Move over Santa. There’s a new jolly elf in town.
That’s the message the folks at East-West Animal Hospital in Lutz are trying to get out as the date draws near for “A Very Barley Christmas Party.”
The holiday-themed celebration is a fundraiser with a twist. Proceeds will benefit a variety of animal rescue groups, including Second Chance Boxer Rescue, Kitty City and the National Opossum Society. Instead of a visit from St. Nick, attendees can meet “Barley Claus,” an opossum that’s become quite a local celebrity since he was rescued and nursed back to health nearly two years ago.
Barley was involved in a car accident as a baby. That accident killed his mother and siblings, explained hospital spokesman Dennis Costantino. With some tender, loving care from East-West’s staff and his new “mom,” Lea Murray, Barley survived.
Since his rescue, Barley has become the hospital’s mascot of sorts, but more importantly he’s “an ambassador for these very misunderstood animals,” Costantino said. While some people think opossums are mean and others brand them nuisances, Costantino said those perceptions are false.
“They are very solitary and quiet,” he said.
Opossums tend to avoid people and only hiss when they’re cornered and scared. They don’t carry rabies, but they do play an important role in Florida’s ecosystem.
“They’re basically the garbage men,” surviving off carrion and bugs, Costantino explained.
Opossums are highly resistant to poisonous snake and spider bites, and tend to keep areas where they live free of such pests as roaches, Costantino said.
They’re also quite photogenic — or at least Barley is. That’s why the locally famous marsupial plans to pay a visit to the hospital’s celebration dressed as “Barley Claus.” Attendees can get their holiday pictures taken with him during the event for a donation to the animal rescue groups.
Proceeds from the photos and chance drawings will be split among numerous rescue groups, explained Jade Sceusa, the hospital’s office manager. Fifty percent will go directly to the opossum society, while the other half will benefit a host of other groups.
Although the celebration is meant for fun, it does have a serious purpose.
“We wanted to do more for the species,” Sceusa said. “We are so passionate about rescue.”
Why has Barley become such a celebrity?
“Everyone has just fallen in love with Barley,” Sceusa said. “He’s the cutest little guy.”
A Very Barley Christmas Party takes place Dec. 14 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., at East-West Animal Hospital, 1524 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. The event features food from Uptown Pizza & Subs, Panera Bread, Publix and The Breakfast Nook.
There will also be a variety of local vendors present, goodie bags given away and opossum fans can pick up their Barley calendars and T-shirts.
For more information, visit www.EastWestAnimalHospital.com.
By Sherri Lonon
