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Working with Animals: Risks and RewardsBy PIA SOLOMON | Educational Consultant Do you ever think it would be cool to make a career out of working with animals? You may remember Steve Irwin, most famous as host of "The Crocodile Hunter" TV show. Steve Irwin's career included educating people about crocodiles, poisonous snakes and other wild animals. His films and TV shows made working with these animals seem harmless and fun. He had a great many successes with wild animals, and he had a mission to save wildlife by educating people about wild animal behaviors and needs.
Nevertheless, Steve Irwin's recent death - he was stabbed near his heart by a stingray barb - showed the world that even experienced professionals are at great risk when working with animals. Stingrays are not generally considered a threat to humans, but all wild animals can be unpredictable, especially when they're startled, or feel threatened, and their natural defense mechanisms kick in. In Central Florida, stingrays are found in shallow waters, but there are also several varieties of stingray that are not poisonous. For example, the cownose ray is far from deadly. All animals may be placed in two basic categories: domesticated or wild. Domesticated (or domestic) refers to the ability of such animals to live in primarily human environments, such as on farms, or in our homes. Examples of domestic animals are cats, dogs, and farm animals. Domesticated animals are used to help humans with various types of work--plowing fields, for instance--to produce food or commodities--such as meat, dairy products, medicines, and wool--and to enjoy as pets. Wild animals are those that live their lives in their natural habitats, such as the jungle, forest, or ocean, and away from human interaction. Many wild animals can never be domesticated. If you're considering a career centered on animals, you have a lot of choices. These include veterinarians (animal doctors), farmers, marine biologists (who work with water-related animals), conservationists, and animal trainers. One similarity among all these jobs is that they require all people who work with the animals to gain knowledge and experience through education and training. With these, both humans and animals are at a lesser risk of being harmed. Scientists who study animals gain knowledge in many areas that may not, at first glance, seem animal-related. In studying animal skeletons, scientists better understand evolution of life on Earth. In treating diseased animals, scientists learn about human diseases and possible treatments. Farmers provide others with necessary nutrients by raising animals such as cows, chickens, and pigs for milk, cheese and meat. Take a look at a News-Journal article about the special relationship between a pet swine (pig) and her young owner.
One important reason for the required education and training is that all animals, including common pets that are generally obedient, may still be unpredictable. Dogs and cats that have lived with a family for years may, at times, still bite or scratch an owner or a visitor. Some breeds of dogs are considered more unpredictable than others. You can learn more about the possible dangers of owning certain types of dogs by following the link in this sentence. In addition to the possibility of attacks, both domesticated and wild animals can carry certain diseases that are harmful to humans. These diseases include cat scratch fever, bird flu, and rabies, as well as many types of bacteria and viruses. The Black Plague (a disease that killed almost one-third of the people in Europe during the Middle Ages) was spread to people through the fleas that live on rats. Despite the risks, there are still many reasons why humans seek animal-related jobs, or become pet owners. Pets are often considered companions: they can play, comfort, and even help their owners. If you own a pet, or hope to one day work with animals as a career, learning how to protect yourself from animal-related injuries and diseases will decrease your risk of harm and increase your chances of having many rewarding experiences. Try these interesting activities using The Daytona Beach News-Journal
1. Find a news article or editorial about animals. Read the article and then provide answers to the 5 W's and H (Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How). Share your findings with your classmates or a family member. (Standard LA.A.2.2) 2. Find a news photo of an animal. Research the animal's behavior and basic needs (food, shelter, etc.) Then, create a pamphlet to show others, which contains information on the care and health needs of that animal. (Standard SC.G.2.2) 3. In the Classifieds section, find an animal for sale or adoption, and based on its description, draw a picture of what you think the animal looks like. Ask friends to search the Classifieds and see if they can guess which ad your drawing represents. (Standard VA.B.1.2) 4. Go through news headlines and note how many articles are about animals. How many refer to domesticated animals and how many are about wild ones? Make a chart showing your findings and share it with your family or a teacher. (Standard MA.E.1.2) 5. Find three stories about or involving animals. On a map, point out to friends or family where each of the stories originated. Hint: Look at each article's DATELINE. (Standard SS.B.1.2) Check out these links to learn moreAnimal-related career information: An awesome interview from 2002 with Steve Irwin, in which he talks about the risks and rewards of working with wild animals: Training Beluga whales: More about the Great Plague: Occupational Hazards of Diving: |
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