Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 26, 1995 TAG: 9504260065
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MELISSA DeVAUGHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SHAWSVILLE LENGTH: Medium
What do you get when you cross a bunch of screaming children and lots of pets?
Pet Day at Shawsville Elementary School.
Under a cloudy Monday afternoon sky, second-graders paraded their beagles, black labs, bunnies and bugs around the Shawsville Elementary playground for the culminating event of a three-week study of animals.
"It was a rain date, so we missed quite a few animals, but overall it went very well," said second-grade teacher Sue Priebe, who along with Alicia Spitzer organized the event. Pet Day was postponed Friday, but a few parents didn't get the word and showed up anyway. Some didn't return on Monday.
"They always go for the little stuff, the things they can hold. And all of the animals were really friendly, which helps," Priebe said.
Eight-year-old Zach Milton proudly walked across the playground leading a gentle beagle named Dolly.
"She's pregnant," he said. "I like her because my grandfather gave her to me when she was this big." Zach held his hands about four inches apart. "She was cute."
Countless small hands rubbed Dolly's head, petted her back and scratched her ears. Dolly's eyes squinted in half sleep, half pleasure. She sighed happily and soaked up the attention.
"I have lots of pets," Zach said, and the list began.
Two Vietnamese potbellied pigs, one goat, three horses, about 10 cats (and even more kittens), five dogs, one parakeet, five fish and don't forget the 16 tadpoles and their eggs Zach has living in an incubator.
B.J. Centamore, 7, petted Black Beauty, a small rabbit huddled in the corner of a box, shivering.
"I think it's scared," he said. "Or maybe just cold."
When asked which are his favorite animals, B.J. cocked his head and thought a moment.
"That's hard," he said. "I guess horses, or maybe all of them, especially the rabbits. I love rabbits."
Eight-year-old Kylie Rice beamed with pride, pointing to her Chinese Pug, Mercedes, whose shocking-pink painted toenails stood out against her short, beige fur.
Besides Mercedes, Kylie likes whales the best, she said, "because they're pretty neat and they can do a lot of tricks."
"We studied all the different groups of animals - fish, birds, reptiles and amphibians," Priebe said. "The children classified them and learned what makes them different. We made a thing called the "mixed-up animal" where they created their own animals. And then we read books on different animals, too. It's always a little different each year, but it's always a lot of fun."
One little boy carried around a jar full of bugs and snails, scaring some girls when they came near, but attracting others.
"They're all squishy," said one little girl looking into the jar and running away before she could be identified.
Smiling amid the chaos of running children and tail-wagging dogs, Priebe smiled. Although this year's Pet Day didn't boast the variety of years past with goats, chickens and other exotic animals, the day was a success.
"We make it very informal and make it free for them to touch the animals," she said. "We just want them to learn more about other people's pets."
by CNB