Cleaning is an everyday thing at Animal Wonders. Not a day goes by that we are cleaning up after the animal residents, but sometimes we like to mix in a little more fun with the everyday business. Today Zoe and Chongo, the Amazon parrots, enjoyed time outside in the garden while I hosed and scrubbed enclosures, toys, and perches. I was even able to weed the garden as everything dried. They mildly watched me work and soaked up the UV rays. Tango, the Patagonian cavy, munched on grass as he sneaked in peeks at me through the weeds. He enjoyed his outdoor time as did Cheeks the rabbit. After our outdoor activities we all spent some time relaxing in the cool indoors. Oliver, the sun conure, groomed himself on my shoulder while I relaxed on the couch and read a book. Later, Jumbuck the bearded dragon, got some exercise running around the Reptile Room while we changed out his substrate, and Yucca, the Red-footed tortoise waited patiently for her turn to slowly explore the corners and say hello to all the other reptile residents. Kemo, the prehensile-tailed porcupine, let me know he was ready for dinner by grumbling loudly (he sounds like a chainsaw in the distance). I fixed his diet and spent some time changing his soiled bedding and replacing it with clean fresh aspen shavings. After he was smelling fresh, he enjoyed his favorite snack - corn on the cob. These are a few of the memories we made today. There's nothing like sharing your life with these amazing animals and I like to think of it this way:

Every day is cleaning day, most days we have fun while cleaning, and some days we make lasting memories of another great day with the animals.

*I thought it might be nice to share a few moments of a day in our life at Animal Wonders. Just so you might be able to glimpse what we do on any average day. We always have a good time, even when we're just cleaning :)