#but those were for veterinary education so they were all about animals.

[beyondthetemples-ooc]

You know what I haven't seen?

A Harrowhark cosplay wherein the full human rib cage corslet actually has floating ribs.

I do understand that this is Structurally Difficult to achieve, but its anatomical accuracy would be a secret delight for me.

[hotyanderedaddies]

Yandere Werewolf Boyfriend with a Playful Darling Who Teases Him

[Yandere! Werewolf x GN Playful! Reader]

·゜·:.。..。.:·☆·゜·:.。..。.:·☆

You first met your boyfriend, Alaric, about a year ago when you started attending the local community college. You were working on your Veterinary Assistant Certification, while he was there getting some general education requirements out of the way.

It was love at first sight--

Well, on Alaric's end.

The exact millisecond his eyes landed on you, he knew that you were meant to be his, and his alone. Hence, he immediately began to follow you around campus, trying to learn more about you so that he could begin to court you.

When he found out that you wanted to be a veterinary assistant because of your love for animals, he felt like he had an ace in the hole given his werewolf status.

You love animals, and he's technically an animal; therefore, you were bound to love him (it made sense in his head).

He mustered up the courage to ask you out on a date, to which you surprisingly said "Yes".

Alaric took you to a nice restaurant and then took you to see the monster movie you'd been wanting to see for a while... you thought that it was serendipitous how this cute guy seemed to know where you loved to eat and just what genre of films you loved.

As the night was coming close to an end, Alaric decided to use the big guns, and he revealed to you that he's a werewolf.

Of course you didn't believe it, thinking that he was joking, but then he phased into his wolf form, looking like an overgrown dog with fuzzy ears and big paws.

Alaric half-expected you to run, to scream, to be afraid of him. And he steeled his muscles, getting ready to chase you down if you dared tried to leave--

"Haha!" you giggled, surprising the werewolf. His eyes widened when you actually reached up with a tender hand and gave him a little scratch behind the ear. "Aww, such a good boy."

Alaric jerked back for a second, swallowing down a growl at the thought of being seen as some kind of puppy. He was a big, tough werewolf with enough strength to tear a human being to shreds, not some cute pup!

As time went on, Alaric of course was over the moon that you were now his, but he would sometimes get irked whenever you decided to playfully tease him.

You didn't do it to be mean, you genuinely thought that it was cute how you would ask your boyfriend if he wanted to go for walkies, and his face would get all red and he'd mutter that he wasn't a puppy under his breath.

...but he'd still go on a walk with you.

"You want some head pats?" you would laugh as you'd run your fingers through Alaric's hair.

Alaric would stifle a growl, but just silently glare at you until you'd stop laughing-- but he'd still expect those head pats.

One night, the two of you were cuddling on the couch, watching some trashy reality show when you couldn't resist.

A smirk already on your face, you placed a small hand on Alaric's muscled chest. "Does my big boy want a belly rub?" you chuckled, using the voice you used whenever you'd coo at puppies.

You loved it how red Alaric's face got, and he tried to avoid making direct eye contact with you. "Darling," he huffed in a controlled voice, "I told you, for the thousandth time, I am a man-eating werewolf. I'm not a puppy." To illustrate his point, he flashed his massive canine teeth and gestured down at his enormous paws that were capped with sharp claws.

You playfully stuck out your lower lip and ran your hand up and down his chest, noting how he winced and immediately melted into your touch.

"Aww, don't be like that," you cooed. "Who's my good boy?"

Alaric's blush deepened and you could clearly see his sweatpants start to tent.

When he didn't say anything, you retracted your hand, but froze when Alaric's arm shot out. He wrapped his fingers around your wrist and tugged it back down to his chest so you could give him more belly rubs.

"Me," Alaric blushed, "I'm a good boy."

[slowrvn]

( logan lerman, cis male, he/him ) have you met nathan hawke yet ? you know, the twenty5 year old graduate student majoring in veterinary medicine. ring a bell yet ? every time i walk past their dorm i hear the logical song by supertramp blasting through the door. everyone who meets them say they’re passionate but can also be a little resentful. guess when you meet them you’ll figure that out yourself.

hey, everyone !!  this  is  zazz (  she/her,  twenty3, gmt  )  bringing  you  mr.  nathan hawke. here you’ll  find  all  the  info  you  need  to get to know him.  if  you  wanna  plot,  hmu  on  discord  ( lvnelynights ) or through private messages !!

*     ⸻     𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑  𝐎𝐍𝐄.

name :  nathan hawke. date  of  birth :  november 15, 1998. zodiac  sign :  scorpio  sun,  gemini  rising,  libra  moon, scorpio venus. place  of  birth :  new haven, connecticut. occupation :  veterinary medicine graduate student. education  :  radcliffe university. sexuality :  heterosexual. relationship  status :  single.

*     ⸻     𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑  𝐓𝐖𝐎.

positive  traits :  intelligent,  dynamic, adaptable, kind-hearted, passionate. neutral  traits :  observant,  detached, logical,  sarcastic. negative  traits :  secretive,  stubborn,  moody, resentful, disorganized. likes :  oversized sweaters, rainy weather,  cats, cooking,  retro music, late  night  drives, brownies. dislikes :  hypocrites,  wet socks,  long  phone  calls,  overplayed songs,  romantic  movies, being lost, most social media. habits  :  gesturing when speaking, frowning, jaw clenching,  cracking his knuckles. alcohol ?  cigarettes ?  drugs ? sometimes.  sometimes.  rarely.

