interview
Interviews with veteranarians, animal scientists, breeders and other lucky professionals who play with animals for a living.
The EmPAWyees and EmHoofyees
I wear many hats. I am a full-time wife and full-time mom to two rambunctious boys. This alone would be enough, but I am also a full-time farmHer (love the term) at Tucker Acres. I do this on top of being a part-time veterinary technician (animal nurse) and a part-time writer.
Shelley WengerPublished 3 years ago in PetlifeThe Real Queens of Wakanda VIII: She’s Almost There
I can remember when I was doing my internships for college, I would often document some of my experiences working at the facilities on my old blog, and other social media pages that I had. However, out of respect for some policies that these facilities had regarding social media practices, I had to limit myself to posts approved by my supervisors such as interactions with the animals in our care, the animals themselves, or us just exploring the different animal habitats that the facility offers the public to experience. Whenever I posted something about my internship experiences, they all focused on what it was like to work with the animals that were under that facility’s care. I kept anything regarding meetings and other sensitive information out of it.
Jenna DeedyPublished 3 years ago in PetlifeThe Real Queens of Wakanda VII: Into the Unknown
In our latest Queens of Wakanda entry that is in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we get to know a marine mammal trainer who is currently based at the Miami Seaquarium in Key Biscayne, Florida. Lauren Beltran’s journey is truly one that involved her traveling “into the unknown”.
Jenna DeedyPublished 4 years ago in PetlifeThe Real Queens of Wakanda VI: An Odyssey
For many people who pay a visit to a zoo or an aquarium, there is no connection greater than one between people and animals. This is because whenever people get the chance to see a training session take place at a facility, they get to see more than just a typical animal “show”, they also get to see a true bond between animals and their caregivers. This is because these caregivers know what the animals under their care want and need to continue to thrive. For Californian Claudia Nathaly Erreguin, feeling an animal’s desire to connect with people is so pure, it makes people want to both care for them and protect them at the same time.
Jenna DeedyPublished 4 years ago in PetlifeThe Real Queens of Wakanda V: Birds of a Feather.
Our Hispanic Heritage Month edition of The Real Queens of Wakanda continues with the story of Ms.Nicolle Mierischi. She is an aviary keeper at Zoo Miami where her primary focus involves providing care for the resident kiwi and waterfowl that call the facility home. She first started as a volunteer before she eventually made her way to the top as a level 2 keeper this past July. Two months later, she opens up about her experience working at Zoo Miami and how she got to where she is today.
Jenna DeedyPublished 4 years ago in PetlifeThe Real Queens of Wakanda III: Song of the Sea
In the latest chapter of The Real Queens of Wakanda, I now place all focus on a marine mammal trainer of color who is based at Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, GA. Arrion Williams has been working with marine mammals at Georgia Aquarium since 2015 after spending several years volunteering at the aquarium. Now, she shares her story of how she became a marine mammal trainer, which all started with a trip to SeaWorld Orlando when she was just six years old.
Jenna DeedyPublished 4 years ago in PetlifeOrcas Galore: An Interview with Hazel McBride, Author of 'I Still Believe'
As a child growing up in a Scottish village, Hazel McBride dreamed of one day being able to work with killer whales. During her journey, Hazel studied psychology at Glasgow University, took part in two internships in Florida, and in the Bahamas, did some volunteering at a Scottish Zoo’s sea lion facility, and for a marine wildlife conservation survey group, and worked in both the Dominican Republic, and at Loro Parque in Spain. Anyway, against all odds, Hazel managed to fulfill her childhood dream of being able to work with killer whales as a trainer at Marineland France. However, the maelstrom of controversy that surrounds the marine zoological community has nearly drowned to a point where she decided to write about her experiences of working with marine mammals for the truth is not as black and white as the world tried to make it appear.
Jenna DeedyPublished 5 years ago in Petlife