Animals and Disease

Is it one of the marks of a humane(r) zoo that visitors find it difficult to see the animals, busy and fairly hidden as they are in their simulated natural environment? If so, we can feel good about the zoo (Woodland Park) we visited for the first time last weekend. Naomi thoroughly enjoyed seeing the foreground animals (mallard ducks!) at the expense of the distant main attractions (real live giraffes!). She did get to see some goats and sheep up close, as well as some teeny, tiny ponies. (On the fence of the teeny, tiny pony pen leaned a grumpy veterinarian, waiting for the elderly pony to pee so she could collect a bit for a UTI test. Sounds like intern work to me, ma’am. )

Overall, it was a really good time. Naomi tromped along the zoo trails, shared my ice cream sandwich, poked around the butterfly enclosure, and patted a sheep. I know it is only a coincidence that three days after the zoo visit, the daycare called and said I had to come and get Naomi, since she had symptoms of hoof and mouth disease. Ok, not really, but hand, foot, and mouth disease sounds awfully evocative of the original. The promptly consulted doctor said it wasn’t from the zoo, that it was very contagious, and that there was absolutely no reason not to take her back to school, since all the kids were going to get it anyway.

Today for Show and Tell, Naomi would like to share a virus of hers that will give you blisters on your hands and feet, and little sores in your mouth. If you’re lucky, you will also get a fever. Enjoy!