N.E.W Excitement

     I'm so excited! I have just started volunteering at the N.E.W Zoo, which is a zoo near my house. Since I really enjoy being around animals, this is the perfect opportunity for me. Among the many activities that are available, there is Zoo Watch. Zoo watch is basically observing an animal in the zoom,(giraffe, emu, prairie dog, etc), and looking for any behavior out of the ordinary. My first day, I mostly did this activity, and it was so much fun! Animals that I watched were a red panda, moose, snow leopard, Japanese macaques, Canadian lynx, elk, and prairie dogs. It was really interesting to observe these majestic animals for a length of time because their personalities really show. The Japanese macaques were especially active, the young ones running around playing fetch and joyously sprinting through the water. They reminded me a lot of humans, the way they interacted with the others and how there was a tiny baby and as he explored, his mother sat nearby intently watching him and protecting him. The prairie dogs were quite interesting; they came out of their holes at around 4:00 pm and seemed to be very hungry! I really enjoyed watching them chew their hay and then stand up on their little hind legs when they were alerted that danger may be near. I also performed exhibit window washing and sweeping up the walkways. My day was filled with new excitement and I am overjoyed to be helping out at the zoo and learning new things along the way.

On a Nice Quiet Rabbit Stroll

     First rabbit-walking adventure of the summer! I am so happy! I always enjoy watching my bunnies hopping around, joyously exploring the wide open spaces outside of their confined home headquarters. Pie is the rabbit pictured here because I can only walk one at a time as a result of two bunnies loving to go in opposite directions and me only capable of traveling in one at a time. Rabbit-walking is an acquired skill; I am speaking from some experience! First of all, rabbits do not always enjoy being harnessed. It's quite scary for them to have foreign apparatuses strapped on, but luckily they get used to it relatively fast. Second, they do not always listen to the specific route that you had in mind. Basically, you are going where ever they wish and trying to keep them out of areas that they do not belong! Even though it can be tough to get the hang of it at first with learning how to direct them, the end is worth it when you can witness your babies having a great old time and just being carefree.

      An adventure-loving rabbit, Pie is quite amused by running all over the place;exploring minor details of the big picture called nature. Open areas are not well-liked by nature as a result of prey instincts to hide, so Pie is always to enter tall grass or underneath trees but I worry that she may escape because I don't tighten her harness too much. As a result of all the frantic running and eating as much grass as possible, every once in a while Pie likes to take a break and soak up some rays of sunshine. Here are some of the pictures I took on the journey although Pie wasn't too keen on posing!

Spaghetti Dinner

New Hair Cuts!

     As summer approaches, it was time for Sunny and Charlie to shed their heavy winter locks and get a new hot-weather do! Since they were a bit "over-grown" to say the least, we took them to the professionals. Every year, the same events occur. We load them into the car, they are scared and crying the whole way there, they are relieved when they are let out onto the immobile asphalt parking lot, waltz right into the groomers, stay there a couple of hours and come out looking unlike their normal selves. Even though this is a annual ritual, shock still washes over me as they come out for the first time. First reaction: who are these strange dogs? Second reaction: are these really my dogs? I have to admit they both look so cute I just want to scoop them up and squeeze them! Without the extra hair weighing them down, Sunny and Charlie have an easier time bounding up the stairs after each other and chasing each other in the yard. Because of Sunny's curled-over tail, the first few weeks are not enjoyable because his tail irritates his close-shaven

back. Here are some pics of my cuties with their new, stylish haircuts.