SAN ANTONIO – Animals don’t know when it’s Christmas, so employees at the San Antonio Zoo can’t skip out on work for the holidays.

Just like first responders, doctors, nurses, law enforcement officers, restaurant servers and chefs, store owners, journalists, and so many other professions, the animal care givers still show up every day.

"December 25 is just another day to the animals, they don't celebrate any of our holidays, so on all of the holidays they still want their food, they still want to be cleaned up after, so we're here to do that,” said Jessica Adam, a senior animal care specialist at the San Antonio Zoo.

Adam said that even family members sometimes forget that she works non-traditional days and hours, including weekends and holidays.

“I'm passionate about my job, all of the animal care specialists are, we love all of the animals that we take care of so we enjoy being here and taking care of them even when it does cut in with some of our holiday plans,” Adam said.