*     ⸻     𝐁𝐈𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐇𝐘.

nathan was born into a broken family. his parents were way too young, about to turn seventeen and eighteen, when they found out about him. their families didn't approve of the pregnancy, begging them to think about other options, but they refused. it's safe to say things did not turn great for them after that. they became estranged from their relatives, starting their own little family the only way they could at that moment. they moved to a small trailer park just before nathan was born. his father, david, had found a job at the local car workshop as a mechanic, bringing some small amounts of money home while tessa took care of baby nathan.

the next years would be filled with sacrifice and struggle for the young couple. after their honeymoon phase, the fights were constant, growing louder and more violent each time. nathan observed it all, often questioning if it would all end someday. when he noticed the odds were against him, he gave up trying to change anything. for him, the everlasting toxicity of his parents' relationship became the norm.

the young hawke would grow up exhausted. when he was a teenager, he would join some clubs and the soccer team, occupying his time and mind with those activities, hoping to escape the hours of shouting he had to endure in his home. later on, he also started working some little jobs here and there, saving some of the money for himself. two of the jobs, dog walking, and pet-sitting, really took his mind off his problems. their parents never let him have pets, so he never discovered how much he loved them. aside from those odd jobs, he would often volunteer in the animal shelter located near the trailer park. since then, he knew he had to work with animals.

when the time came, he applied to radcliffe university, wanting to study veterinary medicine. when he discovered they had accepted him, he couldn't be happier. that letter meant the daily fights would end, so he could finally be able to breathe. now, a graduate student, he can't imagine what his life would look like if he hadn't left for uni. that campus has been his home for years - one that doesn't hurt as much as the one he's always been used to.

*     ⸻     𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐒.

he's kinda shy and quiet at first, so he's used to being called mysterious, on campus - he doesn't really like it but doesn't really fight it either.

he functions better at night so it's not unusual to see him at the library until like four a.m. most days of the week.

he currently works in a tiny grocery shop near campus.

he is also a music geek. his faves are the beatles, led zeppelin, the doors, creedence clearwater revival and queen.

*     ⸻     𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃  𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒.

VET MED COLLEAGUES :  other veterinary medicine students... someone he can study with and someone who understands when he complains about some teachers.

SOCCER TEAMMATES : someone who's also in the soccer team.

UNLIKELY FRIENDS : they don't look like they could be actual friends to others but that doesn't matter, they've built a good enough friendship regardless.

BEST FRIENDS : nathan has a harder time trusting people, however these are different. they're his go-to people for every occasion.

PARTY BUDDIES : he doesn't mind a little party, especially when these people join him. they share the most random drunk/high stories.

FLIRTATIONSHIP :  he's kinda sarcastic so this could lead to some cute banter.

ONE  NIGHT  STAND  :  maybe after some party they hooked up, it was good but that's about it.

EX GIRLFRIEND : someone around his age, maybe they dated for some months but eventually broke up. they can be on good or bad terms now, i'm down for both.

OTHER  DESIRED  RELATIONSHIPS :  other members of the student government, people he worked with, frenemies,  enemies,  wingman/wingwoman,  crush  (  one-sided  or  not  ), leading on...  anything you think fits, really !

[ireallydontknow13]

A few years back, my mom pushed me to go into the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) strand for senior high school. At the time, being in STEM would give you an edge over other college applicants as most schools haven't adapted to the different specializations under each strand yet. I enrolled in STEM in grade 11 but I wanted to pursue A&D (Arts and Design) and I tried inquiring about shifting to A&D for grade 12 but it would take too much time and effort to shift since A&D is a non-academic strand.

*If I shifted to A&D that year I would have to take on grade 11 classes in A&D since credit transfer is not possible since the subjects are really different. I'd have to take summer classes in grade 11 and study for an additional semester to graduate.

I decided I'd stick to STEM since the A&D Coordinator let me know that a bridging program would be faster if I ever want to pursue A&D related courses.

Now, I struggled A LOOOOTTTTTTTTT in STEM. I had emotional breakdowns (I tried my best to hide them from my family), one time though, I acted up at home because of the stress and my parents said that maybe enrolling me in the school was a mistake because I never did those things. I thought they understood but that was just a fleeting comfort...

Fast forward, I'm applying for college since I graduated from STEM and my parents pushed me to go abroad. I agreed and applied for education courses since I haven't touched a pen/brush etc. for so many years and I didn't think I'd be a worthy enough candidate if I applied for art school abroad + I also don't have a portfolio anymore because I didn't like having it around to remind me.

My parents were happy about it at first, I actually received an offer letter from one of the schools I applied for (education). But soon after, my parents were skeptical about it. They said they talked to their friends and contacts about which course to apply for and they unanimously said "nursing".

Now normally, I would agree but I'd be studying abroad and it would be hard to shift courses since I'm an international student. Still, I tried researching which pathways would be best for me, taking into consideration my parents' wishes and mine. I found Veterinary Nursing to be my best bet since I love animals (I have 13 rescued stray cats and 3 dogs ^-^). But they said I shouldn't since its not a good paying job and I might not secure a PR since what I'm taking is irrelevant.

My mom got so sensitive about me not wanting Nursing and just told me that if I wanted to go to school, I should find ways myself since so many of her friends' children became scholars etc. She told me to give up the idea of going abroad and just go find something. But the way she phrased the statement hurt... I tried my best to do what she said and I just couldn't imagine myself as a nurse.

I'm not necessarily a quiet, introverted person although I don't have many friends because of my honest nature which is sometimes brutal T_T, I can speak to a lot of people or strangers with confidence. I just don't see myself as someone who could devote themselves to other people and care for them in their time of need.

*If I didn't have a boyfriend right now, I swear I would've entered a convent so I didn't have to deal with all this. T_T

This is just a little rant since I don't have anyone to talk about these things in person. T_T

[exsanguinated-doves]

Went through doves and the plants and you’re genuinely so interesting…. What fun do you get from that it seems to work you up moreso than it does bring joy?

