Field Work or I didn't realize this involved land dwelling fauna

As some of you know, I used to be pre-veterinary medicine at one point in what is now seeming like my endless time at UF. I interned for two summers, first with a horse vet, then with a domestic pets vet, before I came to the realization during my sophomore year at UF that veterinary medicine might not be for me. It came around the time that I realized that performing spays and neuters were not really satisfying me. It had to do with the repetition, day in and day out of spays and neuters. I didn't like the idea of being in one place either.

One day, in the midst of this uncertainty, I decided that I should get research experience if I wanted to (possibly) get into vet school. I saw Jada's description of her research on the Zoology website; seeking an undergraduate assistant. The rest, as they say, is history.

One would think that the French Polynesia, diving, when I just learned to dive last year, would be the farthest possible place away from this former life. That seems not to be the case.

While having dinner with our next door neighbors a few nights ago, one of them mentioned that the locals tend to drop off dogs at the research station, expecting them to get fed and taken care of by well meaning, gullible Americans. I am ashamed to admit that I have become one of these Americans.

While working in the lab one day, I walked across the street and saw a small thing moving under the bushes. Sure enough, it is one of these aforementioned dogs, dirty, smelly, covered in fleas, shivering and frightened. What was I supposed to do except give it a bath, and cradle it until she fell asleep?

That night, Jada and I discovered just how much noise can come out of a dog weighing less than five pounds. She wasn't happy until Jada slept with one hand next to her, laying on the side of her bed.

This dog, I should add, is in addition to the six puppies we are already taking care of. These puppies are slightly younger than ours, and they, thank god, do not cry as much as ours does. Luckily, ours is getting better. Last night, she slept outside and barely cried. I am also getting her to socialize with the other puppies and learn what it is like to be a dog.

Unfortunately, the reason we have so many dogs is because there is a big stray dog population on the island. Fixing a dog runs up to $500, and most people cannot afford it or simply don't feel like it is money well spent. There are a few station dogs, but they are required to be fixed and without fleas.

Our neighbor will come back from her collecting trip tomorrow and we will cede care of the puppies to her. We have a few people looking on the island for homes for all of them as well. So hopefully that will pan out because we are running out of time and patience to take care of all of them with.

A picture of our puppy is included below. Our friend David here mentioned to us that he didn't like dogs or cats, and we asked why that was. He said that “[he] didn't believe that humans should socialize with other species.” I am starting to see his point.





Best,
Emily