Animals play a very important part in our lives. Especially
at Christmastime. If you don't believe me check out the
decorations around you. Even the ones in those old family
pictures. Among the trains, dolls, angels and toy soldiers
you will find a marvelous collection of stuffed teddy bears,
kittens, puppies, reindeer and many other woodland creatures
that we find so interesting.
All animals are pictured as benevolent at this time of the
year. They all get along with no fussing or fighting. Is
this a wish on the part of the human spirit or the way
that things should be?
Everyone wonders how we stand the noise and hectic pace
of the holiday rush in the animal business. Well you can
get used to the noise [ear plugs do help] and if you try
real hard you can even get over the bad feelings that some
mean tempered individuals seem to have. Ever wonder if
they were paying attention to what happened to Scrooge?
Many days you wouldn't think so from their attitude. It is
enough to make one say Bah Humbug!
We like to decorate for the holidays and I guess you could
say we have a bit. But when you spend as much time at work
as we do during the last couple of months of the year, I
guess it is not really that unusual. Our decorations do
center around the animals even our venettes in the windows.
The Momma reindeer is reading the Christmas Story to her two
young ones. Snoopy is taking a trip and Snoopyville is
gearing up for the big day. But the window I like doing the
best is the Nativity Scene. It takes me back to the days
when I was a small child and those memories are very, very
precious to me. Father Kelly, a local member of the clergy did
notice when he brought Giget in for grooming that I even took
this job very, very seriously. There was hay for the oxen, sheep,
cows and  lambs. A well for water. There is even a feeding trough
for the camels of the wise men. The care and feeding of
animals is after all my job. Father did mention, though,
that he thought a break from the routine might be in order
as I had carried the realisiam of my scene to include
several piles of camel dung. It just sort of seemed a
natural progression to me!
Many people believe that Noah was the first to take up the
position as head of animal husbandry. But if you re-read the
book of Genesis you will find that the position was filled
way back then.
I am very proud of my job as a pet care professional. You
see I can trace my roots to Adam and Eve. So at this time of
year when everyone speaks of many of my fellow caretakers
because they were the first to know of the birth of Jesus
I feel very proud that we were singled out to spread the
news of his birth. Lowly shepherds in the fields tending
their flocks, the inn keepers and their staff were all on
duty that night and the world hasn't changed a whole lot
in that respect. Some of us continue to do our respective
jobs and manage to remember the reason for the season.
His message of love and kindness was appropriate then as
it is now. Love for our fellow man and the creatures that
God has placed on this earth are important all year long
not just at Christmas.
 

Catoosa County News....12/94