My name is Catherine and I’ve had the pleasure of growing up surrounded by many pets and 4-h livestock animals. I started pet sitting around middle school for neighbors and friends with my mom. In high school, I got heavily involved in training, riding, competing with, and caring for horses and was granted the amazing experience of gentling a Mustang during the 2016 Mustang Makeover in Ft Collins, CO. After this, I went to work at a summer camp as a Wrangler, taking children on trail rides in the mountains of Bailey CO. After returning from that summer, I took up a part-time job helping people in the animal health section of a farm and ranch store. In the mornings, I worked at a miniature Jersey cow breeding operation where I cared for and helped doctor a variety of cattle. Some job openings became available at the Ark Encounter in Kentucky. A tourist attraction which includes the Ararat Ridge Zoo. As a seasonal keeper, I was blessed enough to experience handling a variety of equines, camelids, reptiles, invertebrates, large birds, and small mammals (including an African Crested Porcupine). I worked there for just over a year before moving back to the Midwest because of Lyme's Disease. After I had recovered quite a bit, I was able to take on an internship position at the Riverside Discovery Center where I had the opportunity to work with a larger variety of animals, including different species of birds, reptiles, mammals, and some work with small primates. Nowadays I work as a paraeducator. Zookeeping entails a lot of hard physical labor, which adds up quickly and really takes a toll on the body. Now I am happy to chill with my kittens and my lizards, taking on pet sitting jobs when and where they pop up. If you have any additional questions about my experience, feel free to ask.