What’s green, brown, quick moving, and highly endangered? The illusive Invisible Turtle. These contrary and complex creatures are known to inhabit all sorts of public areas, including supermarkets, Targets, Walmarts… and, you guessed it – libraries. Although, I cannot verify colonies living in all the branches of Mid-Continent, there is a group of at least twenty believed to be lurking here at Red Bridge. Rumors abound of swarms of the reptiles residing in Amazon.com Warehouses and various book stores, but this cannot be confirmed, due to the inconsistency of sightings at these locations.
We don’t have to worry about the eggs we eat at our homes, they came from the local library! A couple years ago, MCPL’s Edgerton Branch incubated chicken eggs with the children at storytime. After everyone enjoyed the experience of hatching baby chicks, our family checked out books to learn how to build them a coop. Today, the hens live happily ever after with the librarian and her zoo of a family. You can raise chickens too! Don’t count yourself out just because you live in the city either. Many cities allow a limited amount of backyard poultry.
In our MCPL Library system, it is our branch managers that go to a book meeting each month to purchase the books for their branches. I was able to go one month, see this process, and help purchase books for our branch collection. I purchased a book called Dump him, Marry the Horse. I am a big horse lover, so I could not see this book without getting a copy for our branch.
Save a life. Adopt a pet. When you decide to take on the responsibility of owning a pet; one of the most generous things you can do is to adopt an unwanted animal from a shelter. If you are already a pet owner, one of the smartest things you can do is to have your pet spayed or neutered to prevent any more unwanted animals from ending up in shelters. If you would like to help, but are unable to adopt right now; your local shelter would love a donation of your time or money. Most shelters are in dire need of assistance and appreciate any help you can give.
Young Adult books are awesome, this I know. The writers and plots are sometimes so much better than what adult authors are writing. I’m not one to negate a great adult book though, and especially an animal story at that.
During the month of October, the American Humane Association encourages the adoption of shelter dogs. This organization suggests that bringing one of these fuzzy-faced companions into your life will benefit you, as well as the canine! For example, you’ll gain a best friend and a tail-wagging giver of unconditional love.
My child recently approached me about getting another pet. Before embarking on anything new, it's always best to research all the possibilities. So, we went directly to the online catalog and requested several books about the care of lizards. When the books arrived, she spent quite a bit of time reading them from cover to cover, trying her best to convince me that reptiles made great pets. After numerous trips to the pet store and other bargaining, the lizard and all the necessary supplies have found their way into my home.
I adore my mutt, Truman. He wormed his way into my heart at the animal shelter those many moons ago when he fell asleep in my lap. As my breath caught and butterflies swirled in my tummy, I knew he was the perfect dog for me. What I didn't catch was him sleeping with one eye open, as he plotted his escape from the facility. He waited until the i's were dotted and ink dry on our adoption before revealing what a crazy man he truly was. In the first year, he destroyed our books, tinkled on my husband’s homework (that was funny!), and conditioned us to sleepless nights. What a joy!
