Overrated animal dreams?

Question

i really want to work with animals, i have a true passion for them, i own many exotics and have wanted to work with them since i was little, but i feel like everyone wants to do it too, like im just like everyone else. its not about them, its about the animals. but i feel like people dont really really have a passion for it and they just wanna play around in shows with dolphins and play with other exotics bc they went to seaworld or a zoo and dont really understand its not about that.. its about the animals.... so is my dream of actually doing something for animals and becoming an actual trainer/ caretaker overrated? if you dont agree explain...

Answer 1

Understand what kind of work do you want to do with animals? Is it being an animal trainer like those you see at Seaword? If so, you will have a long path to go for it is very competitive and something that you should also consider when considering being a trainer; are you willing to build a long term relationship with the animal? Animals and trainers build on a relationship if they are to work together successfully. It is very common for a trainer and animal to be together for decades. This does mean that job turnover is very rare and far between.

There are many many ways you can work with animals other than being an exotic animal trainer. For example, you could be in conservation working towards preservation of a certain species, conservation of natural lands, or even a researcher working on animal behaviour.  (Heck, even medical researchers work with animals).

Answer 2

No Jess-if that's what you want to do then go for it. But its going to take a lot of hard work. If you REALLY are dedicated then take a Veterinary course. This will give you a ground knowledge and you will find it much easier to work in your chosen field if you have some qualifications to your name. More doors will open. Many people have a sort of "wish to work with animals" It has become very popular-but not many will want to put in the hard work to accomplish their goal. They want instant gratification. Good luck.

Answer 3

Well you have taken the first step to being different from most other people who want to become an animals trainers, you are thinking about it seriously.

As you said, working with animals should be about the animals. Not about oneself or anyone else. Most people who want to go into animal training want this because they want to be close to the animals, touch them, 'play' with them etc, not for the animal's sake but for their own. What do you think performing in a show does for an animal apart from earning a reward mostly in the form of food? Precious little really, maybe a distraction in an otherwise even more dull day, but doing the season's same routine over and over is not really that stimulating either is it? This is the problem with many places that keep animals, especially places like SeaWorld. It is not about the animals but about how the animals make people feel. Considering that cetaceans and killer whales especially live much shortened lives and their behaviour often changes, resulting in heightened aggression towards each other and people as well, I personally feel noone can argue that this is all done for the animal's sake...

I personally however, having worked with and experienced wild animals, find this sort of experience highly overrated as you don't get a feel for the animal's true self as it is behaving in a way that is unnatural and manufactured to please crowds. It is an artificial experience and not on the animal's own terms which to me cheapens the whole thing and defies the point of being close to the animal because it is no longer about the animals let alone doing something for the animals but about the show.



One of my favourite quotes is:

"Those who wish to pet and baby wild animals "love" them. But those who respect their natures and wish to let them live normal lives, love them more" - Edwin Way Teale

There are other jobs that allow you to work with animals but encounter them in a more natural way and actually do something for them, be it as a zoologist, conservationist or biologist studying them and helping preserve the world they live in, as a vet in a wildlife rehabilitation centre helping them, as a naturalist, ranger or whale watching guide showing them to people and helping them learn respect them for the wild animals they are, or, yes, in a zoo, but one that is not dedicated to show and glamour but to education, research and conservation that rather than making animals behave in a way that pleases the crowd tries and makes the animals behave as naturally as possible by doing their best to recreate the natural environment, even if this may mean they are less easily accessible to the public.

As long as your dream is about and for the animals, however, there is nothing overrated about it as working with animals to me is one of the most rewarding experiences you could possibly have.