Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 29, 1994 TAG: 9411100002
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S19 EDITION: METRO VICTOR
SOURCE: MARY JO SHANNON SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Scanlin, 19, who is studying animal health technology at Murray State University in western Kentucky, was a zoo keeper at Mill Mountain Zoo. She is only the second volunteer to get such a paid job.
She was 15 years old when she read a newspaper ad inviting teen-agers to volunteer at Mill Mountain Zoo. For a youngster who was happiest when handling animals, one who could not remember when animals were not an important part of her life, the ad seemed too good to be true. Throughout her childhood, Scanlin had cared for her own pet guinea pig and helped Roanoke Wildlife Rescue by keeping injured opossums, squirrels and birds until they could be released.
Now, she thought, she might have a "regular" job doing what she liked best.
For the next two years, Scanlin spent five hours every Sunday morning atop Mill Mountain - cleaning cages, feeding, weighing and grooming animals. Because of her age, she qualified as a keeper's aide, the highest level of youth volunteer, and was able to do more than younger volunteers who work in the contact area, showing the rabbits, guinea pigs and goats.
"Working so close with animals instead of just reading about them" was the best part of the volunteer work, Scanlin said. And, no, she wouldn't admit to any favorites - she loved them all.
She really couldn't think of a thing she didn't enjoy about the volunteer work - not even cleaning the cages. But it was a bit difficult to "give out hay, since I'm allergic to hay - but that's life," she said.
Scanlin also admitted that she wasn't too fond of the cold winter weather - the zoo is open every day except Christmas. She recalls only missing one Sunday because of a heavy snow.
After graduating from Cave Spring High School in 1993, Scanlin enrolled at Murray State, one of five schools in the nation that offer four-year degrees in animal health technology.
"I could have gotten an associate degree from Blue Ridge Community College at Weyer's Cave, but I wanted a four-year degree," she said. And Murray "has horses, and it's coed."
Scanlin hopes to qualify for veterinary school when she finishes at Murray and to specialize in the care of exotic animals.
Scanlin's summer job as a keeper not only provided money, but also gave her two months of valuable experience. She even had her own set of keys. She also was permitted to work with more dangerous animals, such as the Japanese macaques, feeding them twice a day with sunflower seeds, fruit and monkey biscuits.
To clean their cage, Scanlin had to lure the monkeys into their bunker and close the door. Keepers do not enter the cage with the macaques. One of the favorite attractions at the zoo, especially since the birth of the baby monkey, the macaques are far more dangerous than the public would imagine, she said.
The monkeys are comical - swinging on the vines in their cage or nonchalantly searching each other for fleas - and appear to be innocent and gentle. But they are territorial animals with great strength, and because their territory is limited, they defend it viciously, she said.
Scanlin was selected for the job because of her record as a volunteer, said Beth Poff, zoo director. Poff said the zoo had enough funds to hire extra help during the busy season, and Scanlin was available.
Next summer's employment again will depend on the availability of funds. If the money is there, Scanlin will be back in June.
by CNB