Animal Notes...by B.J. Darnell, VMT, CKO
from the Catoosa County News.
December 21, 1998
The Holidays 1998
Holiday Greetings to All! Tis the busy season for all the
“keepers” of the
family treasures. What family treasures you ask? All those
four-footed friends
who can’t travel to Grandma’s or Aunt Jane’s house with the
family of course.
As late as yesterday I had someone ask me where we were
going on our
holiday break. Holiday breaks are for anyone who doesn’t
have a 24-7
job.
Most people just assume that everyone has Christmas off.
Well the truth is
that if kennel operators didn’t work during the holidays many people
would
not be able to visit friends and relatives. Not everyone has neighbors
or
relatives who are willing to take care of other peoples pets while
the family
is away.
By this time most pet care professionals have decked the
halls, bought
the presents, wrapped them and put what parts of the holiday meal
they can
together and then in the freezer. Made mad dashes to the Post Office
to
mail those last minute Christmas cards they wrote after midnight
the night
before and the last of the packages for distant kin and friends.
Here we have laid on extra cookies for that holiday brunch...doggy
cookies
that is. The light are strung, the trees outside are sprouting
candy canes, the
stockings are hung and we have asked that Santa make a personal
visit again
this year.
Jude is cooking in her spare time...wonder where she finds
it? I just keep
looking. Her Mom Marge has been enlisted to tie bows on the special
cookies
we give as gifts to the grooming dogs and I am up to my knees in
dog hair.
It is going to be a rather strange Christmas as our littlest
boarder weighs in
at a hefty 2 pounds [ a very distant relative of that famous Dinky
of TV fame],
our biggest at around 195, whose early ancestors crossed the Alps
with Hannibal.
This is the 29th Christmas here and I have spent everyone
of them feeding and
or cleaning something. Jude has been at it now for 12 years.
Many people ask about the noise and not being able to be
with family during
the holidays and we normally tell the truth when we say this really
is part of
our extended family. We have seen many of our regulars grow from
puppyhood
to senior citizen status. It is very satisfying to have friends
as faithful and loving
as these. They don’t fuss if I come in wearing old clothes or Jude
doesn’t have
time for her make-up. They love us cause we care for them.
I have said many times before I am proud of being a pet
care professional and
I trace my “roots” clear back to Adam and Eve. I think I
stand in as good a
company as it gets. Remember the shepherds who watched their flocks
on that
night of night. I don’t see a lot of difference in God’s scheme
of things. For I
truly believe that love and compassion were the greatest
lessons he came
here to bring. And if you can’t have it for the lowly beasts how
can you have it
for all mankind. Have a glorious holiday and keep your loved ones
safe!
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