Ever volunteer to work with animals?

In My Humble Opinion
1

After four months, I finally got a call back from the San Pedro Marine Mammal Center. I think it took them so long because they need volunteers in the springtime, when all the babies are born. I’m pretty excited about this, even if it just means I’ll be shoveling poop.

Have you ever volunteered at an animal shelter, a zoo, or wildlife waystation? I know I shouldn’t pet or touch the animals, hard as it is on an animal lover like myself. For one thing, sea lions bite. For another thing, even when the danger is minimal (like with those cute li’l pups) we don’t want them getting too comfortable with humans.

What else should I expect?

2

I worked with tigers, panthers, and jaguars (the obligatory, "OH MY!). These animals, surprise!, turned out to be lousy pets, were abused, rejected, or simply could not be afforded anymore. Basically, it is an animal rescue foundation.

I loved it. I got to pet tigers, play with jaguars (through the fence), and get scared occasionally.

Mostly, though, I cleaned up giant feline turds and dodged male tiger spray (which can go up to 20 feet!).

This is probably not applicable, but what the heck:

Never turn your back on a tiger. Wild animals are wild no matter how much the anthropomorphizing nimrods treat them like little babies. If an animal seems upset or angry - it probably is. I could regale you with stories…

3

Yes - I used to be a teacher.
:slight_smile:

4

Regale away! Sea lions and tigers are both carnivores and hunters. Any info will help.

You PETTED and PLAYED WITH those beasts??? Are you, like, an amputee? Explain yourself! :wink:

5

I’ve volunteered with animals twice – once at a stable that taught disabled children and adults to ride, and also at a zoo as an education volunteer.

Be prepared for lots of the SAME questions, every day.

People always seem to want to feed the animals, despite your patient explanations to the contrary.

If you’re giving tours, the first thing you should learn is where the restrooms are. Everyone asks that! :smiley:

Marine mammals – learn the differences between seals and sea lions! :slight_smile:

Good luck! Hope you have fun. Just go into it with an open mind and a willing attitude (and it seems like you have both of those!) and you’ll do fine.

6

I used to volunteer for bird rescue. Because they were understaffed, I found it was very, very hard to keep my time there within the hours I said I could give. I mean, I’d be feeding orphaned babies, and it’d be time for me to leave, and they’d all be cheeping like mad, and I knew that if I left, the other person might not get to the rest of them for some time and they’d be hungry… so I came home late every single night.

And I got burned out. Also, as I learned later, I was simply helping the none-too-organized director perpetuate a bad situation. They made a lot of changes that improved things for everything (animals and people) some time after I left. Maybe if I hadn’t been such a wet blanket, they would have made changes sooner.

I don’t know what the staffing situation is like there, but remember that in the long term, you are more valuable to the animals and the organization as a cheerful, long-time volunteer who gives regular hours than as a volunteer who works him/herself into the ground for the sake of short term animal welfare.

7

Well, I have four children…

:smiley:

8

I sound quite lame with my “regular” dogs and cats shelter!! Can’t beat the felines from Beagle up there!
I volunteered in an animal shelter for a while, and loved it. The shelter had a very good adoption rate so it wasn’t too hard to see the animals in cages because you know if wouldn’t be for too long. I found it rewarding, fun, interesting, just plain great!
Your opportunity sounds fun, go for it!
And yes, I shoveled a lot of poop :wink:

9

Through the fence, I’m not Steve Irwin. Hell, even Steveo would think twice about messing with a Siberian Tiger. Eight hundred pounds of bad mood is how I would describe them. Or, bulldozer with an attitude.

Most of the cats at the CARE Foundation are somewhat predisposed towards women due to the boss being a woman and the prevalence of women. Therefore, I only played IN the cage with a couple of young Florida panthers. When they hit about 80 pounds I no longer worked there.

One tiger loved me. I could tell because he always, um, pleasured himself when I showed up. “Sabre,” the full-grown Siberian, I used to scratch under the edge of a chain link fence.

