How did you first become involved with the Junior Museum & Zoo (JMZ)?
I first became involved with the JMZ in 2012 during my second year at Foothill Vet Tech Program. Rob Steele, JMZ Zoo Director, met with one of my instructors and offered students opportunities to work with animals that you can’t work with a regular practice.
What’s a typical day like when you volunteer at the JMZ?
A typical day for me starts off with checking the medication chart for the animals. I check if there are any new medications to give to an animal, if the dose of the medication or the frequency has changed, and also check to see if any of the animals got off their medication. Then I go on to medicate any animal that needs medication. I also clean their enclosure, and during that time, I take notes on the animal’s behavior to see if they are behaving normally or not
In your opinion, what’s the most important work the JMZ does?
To me, the most important work at the JMZ is keeping the animals healthy and happy, keeping their enclosures clean and giving them mental stimulation.
What do you do when you aren’t volunteering at the JMZ?
When I’m not volunteering at JMZ, I work as an RVT in a specialty clinic.
