THE ZOO!
Today was my orientation at the Santa Ana Zoo, and it was exciting!
It's a very small zoo...and most of their animals are monkeys...but THEY'RE SO CUTE. Tamarins are ADORABLE. GAH.
But anyway, yes. A small zoo is a great place to start off, I think. They're pretty short-handed, so they give us more privileges than bigger zoos and we're more casual and close knit. I'm excited! I start volunteering on Thursday...and will do so every THursday, Friday and Sunday from 12-5 PM. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna learn alot, and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna enjoy it. We get to work in the cages with the animals in them. Some we can't, but there are some we can. Some of the animals are trained and domesticated as well, so the keepers said if we're here often enough, we can bond with the animals. COOL!
I always said zoos weren't for domesticating wild animals, and I still believe it. Zoos aren't meant to make pets out of these beautiful creatures. But there are some that are trained, but it isn't for pleasure. There are educational and conservation reasons behind it and I support that. In addition, THESE ANIMALS ARE SO COOL.
The keeper brought out a binturong at the end of the orientation for us to meet named Binty. She's such a sweetie. She went through all of us, sniffing our hair and climbing all over us with her giant paws.
I'm not sure what animals I'm gonna be working with....if I had a preference, it would probably be with the birds and farm animals and hoof-stock type. I'm not too into the monkeys, as cute as they are, but I'm pretty sure I'm gonna be tossed around here and there. Whatever I work with, I'm totally excited.
but coming home to a pile of bills that need to be paid....not cool. I really need a job, but ..*sigh* If the pet store does call and offers me the job, I think I'm gonna turn it down. As great as it is, and as great as the pay is.....I feel that this volunteering is much more vital to my future career. Money....I'll figure out a way to pay my rent and utilities. I don't know how, just yet....but.....Well, we'll worry about it later.
It's a very small zoo...and most of their animals are monkeys...but THEY'RE SO CUTE. Tamarins are ADORABLE. GAH.
But anyway, yes. A small zoo is a great place to start off, I think. They're pretty short-handed, so they give us more privileges than bigger zoos and we're more casual and close knit. I'm excited! I start volunteering on Thursday...and will do so every THursday, Friday and Sunday from 12-5 PM. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna learn alot, and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna enjoy it. We get to work in the cages with the animals in them. Some we can't, but there are some we can. Some of the animals are trained and domesticated as well, so the keepers said if we're here often enough, we can bond with the animals. COOL!
I always said zoos weren't for domesticating wild animals, and I still believe it. Zoos aren't meant to make pets out of these beautiful creatures. But there are some that are trained, but it isn't for pleasure. There are educational and conservation reasons behind it and I support that. In addition, THESE ANIMALS ARE SO COOL.
The keeper brought out a binturong at the end of the orientation for us to meet named Binty. She's such a sweetie. She went through all of us, sniffing our hair and climbing all over us with her giant paws.
I'm not sure what animals I'm gonna be working with....if I had a preference, it would probably be with the birds and farm animals and hoof-stock type. I'm not too into the monkeys, as cute as they are, but I'm pretty sure I'm gonna be tossed around here and there. Whatever I work with, I'm totally excited.
but coming home to a pile of bills that need to be paid....not cool. I really need a job, but ..*sigh* If the pet store does call and offers me the job, I think I'm gonna turn it down. As great as it is, and as great as the pay is.....I feel that this volunteering is much more vital to my future career. Money....I'll figure out a way to pay my rent and utilities. I don't know how, just yet....but.....Well, we'll worry about it later.