"Beauty to me has eight legs and a pair of spinnerets. From the first time I witnessed spiders in the wild as a young boy, I’ve always been interested in these alluring organisms. On boring summer vacation days, I watched as they evaluated their meals, interlocking themselves in a captivating dance of life and death with their prey. Further in the evening, I watched as spiders in my backyard erected mighty citadels of woven silk. I’ve always had pride in my ability to see the hidden beauty of life most of my peers could not. My intense hunger for knowledge fueled a deep admiration and curiosity for the arachnids many of my family and friends found repulsive. Though excited to share my curiosity about these animals with my peers, I was often shunned. I continued my adoration, despite constant disapproval. People would tell me that my love for spiders was “stupid”, or even encouraged outright killing of them to my face. As a result, I kept my fascination secret, but I never forgot it.

During middle school, a spider quickly scuttled from under a desk during a lesson. Screams erupted in the room as the spider paused in the middle of the floor. Suddenly, I heard the sound of a shoe thumping the tile floor. Left behind was a mangled carcass of exoskeleton and blood. As I heard the sighs of relief from my classmates, I felt an extreme sense of injustice, and it felt as if my heart, along with the spider, had both been crushed by that shoe. For the mere crime of being seen, this completely harmless creature was crushed.  From then onward, I would capture any spider in my home or school with a cup, and safely move them outside the building. I have empathy for all life, including the animals that the world around me deemed, “undesirable.” I can see the positivity in each organism and appreciate their instrumental roles in Earth’s ecosystem.

Over time, my empathy further developed, and I acted on it by buying my first tarantula at sixteen. My first spider, Regina, a little pink toe tarantula introduced me to the concept of caring for these creatures.  Despite countless hours of research and using my hard-earned money, my parents still disapproved. Friends and family mocked my mother for even entertaining the idea of having a spider as a pet in our home.

Regardless of the judgment I faced, this experience of owning a spider developed growth in my character. In a perfect world, I would combine my love for spiders with my love for humanity, and I dream of a world where people can see the beauty in all life, even the forms that scare them.  Sooner or later, I discovered other species of tarantulas, and after thorough convincing of my parents, expanded my collection. Once she was mature, I paired Regina with a male spider. During the summer of 2024, I spent my time monitoring and nurturing her until she laid her eggs. The eggs hatched in the middle of August, and upon opening the egg sac, I was astonished. Viewing the spiderlings for the first time filled me with a unique sense of fulfillment. 

The emotional weight of opening the egg sac opened my eyes to the real reason I went down this road. I recognized my passion as a seed that started with getting my first tarantula. I watered that seed by nurturing her until she laid her eggs, and finally I saw that passion bloom. I saw dozens, if not hundreds of tiny, pale spiderlings, all with their webs to spin, and lives to live. 

That fulfillment has never left me, and I hope to guide others to it."

 

- Gabriel R.S Dezzi, Founder