It’s my favorite time of year…Tucked away between Halloween and Christmas sits a holiday that department stores everywhere seem to have forgotten about. You don’t have to buy anything for anyone, and you aren’t expecting anything in return (I think that’s why it’s my favorite holiday). I’m talking about Thanksgiving! A holiday where you are meant to sit back, take a long look around you, and be grateful for everything good in your life.

I am extremely grateful to be able to count my job as one of those things. I am thankful that each of the animals here will be well taken care of for the rest of their lives, and that I get to be a part of that. Some of them came from pretty rough situations. When I think about the lives some of our residents had before coming here, it is heartbreaking – and quite frankly, infuriating. But I am thankful that they are now in a place where they will truly receive the best care possible for the rest of their lives. I feel like the luckiest person in the world to get to do what I do everyday, and I know the other care staff members feel exactly the same. It is a privilege to serve these animals, and that is definitely not lost on us. This job can be hard (and messy), but it is so gratifying.

Of course, as thankful as I am to have this job, I wish it didn’t even exist. I wish that there were not a need for facilities like ours. In a prefect world, our residents would all be in the wild where they belong. Since that is not the case, I will choose to be thankful for what we have, and continue to work to improve the lives of every monkey and chimpanzee in our care.

I also want to say thank you to our donors. Without you, none of this would be possible. I would be out of a job, and I don’t even want to think about where our residents would be. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for all that you do for the Primate Rescue Center. Whether it’s monetary donations, donating supplies, or donating your time every week, we are forever grateful. Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving, and in the midst of turkey eating and Black Friday shopping, don’t forget to take a minute to sit back and think about all that you are thankful for.  ðŸ™‚