Rare Breeds

The Senior Animal Management students were lucky to find themselves in the company of a rare breed of dog called the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. On November 10th, Janette Shorrock brought this unusual dog, named Charlie, to the classroom to share her grooming secrets with the students. grooming secrets with the students. Charlie is a champion show dog as well as a Delta Society certified therapy dog. Grooming a Dandie for show takes a bit of practice and knack. Janette demonstrated an advanced grooming technique called plucking. When plucking, you literally pluck the longer hairs from the coat of the dog. You need a good eye for the areas that need plucking.
The “Dandie” is referred to as the “gentleman of the terriers”. The breed originated in the 1700s in the border country between England and Scotland.
Janette chose this breed as a companion because she is also a native of England. The Dandie Dinmont is named for a farmer in a Sir Walter Scott novel and used to eradicate vermin, like rats and badgers. Dandies are hypoallergenic, but require regular coat care and grooming. Janette Shorrock is the Breeder Referral Chairperson for the Dandie Dinmont Club. She says you must be very patient to acquire a Dandie. The cost for a pet quality Dandie Dinmont is $1,500.00. There are not many breeders in the United States and they are quite particular about protecting the breed and promoting responsible breeding practices.There are not many breeders in the United States and they are quite particular about protecting the breed and promoting responsible breeding practices.

Toledo Zoo: Behind the Scenes

On Tuesday, November 17, my Animal Management class had the opportunity to go behind the scenes at the Toledo Zoo. Our main mission was to get a sneek peek of the elephants. When we arrived at the zoo early that morning, we found ourselves in a classroom where we learned how to make enrichment with the help of two zoo educators, Lisa Bogard and Jerran Orwig..
Enrichment is the addition or modification of an animal's environment that encourages the animals to make choices, exhibit natural, or species appropriate behavior, present mental challenges, encourage physical activity/exercise and enhances the animals overall well being.
We went to work making three different enrichment items. Our first task was to decorate a brown paper bag with non-toxic markers and then fill them 1/4 full with popcorn and cheerios. These bags were folded shut and placed on a cart. Next we made melon bombs. This consisted of a cantaloupe that we cut holes into and stuffed with carrots. Finally we made elephant approved pixie sticks. These were large cardboard tubes stuffed with cut up carrots, apples, and yams. These snacks were held in by plugging each end of the tube with hay.
We took a break and learned about amphibians from the zoo educators. They let us touch the salamanders and frog used for the demonstration. Then we headed out, took a detour through an amphibian exhibit in the museum, trecked across zoo grounds and wound up in the elephant area where the zookeepers bathed Baby Louy and his mother Renee. The elephants were trained to move about and lift their feet for a thorough scrubbing and health checks. This is a daily task for the zookeepers.
As a special treat, we were given permission to go into the elephant's outdoor exhibit to hide the enrichment items we had made. After we were safe on the human side of the electric fence, the zookeepers lead the elephants to their outdoor enclosure, where they wasted no time finding their treats.
This was a fun trip. I hope we can do it again with another animal. I would love to get up close and personal with the wolves!

Sub-District Job Interview Career Development Event

The Floriculture and Natural Resources programs participated in a Chapter Job Interview Competition the last few weeks. Students were judged on filling out a job application, their cover letter and resume, a 10 minute face-to-face interview and a hand-written follow-up letter. Thank you so much to Jean Emery-Emery’s Flowers and Company, Doreen Kuzma-Denver Wholesale Florist, Josh Miller-Toledo Botanical Gardens, Adrienne Mullens– Forest View Ranch, Matt Shanahan– Boy Scouts Toledo Area, and Jim Jackson– Toledo City Forestry Division Council for taking time out of their busy schedules to conduct the face-to-face interviews. Here’s what the students had to say!

“I think that I did a great job with the interview being that it was my first time. The interviewer was really nice and respectful. Overall the interview was a great experience and I really learned a lot. I know later on it life it will be useful.”- Sharice Cosper, Floriculture 2

“During my interview I was nervous! I like how the guy was so nice to me and he understood that I am new at interviewing. I think the advice that he gave me will help me overcome being nervous in the future. I just need to let me confidence that I have show more and just be myself. I think this experience will help me in the future when I have a real interview.”- Stephanie Mason, Floriculture I

Congratulations to Floriculture 1 students Jasmine Cole, Tyrena Depp, Sara Padgett, and Krista Woodruff, Floriculture 2 students Tami Crockett and Sharice Cosper, Natural Resources I students Gabrielle Roberts, Te’Airia Baldwin, Devon Webster and Macie Zeller, and Natural Resources II students Shaniece Langston and Jordan Enis who will compete December 1^st in the Sub-District Job Interview Career Development Event.