After 25 years of teaching, I finally landed my dream job. Don’t get me wrong. I treasure the memories of working with students and the satisfaction of watching them master a new skill, but there were many days when I left school frustrated and feeling like I was never going to connect with certain students.

Eleven months into my new gig, I always end my shift satisfied and happy because I know for a fact that my efforts are not only appreciated but revered. Choruses of, “Yippee! She’s here!” begin the minute I park my car, and every shift ends with playful head butts and sloppy kisses. What more could I ask from a job? I have never felt more personal satisfaction doing any other kind of work.

Every Saturday and Sunday morning from 9 a.m. to noon, I have the privilege of raking donkey, sheep, cow and goat poop at Zoo Idaho. I look forward to it all week because I know how much it means to the animals to have that human contact and interaction. It has been such a joy to develop personal relationships with every barn resident. Sadly, my husband and I will be moving to Michigan in 10 days and, to be honest, I worry about these wonderful creatures. Will the baby goat area be open to zoo patrons? Will the barn be restored to its former glory?

Thankfully, I won’t have to worry because Bob Johnson, volunteer and 2022 transplant from Loveland, Colorado, is in the process of organizing a team of volunteers called Friends of Zoo Idaho (FOZI). The group’s mission will be to assist in the maintenance and operations of the zoo to attract more visitors, which ultimately enhances the lives of every inhabitant. Johnson envisions an organization that matches the talents and passions of each volunteer with the ideal task for them, from caring for the trees and plants at the zoo to daily upkeep of enclosures and trails to assisting zookeepers with daily tasks associated with the animals themselves. Seeing to it that every volunteer receives extensive training is priority one, as well as incorporating opportunities to celebrate volunteers for the invaluable services they provide. Bob Johnson is eager to hear from anyone interested in being a part of FOZI. Email him at navybobj@comcast.net if you would like to be part of something special.

It is such a wonderful feeling to know that the sentient beings that call Zoo Idaho home will have dedicated volunteers looking out for their welfare. There is so much work to be done, and the hardworking zookeepers and maintenance department can only do so much. Zoo Idaho belongs to all of us. Thank you for doing whatever you can to ensure the animals that call it home live their best lives.