I Believe in Helping Animals

I have mapped out my true goal for the future, to become a veterinarian. I love science and am determined to do research, find cures, and improve treatments for deadly animal diseases and predispositions. Most people would tell me that I am jumping the gun and rushing through life too quickly since I already know what profession I want to go into for the rest of my life, but I see it differently. I know in both my heart and soul, even though I am a sophomore in high school, that I have found my true calling. I love animals, have had many of my own, work with them at numerous non-profit organizations, am learning how to properly handle some of them, and most importantly have the drive and passion to want to help them as my career.

Animals are all innocent creatures; it is the way in which they are brought up and the people and environment that they are exposed to that causes them to become either sweet and friendly or guarded and evil. For instance, my all-time favorite activity is to work at a non-profit organization such as the Wild Life Care Center. This is because it is a wonderful opportunity to work with these injured, exotic, and sometimes, endangered animals while surrounded by other people that share the same goal, to help and love these animals. From the first time my mother and I parked in the dirt lot with trees scattered around it and heard animals quacking, clucking, oinking, squawking, and chirping, we knew that we were in for a special treat. We leaped out of the car and ran up the stairs to the trailer, which read the Wild Life Care Center; this was it, we were finally here and able to do what we love, help animals. Staff members and other volunteers, or my role models, already working were eager to instruct us on how we could aid these beautiful creatures. The moment that a staff member placed a baby bunny in my arms to soothe and care for, I was overjoyed because of the opportunity I was given. I was astonished to hear noises as a staff member led me to the geese area where there were five stately, large, white geese with yellow beaks. She showed me some basic tricks for examining them from a distance in the wild to see if they are showing any signs of physical distress. The entire atmosphere of the Wild Life Care Center was full of warmth and compassion for a common bond that we all shared, the love of working to better an animal’s life.

In addition to working with animals in the Wild Life Care Center, it was an experience like no other when I went through the prolonged and grueling medical treatment with my own baby bunny, Tiffany Twinkles. She was an affectionate dwarf rabbit with pure white fur, black around her almond-shaped eyes, and a big personality. Sadly, my life was changed forever shortly after New Years of 2008, when the vet diagnosed Tiffany with a predisposition to a horrible disease known as Toxic Mega Colon. This is a disease of the colon where it would sometimes block up because it was unable to build up enough strength to pass large sums of waste, fur, and food out of the body. When she would block up, Tiffany was physically weak and showed that she was in pain. We would then rush her to the vet and wait for them to tell us about the next round of treatments that would have to be administered. I was responsible for carrying out the treatments in my usually calm and nurturing manner. After nine months of hellish visits, we, as well as the doctors, saw that she was in too much distress and clearly was not going to live the life she deserved, so on September 5, 2008 we made the decision in her best interests to relieve her of this pain and suffering. Ever since this time, I have come to see that because I love animals and in honor of my baby bunny, I truly have found my calling: to find a cure for diseases such as this one and become a veterinarian.

Animals are such a crucial part of our natural environment. I strongly believe in helping animals and bettering their lives.