Comments on: Animal Career Dreams?

By: Bill Warren

Bill Warren — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 01:57:29 +0000

I am someone who has a special “THING” with animals all my life. I have had numerous accounts of known mean or attacking animals to automatically befriend me, my love for animals seems almost to outweigh my love of my fellow mankind. I got involved with the wrong crowd and lost myself in drugs for years, in July of 2007 I was arrested for distribution of narcotics which was finally my bottom. I attended a behavioral changing facility for 6 months and have done numerous things to turn my life around. Today I am the person I should have been all along and through the office of vocational rehabilitation are searching for the best possible job field combined with my felony record. Bottom line is I want to know if caring for animals or looking after them and loving them is a viable career field for me with my record and my extreme love for all animals and my special “THING” I have with them.

By: Vanessa

Vanessa — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 22:27:18 +0000

Hello!
I jus found this page & Well I just had to post a comment since you asked! I have recently started thinking that what would really make me happy is a career in working with domestic animals.
I am not currently not in college nor do I have any degrees. But I am determined to find something to do that I LOVE and makes me happy! My pets make me HAPPY..My friends, family & even strangers PETS MAKE ME HAPPY! Walking with them, playing with them & comforting them.
I have never considered a career with animals cause I always automatically imagined a vet..I could never do that as I wear my emotions on my sleeve. Not good when dealing with injured or sick animals.
I have recently started to volunteer at a local animal shelter & love it!!
Obviously if I want to make this a career, I need to find a way to make decent living wit this as I have a family. I want to start this RIGHT! Where do I begin?! I am in Chicago, IL and want to start training and educating myself correctly on the RIGHT way to start dealing with animals not just the LOVING way to deal with them.

Thanks for your time!!

By: Ark Lady

Ark Lady — Sun, 16 May 2010 23:53:47 +0000

Thanks for your enthusiastic note Elysia, glad to see that you are excited and on your way to making your dream career with animals come true. Keep in touch and I hope you signed up for the newsletter!

By: Elysia Fulcher

Elysia Fulcher — Sun, 16 May 2010 02:48:18 +0000

Hi, I just found this page and I am really really excited about it!!! Im just starting my second year of becoming a vet tech (in texas). Im 28, have gotten a BA in communication from UT at San Antonio and I’ve got to say this is the hardest educational program I have evvvver in my life been involved with. The great thing is I love every second of it! I am about to start a job in the lab animal department at the UTHSC and came about it through school, but I only got it because I reminded the supervisor I was interested EVERY time I saw her in our class! I cant wait to read more about this it is very motivating especially since I just started, have a good foundation of knowledge to start with, & love love love doing everything w/ the program I am in

By: Ark Lady

Ark Lady — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:09:46 +0000

Okay, keep us posted!

By: Terry Potts

Terry Potts — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:20:00 +0000

I just wonted to say thank you for getting back to me I am going to try some on line classes for a vet teck and get more into the filed of Snakes for my Boys they love there snakes and other animals my youngest son has a hard time in school as I did and if he see’s me at least trying at my age maybe it will help him to try harder for his Love of the animals I think you are a vary Gorges women and I can see in your Face the Love GOD ahs given you for Animales and the Love GOD has given you for People He has truly Blessed you and I thank GOD for People like you that Truly care from there Heart

By: Ark Lady

Ark Lady — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 18:59:48 +0000

Hi Terry, you’d actually need to book an appointment for animal career coaching. If you are better at the hands on work you might use your existing contacts to get back into the field in another area. There are a lot of different aspects of the horse business but any time you get into a livestock industry you are going to face challenges and will simply have to find someone who is in alignment with your values and priorities.

By: Ark Lady

Ark Lady — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:51:47 +0000

Welcome as a subscriber David! Any training tool is only as good as those who use it.

Unfortunately a lot of people buy into the biased reports on elephant training and the uses of the ankus. I don’t know of anyone not using an ankus in FC but have heard of people who have used something like a nail to prompt behavior.

I’ll be working on a few projects so it should get interesting for my subscribers this year.

By: David

David — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:09:30 +0000

Hi thanks for your reply, I’ve now read a lot more of your articles and links to other article , they are all very informative so i have joined your subscriber mailing list.
In fact i have now realized i had previously read your article on elephant management last year before i started working at the safari park. I agree there are pros and cons with both FC and PC training, i love the idea of being close and building bonds with such a magnificent animal. From my reading the only way to achive FC training is with the use of a ankus/bull hook is this correct?
I don’t feel i could use this type of tool after reading some of the horror stories on its use so i’m happy to stick with PC training for now.
I’m interested in finding out more about your online school when you have got it up and running as i’m looking for every possible way to learn as much as i can.
Thanks once again for your response its much appreciated.
David in the UK

By: Ark Lady

Ark Lady — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 03:44:52 +0000

The zoo management program is supposed to be pretty good and I actually considered it at one time. The more experience you get and the more contacts you make will help take you forward. I’ve worked in both PC an FC–pros and cons both ways. You can find the Elephant Management article here in the html archives–I’ll be moving it soon so it is easier to find from the blog archives.