Growing up with my grandparents exposed me to a variety of blessings. One of which I’m most thankful for is allowing me to develop a deep connection with animals. Growing up on a farm in my early years, I became obsessed with all and any furry friends I came across. As I got older, I moved to the city and ultimately had to leave my grandparents and my feathery and furry friends behind. I was not allowed to bring or own any pets in the apartment then and would sneak all the strays whenever my parents were away at work or asleep. I built a shelter for strays in my yard and always left out food and water for them. I started looking into ways to engage more with animals as it was the only thing that brought me absolute joy. So at the age of 14, I volunteered at a shelter for the very first time. I learned to properly clean and look after cats and dogs, mostly with anxiety and special needs. I would eagerly go every day after school to see my furry friends until, one day, they had to close down for good. Being 16 and with some references and experience from helping at the shelter, I made my way around the neighborhood introducing myself to everyone I saw with a pet. For some time, I was booked with dog walking and overnight sitting almost every day. I eventually came across a Dog walking & grooming business and worked there for 2 years. I was responsible for group walks, playing with all breeds and sizes of dogs, and ensuring safe play, feeding, and relief walks as needed. Safe to say, I’ve been taking care of animals almost all my life, and I’ll continue doing so with all I have to offer.