A Day in the Life of a Zookeeper

A Day in the Life of a Zookeeper
Ever wonder what its like to share your world with a bunch of crazy critters? Tune in to find out!

Wednesday, February 01, 2017

Routines Change

The addition of the puppies to our family made for changes to the routine we follow each day.  I think that added to Winston's angst about them joining our herd.  Pigs really hate change.  Our days look something like this:


  • Some time between 6:00 and 6:30 Winston wants cookies.  He gets a few and gets put in his small room (the laundry room) where he goes back to bed til breakfast.
  • Once he is up the puppies and Emma are up so they go outside for their morning potty break.
  • The puppies play outside and inside and outside and inside - depending on the weather and any noises outside - I have been official promoted to door woman.
  • Winston gets fed between 7:00 and 7:30.
  • Once he eats the puppies and Emma are inside and he goes out.  Puppies go in their "room" - the master bath for their breakfast.  This gives me the opportunity to feed Emma and let her eat without a bunch of assistants and I also take that time as my errand running or chore doing time.
  • Violet and the kitties get meds at 9am.
  • We spend the day alternating between pig outside time and puppy outside time with at least one period of overlap.  I stay out when everyone is outside and referee.  Winston was very good with them today - we are making progress.  If the weather is nice the critter land outside play space is opened up so the little guys can have some outside time as well.
  • Mid morning when Winston comes in I usually spend some time with him in his room.  We do lovies and maintenance (ears, hooves, scent glands - whatever needs doing).  This has moved from the nightly tuck in routine.
  • The afternoon is much the same - puppies in, pig out, pig in, puppies out.
  • Winston gets fed around 5:00. 
  • Puppies have food available at all times - they are not overeaters thankfully.
  • Around 7:30 puppies go out back and Winston goes out front for final potty breaks.
  • Puppies go to bed between 8:00 and 8:30.  They get a chewie - which is just a longer lasting dog treat when they go to bed.  It's a big deal and they know they have to go in their room to get it.  Winston and Emma also get a chewie as well.
  • Violet and the kitties get meds at 9 pm and the little critters get put to bed.
  • Around 10:00 I tuck Winston in - mostly just covering him up and giving him some love - not the long drawn out process we used to have.  
Everyone seems to like the new routine.  It's a critter filled day - I wouldn't have it any other way.

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