I have worked with wildlife my whole life, both personally and in my career, and knew I wanted to work with animals from an early age. Growing up, I owned two cats and a dog, and would pet sit for my neighbor regularly. Every animal in my life was special to me and helped shape who I am today. I was the kid who wouldn’t be afraid to hold frogs or snakes, and this helped me get my very first job at a museum in high school where I would interact with animals daily. For the last 6 years of my education in university, I specialized in wildlife conservation and worked with a variety of species including birds, marine and terrestrial mammals, turtles, and salamanders. My beautiful cat, Jethro, who lives on the mainland with my partner currently, is the best cat ever and so, of course, he gets all my attention. He loves the outdoors and one of my favorite things to do is take him out for walks in his harness so he can run around. He was a stray who was thrown out of a car window and was passed through many hands before he found his forever home—I’m so lucky to have him! I believe these personal experiences and skills exhibit my enthusiasm for animals and my level of care I put into my work reflects the care I will have for your pet.