This may be applicable to many types of animals: after scratching Sabre one day I walked back by the other Siberian (male) tiger, Balshoi, who smelled the scent of Sabre on me. Well, male tigers do not get along. When Balshoi smelled Sabre on me he rushed to the edge of the cage and scared the crap out of me. Had the chain link fence not been there I would certainly be dead. Moral: animals go more by smell than looks. (You just have to believe me when I say that I do not look like a Siberian tiger.)

Another time we had many guests out at the Foundation and Balshoi was in the running cage - getting him in and out of there is always ‘fun,’ I digress - I was standing with the fresh mea… guests. I was facing the cage and discussing tigers with a guy with his back to the tiger cage. I knew this was not a good idea. AS I was saying “never turn your back on a tiger” before I could reach “tiger” Balshoi charged this guy and stood up on his hind legs as he got to the fence, making him appear about 12 feet tall. The guy, who was only a couple of feet from the fence, freaked out and ran. Balshoi would have loved to ‘play’ with this guy.

Rule 2: never run from a tiger. You can’t possibly get away and it excites their predation instincts more than anything else, except children.

Rule 3: predatory cats love children. Every time kids showed up the cats got very excited. They would stalk children hoping, somehow, that they might get a crack at one. I think this rule may apply to all predators. Small animals (kids) are in far more danger than adults.

I’m leaving out the stories where the boss was bitten, people were slashed at, the cats tried to get at each other, etc.

Note: all the cats had their front claws removed and had been raised by humans. Therefore, reintroducing them to the wild was never possible. Also, this makes human contact possible. Otherwise, they are simply too dangerous.

10

like [b[Carine**, I’ve volunteered at a dog and cat shelter, and it was a great experience. Most of it probably isn’t applicable to the big animal’s the OP is talking about, but I did deal with a few of the extreme dog breeds like Mastiff’s and the like. The key is to never forget what the animal is capable of. You may have a good relationship with the animal, but remember what it could do to you in the wrong situation. Basically, don’t let familiarity take the place of caution.

11

Ha! Great stories, Beagle. Great tips, tygre. Thanks to ALL for their input!

12

I used to volunteer for a nature center operated by the Parks & Recreation Department. Most of my work was cleaning cages and feeding the animals (primarily snakes, lizards, and fish, along with three birds of prey). I did get to answer lots of questions (a lot of the same questions, of course). For me, it was exciting to be able to show kids and adults that snakes are not something you need to fear. We also did talks about the animals, which I assisted in as an animal wrangler, so to speak.

I’ve been thinking of volunteering with the zoo ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52067-2003Jan13.html ; that is, if they can stop murdering their animals)–the volunteers there do get to hold select animals that are not being bred for reintroduction into the wild (e.g. armadillos, snakes, etc.).

13

In Northern California there is a small marine mammal rescue center where I would care for seals, sea lions, and elephant seals. They were mostly injured or ill, but of all ages - babies are so adorable!

In the campground, where I was assistant manager, there was a woman who cared for injured and abandoned birds of all kinds. Of course, being the animal lover I am, had to help with birds as well.

In Wyoming I helped with peregrine falcon research, coyote monitoring, and gave talks about elk, deer, moose - basically all large animals - in Grand Teton National Park.

My dream job is working in a zoo or safari park, taking care of the animals and educating the public about my charges.
Thanks for sharing your stories Beagle. Sounds like it was a lot of fun.
FWIW: I, too, have been a teacher and raised a couple rugrats (NMO) - felt like a zoo many a day :smiley:

14

I lead a Brownie Troop for two years, and took them to Disneyland 6 times.

IMHO, Steve Irwin is a wimp.

15

I should add, there is one female Florida Panther Kacha(scroll down) I would trust with anyone. She is mellow and friendly like a nice house cat. Her babies are (last I checked)pretty sweet also.