temporary area to get to know the mammal. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff
Owner Sam Hilerio of Granite State Hedgehogs holds Batman at his downtown Franklin store on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Hilerio has a thriving website business with the mammals, but is the only place that has an actual store where people can come and see the animals. The animals make themselves into a ball for protection when they feel threatened. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff
Charlie Hopf, 9, of Sudbury, Massachusetts inspects Olive at Granite Street Hedgehogs in downtown Franklin on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Hopf and his family were up for the winter ski vacation but said they would be back with friends to inspect the little mammals. Hedgehogs curl up in a ball when they feel threatened and have spiney quills for protection from predators. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff
Jenny and Charlie Hopf, 9, of Sudbury, Massachusetts inspects Olive at Granite Street Hedgehogs in downtown Franklin on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. The family were up for the winter ski vacation but said they would be back with friends to inspect the little mammals. Hedgehogs curl up in a ball when they feel threatened and have spiney quills for protection from predators. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff
Owner Sam Hilerio of Granite State Hedgehogs holds Batman at his downtown Franklin store on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Hilerio has a thriving website business with the mammals, but is the only place that has an actual store where people can come and see the animals. The animals make themselves into a ball for protection when they feel threatened. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff
Jenny Hopf of Sudbury, Massachusetts inspects Olive at Granite Street Hedgehogs in downtown Franklin on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Hopf and her family were up for the winter ski vacation but said she would be back with friends to inspect the little mammals. Hedgehogs curl up in a ball when they feel threatened and have spiney quills for protection from predators. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff
Jenny Hopf of Sudbury, Massachusetts inspects Olive at Granite Street Hedgehogs. Hopf and her family were up for the winter ski vacation but said she would be back with friends to check out the little mammals.
Charlie Hopf, 9, of Sudbury, Massachusetts inspects Olive at Granite Street Hedgehogs in downtown Franklin on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Hopf and his family were up for the winter ski vacation but said they would be back with friends to inspect the little mammals. Hedgehogs curl up in a ball when they feel threatened and have spiney quills for protection from predators. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff
Owner Sam Hilerio of Granite State Hedgehogs holds Batman at his downtown Franklin store on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Hilerio has a thriving website business with the mammals, but is the only place that has an actual store where people can come and see the animals. The animals make themselves into a ball for protection when they feel threatened. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff
Owner Sam Hilerio of Granite State Hedgehogs holds Batman at his downtown Franklin store on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Hilerio has a thriving website business with the mammals, but is the only place that has an actual store where people can come and see the animals. The animals make themselves into a ball for protection when they feel threatened. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff
Owner Sam Hilerio of Granite State Hedgehogs holds Olive at his downtown Franklin store on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Hilerio has a thriving website business with the mammals, but is the only place that has an actual store where people can come and see the animals. The animals make themselves into a ball for protection when they feel threatened. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff
Allison Twarog came all the way up from Enfield, Connecticut with her mother to get her new Hedgehog that she named Shaman at Granite State Hedgehogs in downtown Franklin on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Owner Sam Hilerio picked Franklin because of its central location for both visitors and deliveries around the region. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff
Owner Sam Hilerio of Granite State Hedgehogs holds Olive at his downtown Franklin store on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Hilerio has a thriving website business with the mammals, but is the only place that has an actual store where people can come and see the animals. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff

Monitor staff

Published: 2/25/2023 10:45:58 AM

One of the region’s most unusual stores says it has gotten a boost from an unlikely ally: Franklin’s new Mill City Park, a whitewater paddling destination.

“There has been a lot more foot traffic since they opened up the water park,” said Sam Hileri, owner of Granite State Hedgehogs on Franklin’s Central Street, a pet store that sells only pygmy hedgehogs and hedgehog accessories.

Hedgehogs are mammals. They curl up in a ball when they feel threatened and have spiney quills for protection from predators, like a tiny porcupine.

The store is open three days a week and remains a side gig for Hileri, who says it covers its costs but, more importantly, provides a terrific non-monetary reward for a guy whose first words were about loving animals. “How many people do you know that could say they hang out with hedgehogs every day? That's a great feeling!”

Granite State Hedgehogs says it is a state and federally licensed professional hedgehog breeding facility.

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