Regardless you seem to have a pretty firm opinion all vegans have never worked with an animal once in their life, I have an animal welfare degree, and had a vegan lecturer and 3 vegan coursemates then, and I’m now studying a veterinary degree and have 6 vegan coursemates. Plus have 3 years of animal husbandry work under my belt, and doing agri (dairy and pork ‘high welfare’ farms) was what turned me vegan due to how I couldn’t condemn any of it as a result of what I’d learn in animal behaviour and welfare. We aren’t all the city dwelling strawmen you make up, sometimes experienced/educated folk can have opinions that disagree with yours 🤠

I'm very happy for you, because you are happy and comfortable with your vegan lifestyle, and you have friends who also share the same lifestyle with you. You are a very accomplished person, as studying the veterinary sciences is no easy feat. Really well done! But we should also keep in mind that some others may not have the same experience and knowledge in the field as you do, so we should also recognize that it's a bit easy to mix up veterinary sciences and animal husbandry, though both are quite similar in nature.

To answer your question, I keep everything vegan and animal welfare and whatnot related in that tag so that the three people following me can blacklist it so they won't hear about it, 😅. I know some are quite uncomfortable with being close to discourse, so I try to keep my page well-tagged, for me as well, so I can quickly look for a post. For your question, however..I'm not exactly sure if it gives me fun, but it does concern me a little because veganism is a very varied topic, and it brings up a large requirement of discussion and debate, and I try to contribute in places where I think I may be able to provide my own perspective, so that the audience reading would be able to pick a side, whichever they might want to pick.

Three years of animal husbandry work is big achievement, but I will add that, though it is a wondrous feat, in my point of view, it's not exactly enough years to truly learn and fully immersed in the work. Though, I cannot say this with certainty because with what information you provide to me, I don't know where you worked, what farm was it, was it a reputable one, what school did you go to, what sort of persons did you meet and what environment you were in, the climate, what you did on a daily basis, (and even if this was a paid internship or a vacation to the countryside with relatives) and all of those other things, I don't know. I think that three years would be good enough to say you do have first-hand experience in regular matters, but maybe with a bit more experience and some regular research and training, dipping a good portion of your toes into the broad waters of the animal industry, I think you would learn a lot more things, and be able to see things in a lot of other perspectives, and meet folk who have been doing it for quite a while. I think this is most important, because you can meet them and ask why they stayed; and why they do what they do. I haven't met a single farmer that do what they do and hate animals. I think that, they love and respect their animals, and farmers want their lives to be as comfortable and happy as humanely possible.

I know farmers who have been doing what they do for over three decades, and they claim they are still learning, like I am as well. I'm not exactly sure where the strawmen came up though, and in this context, it's rather difficult to determine what the remark means. However, I'm sorry to say you're wrong on the last part. I do not think every vegan is 'city-dwelling' and inexperienced. I do agree that experienced and educated persons may disagree with me, and I actually encourage such, if they can explain why so, and with their own experience, instead of relying on twenty seven different articles found online. My professors always said that a book, or a reference on paper, cannot replicate the actual experience, which is why medical students are not only quizzed on their textbook knowledge, but are also provided the opportunity to learn in the environment they will work in, and adapt as required, and experience.

Thank you for taking the time to reach out to me in my inbox. I hope you have a wonderful day or evening, anon. ^^

[s-r3nadvm]

How delulu am I for Vet School?

I start by asking this because I really can't let go of this feeling of wanting to become a Veterinarian. I also feel delusional by how I applied to so many schools with my past VMCAS application, I had barely written most of my experience and the one thing all the schools could heavily look at me with was my poor GPA. I did seek counseling with one of the university's counselors, getting a master's to focus on keeping a good GPA. I still would even consider another Bachelor's... BUT I would definitely need seek more counseling for this. Going back to being delulu about veterinary school, I really have considered other areas where I think I could be more comfortable with, let that be a scientist who advocates for conservation, park ranger who is mostly inclined to conservation and wildlife, zoo keeper, research assistant to other conservation projects... yes to all those things but none of them feel like dream jobs to me. I would LOVE to have that experience but would only be satisfied for a short period.

Working at the veterinary clinic also helped me be delusional for this career. Assisting the veterinary technicians and the vets I was able to only experience what happens in a veterinary clinic but also drove me to think more of the veterinary-client-patient relationship. This relationship is of heavily importance and is the relationship, that I believe, drives so many veterinarian's and their staff to burnout and the compassionate fatigue. I for a fact, did experience this a few times with some cases and have been telling everyone that I love that experience, hence why I think I'm delusional about this career. I have accepted that in this career there will be things out of my control, I can express the best treatment plan and owners may not agree with it, patients may be hard to handle, clients will not follow up with treatment plans and come back asking why it didn't work, clients did bring back the patients and were able to successfully recover, so many things I come with the career and I can't even fathom thinking of different career. Because with this career choice I would be satisfied with myself for trying and giving the client-patient the best service I could. I would also add to this delulu helping wildlife and conservation... I said I don't myself in this area, but I mostly referred to it as less than doctor. I would love to be a veterinarian that is involved in the conservation of species and education of them through the zoo's. My delusional dream job is to be a veterinarian at the Australia Zoo. I could go to other zoo's but Steve Irwin sparked my interest in exotic animals as a child. I sigh just thinking about the show and how I vision myself as a vet in a zoo, working on a lion, crocodiles, sea turtles, rhinos, giraffes, kangaroos, good God, OKAPIS! I don't know how I could explain this delusion to people that don't know me. I am so thankful for the friends and family that never get tired of listening to my delusional dreams.

[muttsmischiefacademysblog]

The last few weeks I have explored the Five Freedoms/ domains and the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Under the Animal Welfare Act all Animals have the rights to:

Freedom from hunger, thirst or malnutrition

Freedom from discomfort

To be able to exhibit normal behaviours

Freedom from fear and distress

To be protected from pain, suffering, disease and illnesses.

