A Career as a Conservation Canine Handler: Part 2, Do You Have What it Takes?

March 9, 2016Posted inAll articles, Career options, Experts & interviews, Featured articles2 Comments

Dog in field - Interview with Jennifer Hartman of Conservation Canines CK9 dog handler

By Paula Fitzsimmons with Jennifer Hartman

Conservation canines and their handlers are playing a vital role in wildlife protection. Dogs have an unrivaled ability to detect scat from dozens of species – scientists use these samples to learn more about a wild population’s behaviors, movements, and feeding patterns.  This data is valuable not only in fighting wildlife crimes, but it can aid in forming effective and humane wildlife management policies.

The dogs, who primarily come from rescues, have to possess certain characteristics to make the cut – namely, a playful spirit, boundless energy, and the ability to work in the field for hours at a time.

Find the Right Internship for Your Animal Career

September 27, 2015Posted inAll articles, Featured articles, Slider, Tools for success2 Comments

Fox image - animal lover internshipsBy Paula Fitzsimmons

The right internship can give you a definite edge when it comes time to apply for that coveted animal welfare or conservation job. It can be a solid way to make contacts, learn new skills, and gauge your interest in the field (before interning, you didn’t think animal care actually required so much cleaning duty, or that arguing an animal welfare case in court required so much preparatory work). It could also enhance your resume, CV or application – so when a potential employer asks if you have experience, you can answer with an emphatic yes.

Do You Have What it Takes to Work for a Primate Sanctuary? An Interview with Save the Chimps

August 25, 2015Posted inAll articles, Experts & interviews, Featured articles

Save the ChimpsBy Paula Fitzsimmons with J. Christopher Scott

If you’re an animal advocate, you’ve likely heard of The Great Chimpanzee Migration – the nine-year undertaking in which chimps “donated” by the Coulston Foundation were transported from New Mexico to their new sanctuary home in Florida. The organization that took on this monumental task is Save the Chimps, a sanctuary now situated on 150 acres in sub-tropic Fort Pearce.

Want to Make Animals Your Life’s Work? Discover Your Choices

April 30, 2015Posted inAll articles, Career options, Featured articles

Animal jobs and careersBy Paula Fitzsimmons

I’ll assume you’re reading this because you’re crazy about animals, and that you’d love to make a living based on this passion. But your choices may seem limited: Veterinarian. Dog walker. Pet sitter. Groomer. And let’s not forget . . . pooper scooper. These are some of the more common career titles you’ve probably come across while researching animal-centered jobs.

These can be fantastic career paths for some. And they’re quite important, too – what would this planet be like without vets and other animal care providers?