This animal loving couple own three pet sloths who love nothing more than snuggling - and painting - and have sold 4,000 pieces of art so far.<br /><br />Jenni and Terry Koenig, both 44, dote on their sloths, mum Zuri, dad Enzo, and baby Pancake.<br /><br />Surprisingly, Jenni discovered Enzo was interested in painting when she was doing crafts in his enclosure.<br /><br />After handing him the paintbrush, Enzo fell in love with painting and has created over 4,000 unique pieces that Jenni sells for $50 each to fund their upkeep.<br /><br />Jenni, from Wisconsin, USA, had always loved sloths and kept asking Terry if they could have one themselves.<br /><br />Terry thought Jenni was "mad" until he saw a sloth at a zoo and was just in "awe".<br /><br />Jenni began seriously looking into the reality of owning a sloth and created a heated, humidified room in their back garden.<br /><br />After a month of preparations, the Koenigs bought their first sloth Enzo in 2018 for $6,000.<br /><br />In 2021, the couple found Zuri, a female sloth who was only available to an experienced owner and took her in.<br /><br />Their sloth family was finally completed when Zuri unexpectedly gave birth to baby Pancake, in December 2022.<br /><br />Zuri, Enzo, and Pancake live in a large indoor-outdoor enclosure in the couple's garden that replicates their tropical home.<br /><br />They keep the building at 80°F (26°C) and have a connecting outside space that they open up when the weather gets warmer.<br /><br />Jenni said: “We want to make sure that we’re giving them the best care and the best environment.<br /><br />“The worry with exotics is that we have to provide the right environment and food for them.<br /><br />“They are tropical animals, but they’re a little hardier than we give them credit for. The sloths LOVE being outside, especially in the rain!<br /><br />“I know my sloths are happy too because they made a baby! My goal wasn’t ever to breed them, but I’m glad they get along that well and are that comfortable.”<br /><br />The journey to housing the sloths wasn’t easy, however.<br /><br />Jenni spent about $5,000 on the enclosure for Enzo and has to fork out monthly for heating, food, enrichment activities and vet bills.<br /><br />The couple had to thoroughly check all of the laws in their state for owning exotic animals and ensure they had the right permits. <br /><br />Despite the challenges, the couple have a wonderful life with their sloths, who hang out with them, give them kisses and paint with them.<br /><br />Jenni and Terry also have three lemurs, three sulcata tortoises, dozens of indoor and outdoor cats, four dogs, and they foster various animals for their local humane society. <br /><br />They have a passion for taking care of animals and making sure they have the best care available - even if that means rehoming them.<br /><br />Jenni previously rescued an African serval living in the bathroom of a city apartment, but released it to the care of a zoo after realising it needed more specialist care than she could give.<br /><br />They plan to keep Enzo, Zuri and Pancake forever and are not opposed to taking another sloth if one becomes available.<br /><br />Jenni believes that as sloths are becoming increasingly prevalent in pop culture, there will be a rise in people who have pet sloths and then give them up due to being "disappointed".<br /><br />She added: “They are nocturnal animals so we only really see them active in the early morning and late evening.<br /><br />“They are also very expensive animals and require a lot of upkeep.<br /><br />“I think they are wonderful, therapeutic animals that are amazing to be around - but some people might be disappointed in the reality of having them.”<br /><br />Jenni and Terry share their unique life on Instagram and TikTok, where they post clips of their exotic animals and everything they get up to.<br /><br />She said: “My goal is to make people smile and so if my videos can do that, I’m happy.<br /><br />“I’d love to bring some of the joys that they bring to me to others around the world.<br /><br />“There are people who think what I’m doing is wrong, and I really do understand their point of view, but I am always making sure my sloths are happy and well looked after.<br /><br />“Unfortunately for Enzo and Zuri they can never be released into the wild, so it’s about trying to make their life as great as we can, safely.”