In this blog I will be sharing my opinion of what the five freedoms and the animal welfare act means to me.

In an ideal world the dog training industry would be regulated and dog trainers and behaviourist would be protected titles with external verification and a pledge to do no harm, just like the hippocratic oath.

It really puzzles me that we have the above law in the UK and very rarely see it in action, if the law was followed to the letter, pet shops would be regulated and would look very different, and the pet food industry would be regulated. Veterinary practices would also look very different with stronger regulation and holistic practitioners would also have to be regulated.

Anyone can currently and does set up a Facebook page overnight and claim to be an experienced dog trainer, behaviourist, walker, hydrotherapist, physiotherapist, nutritionist, groomer and the list goes on and on and on.

Voluntary dog training membership organisations leave a lot to be desired, with some having much better standards than others and much better education opportunities than others.

If the dog world is in disarray amongst professionals, what about the poor guardians trying to navigate who to hire, what food to give, which vet to use, which veterinary advice to follow and which to challenge. How many times do they accept a diagnosis of “you are an over dramatic dog owner?”

What about the “dog professional” who promises a quick fix via aversion and compulsion based methods? What about other professionals that leave a lot to be desired and the ethics are not quite in line with what their website states? What about those who have faked qualifications?

This is why I feel the UK needs a massive shake up! Dog professionals need to be externally verified independent of their organisation. Their title needs to be protected. All organisations must follow one ethos and as soon as there are concerns, this is immediately investigated.

All professionals have a duty of care to then best educate guardians to which is ethically moral and sound for the welfare for dogs.

No we cannot prevent all illnesses, diseases and negative experiences but can we be a part of a solution instead of the problem? Absolutely! If people were genuine and waited to shadow, learn, gain qualifications and become certified (not offer student discount rates - unethical) and organisations policed their members harder and all professionals agreed to abide by the law there would be no shock collars, prongs, chokes, harnesses that compress organs, air horns, sprays or the whole list of horrible devices.

But until the UK government knows what a shock collar is and what it does, understand how a prong works and the Prime minister himself stopped using a slip lead. Well.

It's up to those of us wholly committed to ethical dog welfare standards that need to steer the industry. To educate guardians and keep guiding guardians into the right direction so that the Animal Welfare Act 2006 is never broken and dog welfare is a priority not a “the dog must obey so the law doesn't exist.”

Anyone of us who is properly educated, part of a membership organisation, properly insured and can sleep at night knowing we are doing our best with gentle methods with welfare at the forefront of our work. We know we are our authentic selves. Those who might be cringing. Well. It's never too late to become a better and honest person. If you can't do that you don't belong in our industry.

[turpentinecreek]

Four big cats will now live safe, dignified lives after they were rescued from a defunct drive-thru roadside zoo in northeast Oklahoma this past Friday. The AZA-accredited Oakland Zoo in Oakland, CA, and the globally accredited big cat sanctuaries—Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs, AR, and Lions Tigers & Bears in Alpine, CA—collaborated to rescue the two generic tigers, lion, and tiger hybrid from the Oklahoma facility that was once opened to the public and offered cub petting and photo opportunities. The facility was cited and shut down by the USDA in 2008 after multiple safety and welfare violations.

The four big cats rescued were the sole remaining animals at the abandoned facility. The roadside zoo and its owner were reported to have ties to “Joe Exotic,” also known in the well-known Netflix series as “Tiger King.”

The rescued animals, all female and declawed—a standard practice in the cub-petting industry—include:

An elderly, arthritic lion that required immediate medical attention and care, going to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

A tiger hybrid in poor condition with a facial wound and bowed legs, going to Oakland Zoo

Two tigers housed in separate enclosures, both energetic but lean, one going to Oakland Zoo and one going to Lions Tigers & Bears Oakland Zoo and Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge conducted on-site animal evaluations for all four big cats and Lions Tigers & Bears used its state-of-the-art, self-contained animal rescue hauler to transport three of the big cats to California.

“For the past thirty years, we’ve fully committed Oakland Zoo’s tiger habitat as a sanctuary for tigers victimized by the circus, roadside zoo, private ownership, and cub-petting industries. Those tigers need help, and we can provide that help while educating the public about the dangers of animal exploitation practiced in those industries. When a concerned Oklahoma resident called us to help these big cats, who have endured so much suffering, there was no question that we would step in and give them the homes and care they deserve, at Oakland Zoo and our partnering sanctuaries, for the remainder of their lives,” Nik Dehejia, CEO, Oakland Zoo.

Each facility will provide these big cats with a proper habitat enclosure, species-specific diets, veterinary care, and more, utilizing the highest standards of care as required by the American Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), a certification held by only the top sanctuaries in the nation that provide lifetime care for rescued animals, including Lions Tigers & Bears and Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge.

“There are major red flags that show these animals were victims of the cub petting industry,” said Bobbi Brink, Founder and Director of Lions Tigers & Bears. “These cats were declawed and in poor health and living conditions. They were likely bred to be photo props, and once they grew too big and were no longer profitable, they were abandoned. We are the animals’ voices, and we need to work toward education and legislation because each animal rescued makes a difference.”

“These big cats were living in small, filthy enclosures. Shelter was provided but was terribly weathered and rotten,” said Tanya Smith, President and Founder of Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. “Aside from some good Samaritans, they were left alone, fed inconsistently, and needed veterinary care. We’re so relieved to provide new homes to these animals and help them thrive.” Emily McCormack, Animal Curator at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge adds, “We are always ready and willing to collaborate with other accredited facilities when the need for rescue arises. We must fight together to resolve the big cat crisis we are facing here in the United States.

No animals should suffer or live in the deplorable conditions these animals had to endure. The lioness was subjected to solitude 24x7 for 7 years that we know of. It was simply inhumane.”

