A date at the animal shelter

In an attempt to speak my daughter's favorite love language (which happens to be one of my least favorite) I have tried to be intentional in spending more quality time with her.  I'm trying to carve out more time for Mommy / Daughter dates a few times each month.  One of our recent "dates" began at the county animal shelter 

To motivate her students to practice more often, our kids' piano teacher offered to donate one nickel for each time a recital piece was practiced by each student to the Count Animal Care, Control, and Adoption Center.  This incentive inspired her students to practice much more than usual.  When the animal shelter learned about the idea, they asked a few students to come for the presentation of the check.  Our animal loving girl insisted that we go, not for the photo op, but for the chance to see the animals. 

Presentation of check

The public relations director gave the students an in depth tour of the facility and even took them into private areas for faculty only.  This center takes in all animals from common pets to reptiles, spiders, peacocks, horses and cows. They take in over 16,000 animals each year, and over half of those are adopted.  The center is strongly dependent up on its over 500 volunteers, animal rescue team, and foster families.  Our daughter enjoyed telling the director about her grandmother's wildlife rescue efforts and how our daughter has helped her Grandma rehab and/or release raccoons, squirrels, owls, possums, and a hawk.

The center's vet performs approximately 8000 surgeries each year.  These pics were posted by the operating room.  My girl was quick to identify the animal at the lower left because she helped Grandma rescue a baby this size this past summer.

Post op animals and a baby squirrel

Here are  few of our daughter's favorite animals in the center awaiting adoption.

After our tour, we went out to eat and then did some shopping together to top off her love tank.