Page 6 - Harnett Life Fall 2018

Pictured L - R: Thomas, Jacob, Aubrey, Timothy, Marilyn, Jennifer

Ohana Pet Rescue

By Morgan Brown

The Silmon Family Ohana Pet Rescue is, as the name sug-
gests, a local pet rescue & sanctuary that is truly a family
affair. The term ‘ohana is of Hawaiian origin, referring to
a person’s extended family, but this definition of extended
family could include both blood relatives, or those who
simply live in close proximity, thus making them family.
The Silmon family – Thomas and Jennifer, with the help
of their three children 11-year-old Jacob, 6 year old Tim-
othy, and 4 year old Marilyn – work to provide daily care
to the animals that reside in specialized shelters in their
backyard. Jennifer has worked for the past 12 years as a vet home by sneaking it inside their home, and “It all began
tech at Stage Road Animal Hospital, and said that the team with that sweet kitty” she said. Silmon met her husband
there has assisted in more than one way – helping her learn Thomas while she was at work: he brought in his dog for
through experience at her workplace, but also helping to medical care, and “It was love at first sight for us.” She
care for any sick or injured animals she has encountered said that a man who takes good care of his dog is a keeper,
throughout the years she has been rescuing, sheltering, and and that still holds true for her today. This love for animals
fostering animals at her home. can be seen in her children as well. They have all grown up
surrounded by animals, and she said, “Our children have all
Silmon said that animals have always been a part of her demonstrated love and compassion for animals since they
life, and an early memory of two mischievous sisters tells were infants.”
the story: she and her younger sister, eight and five years The family, Silmon said, had already opened their home
old at the time, found a cat and decided to give it a new as a sanctuary to special-needs animals before the actual