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, Lions Tigers & Bears, and the Oakland Zoo encourage support for reputable animal sanctuaries and facilities and advocacy for the Big Cat Public Safety Act (H.R. 263), which places much-needed restrictions on big cat private ownership and contact with the public.

Learn more about Turpentine Wildlife Refuge at https://www.turpentinecreek.org/

Find us on the following Social Media Channels & Pages

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TurpentineCreekWildlifeRefuge

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turpentinecreek/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/turpentine-creek-wildlife-refuge/

[bearcreekhq]

MEET HADLEY

Full Name → Hadley Joanne Berry

Age → 27

Birthday → October 3rd, 1996

Order & Type → third, solo (half-sibling via surrogacy)

Gender & Pronouns → cis woman, she/her

Sexuality → pansexual

Occupation → kindergarten teacher at Bearcreek Elementary School

THEIR STORY

Hadley was born via surrogacy to Hiram and Leroy Berry on a warm, early-October day. From the moment she was born, her dads knew that she was going to be a bright light in their lives. She was almost always all smiles, rarely having any fits - those that she had were usually only when they were trying to feed her something she didn’t particularly like. As Hadley was growing up and entering pre-school, her high-spirited personality showed through even more with her ability to make friends so easily. However, her overly friendly personality did contribute to a few “stranger danger” talks when it came to her talkative nature and willingness to start a conversation with just about anyone, anywhere.

Another small issue that Hiram and Leroy would run into while Hadley was younger, was her love of animals. All animals. It was one thing, with her coming home every so often with a stray cat or dog that she’d find, a few they kept and the rest they found good homes for. But then one day, she had been outside playing and in she walked with a baby opossum. This time, they had to have a talk with her about wildlife safety and how she shouldn’t handle just and and all animals she came across. She understood, though it definitely didn’t stop her from talking to any of the other wildlife she encountered from that point on.At least that was harmless.

For a while, with her love of animals, Hadley had planned on going into a career of either veterinarian or wildlife rehabilitator. However, after participating in some volunteer programs with both the animal shelter and the wildlife center during her early high school years and seeing so many heartbreaking cases, she knew that working in the veterinary field would be too much of an emotional toll on her. She did continue to volunteer whenever she could at the animal shelter and during her senior year, to start saving for college, she got a job working as the receptionist at the vet’s office.

Luckily, while in high school, Hadley had also come up with a second career plan and she started planning more towards it when she realized her first choice wasn’t going to be as good of a fit. With inspiration both from her teachers in school, as well as her favorite character Jessica Day from the show New Girl, Hadley had decided to go into an education career. Elementary education, to be exact. She loved little kids, she was pretty much still a big kid herself, and she loved the idea that she herself could inspire young minds, like her teachers had done with her.

Hadley was able to get some substitute jobs for the first couple of years after she graduated college. Then by the third year, there was an opening for a kindergarten teacher so she applied and got the job. She still helps out working reception during the summers at the vet’s office and spends time volunteering at the shelter during her spare time. She’s basically having the time of her life and loving every minute of it.

[thecavavoice]

“Education. Donation. Adoption.": The Veterinary Science Club Improves Lives

by Mariel S.

The Veterinary Science Club Logo (The Veterinary Science Club/animaledinformation.com)

The Veterinary Science Club is committed to improving the lives of pets and people through education, donation and adoption.

The club began a recent meeting by welcoming a guest speaker from Marin Humane, a small, rural pet rescue shelter. Club members learned about the shelter’s veterinary capabilities, volunteer opportunities and how the staff are working to better the lives of animals. After the Q&A session, club members discussed raising awareness of shelter pets’ needs, and of their efforts to find them homes.

Mrs. Jennifer Young, the Veterinary Science Club’s founder and advisor, deeply identifies with the club’s mission. “I worked in vet clinics for 15 years before I became a teacher,” she said. “I wish a club like this had been offered when I was in high school.”

Mrs. Young says that from the first meeting last year, students took the lead. Their focus soon shifted from veterinary science to animal rights activism. The club runs animaledinformation.com, a website designed to educate the public about a wide variety of pets, from cats and dogs to chickens and chinchillas. They promote animal charities and have partnered with five shelters across California, including Marin Humane.

Maia M, president of the Veterinary Science Club, spoke with The Voice about how the club created its partnerships. “We decided that we wanted to have a direct part in helping animals, so I tried finding shelters in different regions of California. I sent out fifteen emails and five shelters got back to me. We put them on the website with some of their ‘adoptables.’”

The adoptables are mostly cats and dogs, but one shelter listed a retired racing pigeon. Another of the partner shelters, Muttville, specializes in what Maia called “hospice adoptions” for elderly dogs that other shelters consider too old. Helping these more unusual “adoptables” is part of the Veterinary Science Club’s passion. The members say they’re seeing results.

Maia explained, “The shelters told me how to know which animals had been there the longest. Those are the pets we mainly focus on. I haven’t been directly told that our site helped to get an animal adopted, but almost every day, I switch out animals because they were. Actively helping animals is just a great feeling.”

The club also creates social media posts promoting adoptions, which their partner shelters post. But the members don’t spend all of their time working. They play games, like animal-themed pictionary, and watch videos on the care and keeping of various critters.

Club Vice President Phoenix P, described the atmosphere in their meetings as “really awesome,” and cited a love for animals as the core of the club’s camaraderie. “I’ve kinda just always grown up with animals. My aunt’s a vet tech, and my family has horses. There’s pictures of me on a horse before I could walk! So, animals have always been there in my life.”

Raquel C, an aspiring veterinary technician, said that she joined the Veterinary Science Club because she “wanted to learn, and to meet other students who have the same passion for animals.”

Maia added, “Veterinary Science Club is really the only animal club that our school offers. We have so many opportunities if you want to be actively involved in animal activism, as well as learn more from people experienced in the field. It’s really fun; it’s involved, and I feel we’re really making a difference.”

