Kristin holding our American Alligator during an Animal Presentation.
Name: Kristin Windle
Hometown: Lake Jackson
Age: 20
Section: Children’s Zoo Intern
Favorite Animal: Elephant
Special Interests/Hobbies: Dance: Ballet for 16 years and tap for 15 years
What animals do you have?: I have a dog named Grady
Education/Training: Certified Veterinary Assistant, Bachelor of Science in Animal Science in progress
Jobs: Veterinary Assistant for 3 years. I started as a kennel attendant and worked my way up to receptionist and then veterinary assistant.
What do you want to do in the future?
Apply to veterinary school to work with small animals.
Why did you want this internship?
I love animals, and I wanted to get more experience with small animals than just in a veterinary clinic!
What is it like to be an intern here at the Houston Zoo?
There is no typical day. There’s lots of raking, cleaning, and loving on the animals…a bunch of fun! And lots of sweating.
What advice do you have for people wanting to enter this field?
Work hard at school! Make sure it’s something you love and have fun at, or you might be miserable (although this goes with any job!).
What is your favorite animal story?
When I got Grady: I was working, and someone abandoned him at the end of the veterinary office driveway. I went out to get an appointment, and he ran right up to me. I loved on him for a while and got him set up in a kennel. We picked each other right then and there!
There are several ways to join in on the fun at the Houston Zoo! To learn more about becoming an intern, visit the zoo’s Internship Programs page, or to learn more about volunteering, visit the zoo’s volunteer page.
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