Post & Mail photo/Missy DeWitt

Children gather around Candy Cane,  a reindeer who visited the Peabody Public Library Tuesday afternoon. Children could pet the reindeer and ask questions about the animals. Carnival, a blue-eyed miniature pony traveled with Candy Cane 

By MISSY DEWITT
for The Post & Mail

     Santa’s reindeer came to town Tuesday at Columbia City’s Peabody Public Library.  The reindeer, Candy Cane and Carnival, stood outside the library with their trainer, Joni Cripe, while children smiled ear to ear petting them.  Cripe, owner and animal trainer of Animal-Grams of North Manchester, said, “This is Candy Cane’s third Christmas. He is two and a half. Carnival isn’t a reindeer, he’s a miniature horse and is only 10 months old.  He has blue eyes which are uncommon in miniature horses”.  This was the second year Peabody Library welcomed Animal-Grams’ reindeers.  
     With Christmas décor on their antlers and bells around their necks, Candy Cane and Carnival enjoyed the attention. Despite the chilly winter air and the snowy ground, everyone received a little taste of Christmas spirit through the reindeer’s bells jingling and the children speaking of “Santa and Rudolph”.  With Christmas just around the corner, this event gave parents an excuse to remind their children that, “Santa is coming soon” and “he knows who has been naughty” and nice.