Tuesday, May 13, 2003

  I went to the Veterinary College Open House last month and had a blast. It is open to the general public, and there were some great activities for kids there: a petting zoo, reptile exhibits, and a police dog demonstration (that showed why you don't want to mess with those police dogs). I also met some zoo veterinarians and talked to them at length about that particular branch of the profession. Turns out that U of I partners with the Lincoln Park Zoo, Brookfield Zoo and the Shedd Aquarium on research projects and internships. The vets from both zoos said there were summer job opportunities for veterinary and other biology graduate students. So I'll check it out.


Although I don't plan on being the "lovey-squeezie, oh-aren't-all-animals-so-cute" kind of vet, I must admit that I couldn't help giggling (yes, giggling) when I reached out to pet a piglet at the farm exhibit and it sucked on my finger, mistaking it for a teat (yes, a teat). Even though the analytical side of me knows that this is any piglet's instinctive reaction to any fleshy protrusion (don't giggle!) I coudn't help feeling that the piglet thought I was its mommy. I felt all warm and wiggly inside.

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