-

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[sebbysheepie]

The size and locality and "family ownership" of an operation do nothing to speak for the ethicality of it. I am personally related to a family with a local farm. By most accounts they are also considered a small operation. By their own accounts they love and care for their animals. They check all the boxes for the idyllic animal agriculture that is pushed as the exception to critique of the industry. But they are still a business, and their animals still come second to making a profit. Mothers and babies are separated for the ease and profitability of their operation. Babies that are not profitable to raise are sold to die young for high end meat. Animals are subject to the physically stressful and eventually debilitating results of constant intensive production. Despite sanitary and veterinary prevention, the intensive production inherently brings with it recurring painful infections. Animals whose production declines and is no longer profitable, or whose bodies are "spent" are immediately sent to their deaths over a decade younger than their natural lifespan. The few people they hired to help in their operation were not paid enough to care and were commonly impatient and rough with the animals, to the point where they once thought one was being stubborn when it was actually stuck and ended up badly injuring it by insisting and pulling on it. They were upset, but you know what they were most upset about? That one animal in particular was a "show" animal and wouldn't be able to compete that year. It doesn't matter how small or local or "family owned" it is, it doesn't matter how much they proclaim to love and care for their animals, the very nature of the business is built on exploitation and death.

First off. Being related to anyone does not make you know the life or work of that field. I grew up on a farm but what makes me a farmer is actively doing the work, going to school. Taking classes on it and always learning and changing and making things better. I own a car but that does not make me a mechanic. You know what you see in this case. What you are told or what you have formulated from watching. While excellent stepping stones to learning and becoming professional and educated in the field. Just watching from afar will never make you as knowledgeable as those active in that same field.

You speak of what you dislike. The separation, the selling and so forth. You do not understand why because you are not active in this work. You have a job I assume and something about that would upset others as well. Drive a car? Bad for the environment, work in an office? Bad for mental health. Eat fast food? Bad for physical health. Etc. you can sit and explain each and everything you do and eat each day but at the end your not going to make everyone happy or understand you can’t walk everywhere, work in a different field or always pack a healthy lunch with a busy life. You know your life and your job. Others do not. Will they assume they know better because they did sone internet research? Sure they will. And they will happily demand you change yourself and your ways because of what they want. Again not knowing why you do what you do or why.

One thing that always makes me surprised is how someone with zero work, knowledge or even desire to be with animals can actively think they can have a say or give advice on the same level as someone that’s been doing it for years or gone to school for it. Because they saw a video or a blog. Yea. Wedmd is just as good as my doctor.. thanks. I’ll stick to the professionals.

What you want is changes to human nature. You want people to care more about what you think they should.

I want people to care too. I want people to have food on their plates, a full person is a happy person that will think about others. Empathy and morals are secondary when your starving. Being vegan is a privilege that many don’t realize. They’ve never been truly hungry. They want people to give up what little they have in some cases because they precede it as wrong by there own standards. Not by the hungry persons standards. Until you walk a mile in another persons shoes will you know what their life is like. You cannot assume to know them or anything they do. Same as farming. If you don’t do it. How can you assume you can tell people how to do it? Why would anyone think you should be respected enough to be heard? Your mind is closed. Your not asking questions. Your demanding change to your own ways.

[horsesofgili]

Ok sit tight as this might be a little bit long....

January 2020 I was following closely reports of a virus in China. I watched the very first WHO briefing and my husband and I went shopping on January 13th for supplies. I told my friends this might be bad. I placed the couple of extra horses I had that were ready to go. I planted a garden, I bought chickens, I bought extra horse feed and other supplies. I was trying to be prepared.

But no way in hell did I (or anyone else probably) foresee what was to come. The entire world literally shutting down, tourism grinding to a halt, thousands of people stranded all over the world.

Our tiny island closed on March 15th, this meant literally no tourism which left locals with no money, and horses and ponies without feed. We desperately began raising funds, we started rescuing horses and ponies in bad situations, a group of “trapped” people pulled together and began helping out.

It’s been 371 days now (yes, I HAVE been counting). We have been supporting nearly 250 horses snd ponies across 3 islands, we have rescued 10 new horses and ponies, we have rented more property, we have built more stalls. None of us are getting paid or have any form of income. Most are relying on charity from family and friends or donations from abroad. We work 2 to 4 hours every day at the stables directly caring for horses. Cleaning stalls, fixing fences, grooming, medicating, socializing, exercising, training. In addition I myself spend about 4 to 6 hours each night, across every form of social media I can think of trying to raise funds. This is addition to watching my real job dwindle to pretty much nothing, caring for dozens of other animals in need, providing veterinary care when needed, educating locals and westerners, and planning training programs for the rescues.

At this point my husband and haven’t left this island in over 200 days. We are supported mostly by our families and friends, and our boss who makes sure we have a roof over our heads and electricity and internet. We have no income except for what I make selling art and that mostly goes to the animals. We aren’t unhappy but we are stressed. There is still no end in sight.

And I am solely responsible for caring for the 14 horses in my care and helping to feed hundreds of others. Facebook is restricting my posting and I cannot share things nor comment in groups that I am not an admin of. This severely restricts the reach of the charity page which directly effects donations. I need shares, comments, likes. I need an audience snd in order to continue to care for these animals that audience must grow, interact, and evolve. While we are on multiple social media platforms it does seem the majority of our support is from those reached by Facebook.

I apologize for ranting on but I am stressed. This morning one of my bank accounts was overdrawn, the PayPal account is dangerously low and we are still waiting on the Covid stimulus money from the USA. Donations have decreased as has the total numbers of people we are reaching weekly. I don’t know what else to do? It seems every other week I am online begging for help and I feel awful about it. But I look into the eyes of these animals that depend on me and I absolutely refuse to give up.

