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— Jennifer Dixon
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“ I have worked at animal shelters before . It is just how it makes you feel .
Martin offers a quick warning : “ She ’ s just like a loving toddler , but watch , she likes to grab eyeglasses .”
Sure enough , Luna has deftly grabbed her intended target , but upon being admonished , immediately hands the treasure back safe and sound before joining Martin for a tour .
Home For Angels offers a unique experience for Hunt County , designed both as a petting zoo and an animal rescue service . Many of the rooms in the home are filled with various exotic species . Behind one door is a coatimundi , a large relative of the raccoon family native to South America , who also offers a friendly greeting , but without any mischievous thievery .
“ That ’ s Zeus and Zoey ,” Martin said , pointing a pair of Fennec Foxes , tiny creatures with huge ears , one of which moves with a bit of a limp .
Martin began Home For Angels about six years ago , along with her husband . The pair began the nonprofit , not only to help save injured and disabled farm and exotic animals , but also to allow individuals with special needs or abilities personal time with the animals .
Martin herself has adopted medical special needs children and continues full-time as a nurse with medically fragile tracheotomy and ventilator patients .
The work helps to support her children and keep the rescue operating . But she doesn ’ t do it alone .
On this Thursday morning the building is bustling , not only with animals but with multiple individuals who are assisting .
Jennifer Dixon of Caddo Mills said she has been helping at the rescue for around three months .
“ I have worked at animal shelters before ,” she said , adding she wanted to continue closer to home .
“ It is just how it makes you feel ,” Dixon said .
Martin enters another room , with one wall covered with cages of large reptiles such as iguanas and bearded dragons , and one giant tortoise that sits motionless on the floor on his own . These are some of the rescues Martin has taken in over the years .
“ Those came from a meth house ,” she says of the reptiles . The tortoise was abandoned “ because the people didn ’ t know how big they get .”
After meeting the rescue ’ s sloths , it is time to go back outside the greet the cast of the petting zoo , which include multiple chickens and other farm animals , enormous capybaras and a kangaroo that serves as doorman to the enclosure , offering hugs like those of
WINTER 2023 Greenville Life 9