The new year has brought some changes for the Therapeutic Animal Park. One of the biggest changes was keeping the Animal Park open during the winter.
The bunny pen at the Animal Park also got a permanent roof on it. One end of the small shed in the alpaca/goat paddock was also boarded up, so that it would provide shelter from any wind.
Every once in awhile, the alpacas are split up, with Cooscoe being off in a pen to himself. He is still kept close to Humphries, so that the two could see each other.
The little fainting goats are wintering well with their alpaca buddies and both of them are gaining weight quickly. Coalette, the mini pony, is slowly learning manners after being alone in her pen for a while. But a new penmate will join her, a shetland/welsh cross called Shadow.
Shadow is bigger than Coalette, but is a gentle soul with lots of patience and a huge fondness for children and attention.
Work has stopped on the new bird pen due to the weather and some scheduling conflicts. But the plan is to complete the new bird pen by this summer. There are also ongoing plans to complete the picture gallery, brick sidewalk, and other projects around the Animal Park.
The main goal is to ensure that the Animal Park is more enjoyable for the patrons that visit. Any volunteers who want to donate some spare time to help with these projects are encouraged to contact Don Sealy or Tammy Stendall.
This spring will be somewhat busy and possibly noisy time for the Therapeutic Animal Park, as their volunteers will be doing their yearly health routines.
The alpacas will need to be sheared and will have their feet and teeth done. These are painless, but necessary jobs, although the alpacas might voice their displeasure during the cleaning procedures.
The same holds even more true for the pigs and the goats when it comes time to trim their hooves.
It is also during spring time when all the animals who need deworming and vaccinations get their pills and their shots.
The care of the animals is the most important focus for any volunteers who help with these spring jobs. There is good contact with the local vets with any health concerns, and there is also a myriad of other volunteers who are willing to share their expertise and experiences.
All the animals have warm beds, plenty of food and water, and lack for nothing when people come to the Animal Park to visit them. The animals enjoy the company of those who visit the Animal Park.
It is important to remember that those visiting the Animal Park show respect to the facility itself, and all of their animals.