I want to thank every single person and follower for the support we have received so far. And I want to welcome our new followers. And lastly, I must once again beg for help in keeping these plates spinning so that they don’t all come crashing down on top of me and the ponies.

THANK YOU

TORI

#horsesofgili #lombokhorse #horsesofasia #rescuehorse #rescuepony #ilovehorses #makeadifference #donatenow #horsesofinstagram #rescuehorse #rescuepony #horserescue #ponyrescue #horsecharity #indonesia #giliislands #gilitrawangan #oneponyatatime

https://www.paypal.me/horsesofgili

https://gofund.me/dabd8b90

[theramseyloft]

You go on about how intelligent/emotional pigeons are, but you treat them like objects and that bothers me. You separate bonded pairs of these intelligent, loving animals so frequently as if they don't have any feelings. And then you wonder why these birds afterward do not just take a new mate instantly. You are continually traumatizing these animals and causing them to shut down because they probably begin to realize any new bond they make will only be severed.

I do that because they are.

There is a huge difference between treating a living being like an object and acknowledging that the feelings of a non-human will not often perfectly align with those of a human.

Different species are different.

They have different physical, emotional, and social needs, even if there are a lot of close parallels.

And there are certainly a lot of parallels between humans and pigeons;

They are self aware cooperative social learners.

They form societies.

Those societies have a culture that varies regionally and they have a base line of values...

But their society, culture, and values are different from a human’s because pigeons are not human.

Nothing specializes in preying on humans. We generalize in preying on everything, as a species, as a whole.

We change our environment to suit our needs as much as we are able, and we are more able with every generation.

While things, objectively, can happen to any human at any time, out of nowhere..

On the whole, we generally don’t expect them to.

As such, our monogamous relationships are, ideally, “Until death do us part” meaning “Until we both die of old age, preferably around the same time.”

To the extent that closely bonded humans are emotionally devastated by the loss of that life partner.

To many of us, a life partner is also counted as lost if they engage in sexual infidelity, and if this happens, we are just as devastated (if not even more devastated) as we could have been if that partner had died.

Pigeons are a prey species that evolved in a cheetah-and-thompson’s-gazelle-style arms race with the Peregrine Falcon.

Their monogamous relationships version of “Until Death do us part” can be better translated; “Until one or the other of us gets eaten on a foraging trip.”

And sexual fidelity does not enter into the equation for a pigeon unless their partner is treading or being tread by some one else at the exact moment that bird wants to tread or be tread by their partner.

A cock who wants sex will seek out his wife first, but if she is not interested, he will go asking all the hens away from their nest until one agrees and crouches for him.

If his mate changes her mind and wants him to tread her, she will seek him out and crouch to present herself.

He will tread his wife, and after they do the cute little “I just had sex” dance that’s reserved for mated pairs (side flings get neither this nor courtship. Just sex and separate.) she goes off to do what ever she wanted to do.

If the cock is satisfied, he goes with his wife.

If he still needs or wants more sex, he can tread as many hens as he wants. His wife will not care, because she has had her turn.

If a hen wants sex, she will seek out her husband, generally, but if he’s busy or away, she’ll present for who ever she likes.

Her husband does not care who filled the egg. He only cares that she lays it in his nest and he gets to help set and raise it.

Pigeons divorce partners they consider to be inadequate. Cocks who fail to fill eggs, hens who refuse to set eggs, partners of either sex that don’t spend enough time reaffirming their bond with their spouses...

Unrequited relationships and love triangles are also relationships that pigeons find themselves in.

A pair is considered to have divorced if one partner or the other moves in and spends their nights in the nest of another partner, not for mating with some one else.

Some times, divorces are mutual, and both birds move on to other mates.

Some times, they are not. And the partner left will pine and keep making overtures to reconcile with the partner that left them.

But when a mate just disappears and doesn’t come back, they are assumed by the remaining partner to have been eaten.

If they were closely bonded, the remaining partner may wait a week or so at most, in case they were lost, in hopes the missing bird will make their way back and reunite.

If, after a week, the remaining bird is keeping to them self and not socializing, something is physically wrong, and anthropomorphizing it as “depressed” can get the bird killed.

The veterinary term ‘depression’ describes an animal that is physically ill, be that from a pathogen attacking it to ingesting or absorbing a toxin or simple vitamin or mineral deficiency.

For example;

A week after I became aware that breeding pigeons could become salt deficient and gave the flock a salt and trace mineral brick, birds that had shown no interest in bonding or courting for months are suddenly flirting with everything that moves.

They were not too traumatized to before.

They had a mineral deficiency.

They did not court because they did not feel good.

With the addition of their supplement brick, lo and behold, they all feel better and are courting again.

I have an entire flock to take care of, and I am responsible for the wellbeing of every individual I bring into the world.

To avoid overcrowding, I have a cap of 10 breeding pair.

Because that is the number of adults and their offspring under 6 months old that my loft can comfortably house.

When ever a new breeding bird leaves quarantine or a keeper reaches 6 months, a bird of the same sex has to be retired and made available to avoid overcrowding and the stress and disease that come with it.

Who retires when is not arbitrary.

There are very strict criteria.

1. Physical health.

Regardless of whether or not I have a replacement ready, a bird who may be hurt by the physical process of reproduction or the strain of rearing young, or who may pass on genes that may be harmful to potential offspring is retired on the spot and adopted out with a strict nonbreeding agreement.

Gus is a sweet boy,

But this happens to him every molt, and we have since found out that it runs in both sides of his family, proving it to be genetic and cumulative.

As cute as he and Leela were together, I cannot let him breed.

Because I would have to be a monster to be willing to knowingly pass that painful condition on to another generation.

He has a forever family familiar with his condition to whom he is going on Monday.

2. Undesirable structure

I do not mean anything as stupid as “This animal isn’t pretty enough.”

