I have always lived with and cared for cats and dogs my whole life, but I have also have several positions over the past 15 years caring for various other animals. My first professional animal caregiving experience was at Pioneer Park Nature Center in Lincoln, NE. There, I provided enrichment and care to a wild variety of animals, including owls, hawks, vultures, snakes, turtles, and salamanders. I have also lived on farms where I cared for dogs, rabbits, goats, sheep, ducks, and chickens. In California, I volunteered for 2 years at a wildlife hospital where I cared mainly for songbirds. There, I learned how to administer medication and provide foster care for baby squirrels and raccoons. The care of animals has always been central to my personal, professional, and even my academic life. I love all animals, but I am by far a cat person. I grew up with five cats and two dogs. Currently, I have a sweet old man cat named Little One.