Cody is not only gorgeous, but an excellent father who has served our program very well.

But his muffs are big enough to make walking uncomfortable, so while I like the rest of his traits, that’s one I want to breed away from.

Now that I have a brother and Sister of his with short muffs that do not cause them discomfort, 

Farthing 

and suki

will continue contributions to the project

and Cody is available.

3. Antisocial behavior that disrupts or disturbs their flock mates.

Indica

And Pookie 

Are the poster children for flock disruption.

They are a gay and bi mated pair of cocks, who are literally turned on by prying other treading pairs off of each other.

If they see another pair treading, Indica will grab the hen by the scruff, Pookie will grab the cock by his, and they will pull in opposite directions, prying the treading pair apart, and marching them in opposite directions towards the wall.

Indica and Pookie will then throw the bird they have at the wall and then run back to meet each other in the center of the floor, smooch-feed each other back and forth, and take turns treading each other.

On top of this, they defend 15 of the 36 total nest boxes in my loft, refusing to pick a specific one or let any other pair settle in a box to lay.

You may or may not have noticed that when I advertised the available birds on Thursday, I made a point of saying that I would prefer these two be adopted together because they are bonded and would be happier that way.

A prospective new family is coming to meet them on Monday.

But they are SUCH a violent disruption to their flock mates that if only one had a home lined up, it would be unkind to the rest of the flock to keep them both on the insistence that they go together.

4. Shitty parenting history

Parents who tend to ignore eggs or peeps, leaving all the work of setting or feeding to their partner.

This is a personality trait, and such a parent puts dangerous strain on their partner and stress on their peeps. 

Their partner will usually divorce them for that, so adopting the bad parent out isn’t “Splitting up a bonded pair”.

Their former spouse is usually looking for or has found some one else with out any interference on my part.

5. Too many offspring/grandchildren

This is to avoid any more inbreeding than necessary.

Betty is one of the best studs here.

He is an outstanding father who sits tight on his eggs, pumps his peeps full, and educates them carefully though weaning.

MANY are his children and grand children, and he has a strong preference for birds with faces like his.

He has already bred with his niece to produce Sherry, and I would like to avoid having him breed to any more of his kin.

Once his peep with Liang is weaned, he will be adopted.

Liang is very skittish, and she liked him right off the bat, so I delayed his retirement to give her more time to feel secure with the flock.

But with her egg hatching, she is allowing herself to be casually flirt with more.

Wukong still likes her. So do Cherub and Ginger, so she’ll have her pick when Betty goes to his new home.

6. Temperament

The Therapy Bird Project is working towards developing a performance breed with a temperament conducive to Therapy work.

All else being equal; The birds are all physically sound with no known detrimental genes, no embellishments too exaggerated, not overly aggressive to flock mates, great parents... Then the bird least interested in human company gets retired.

The ground work of physical and mental base soundness has to be laid first and foremost for that excellent temperament I’m aiming for to shine in their handler’s lives for as long as possible.

You probably have not noticed that when bonded pairs retire at the same time, I make a thing of them being bonded in hopes that they will be adopted together.

Dodger and Alex retired close enough to each other that both are still here, and I would prefer they be adopted together.

But if one of them gets a perfect home lined up where I think that individual will be happy, I will not refuse them that good home for the sake of not splitting up a pair.

You care about the idea of that a LOT more than the pigeons themselves do.

[whereisten]

Fish Out of Water

A Chenle fic that’s part of our Halloween Series!

Summary: You work at Neo City Aquarium. One night, you meet a peculiar but pretty boy named Chenle who claims to know you.

Pairing: Merman! Chenle x female reader

Genre: romance, fluff, angst

Warning: none

Word Count: 5.5k

(A/N: hiya! This is a little late and not proofread so I apologize 😭 I hope you enjoy! Thank you so much for all of the support for our stories!)

_______

[June 2020]

Your family was well known for their rehabilitation and release program at Neo City Aquarium. Your grandparents founded the aquarium and formed ties with wildlife rehabilitation centers in your hometown to expand their work into rescuing local marine life.

Following your high school graduation and having just turned eighteen, you were finally allowed to participate in dolphin rehabilitation. At the beginning of the summer, you joined your parents on a rescue mission to save a dolphin that'd been stabbed in a failed hunt for its meat.

You were tasked with nursing the dolphin’s wounds with the team of veterinarians and veterinary assistants. Socializing with wildlife animals wasn’t encouraged but you found yourself attached to the dolphin. You got to swim him when the rehab staff wanted to check his energy levels and confirm he was near his re-release into the ocean. You named him Happy for his smile and he was affection towards you whenever you fed him fish. Naming him Happy was a secret you shared only with him.

“Are you excited for your first dolphin release?” Hendery asked.

Joining Hendery, you entered into the dolphin pen at the beach, where Happy and three more dolphins were waiting to be released. Hendery was a college student who was interning with the rehab team.

You nodded. “Yes.” You were about to cry.

Hendery’s smiled faded. “What’s wrong?”

You couldn’t wipe your eyes because you’d been immersed in saltwater. You weren’t about to miss this release because you got salt in your eye. “Nothing. It’s just...I’m going to miss him.”

Hendery laughed. “I get it. My first release was emotional. Lucas, an intern from last year, had to hold me while I sobbed, begging the dolphins to come back and visit.”

You sniffled and smiled. “That’s so sweet.”

Hendery put a hand on your shoulder. “You’re okay. Happy is eternally grateful to you.”

“Yeah...I- Wait, how did you know I named him-”

“Your voice carries,” Hendery teased.

You splashed him. “Did you tell anyone?”

Hendery shook his head. “Don’t be embarrassed. I named these guys: Jisung, Sungchan, and Shotaro.”

“Those are human names!” You gasped.

Hendery raised an eyebrow. “Of all the names you could give a majestic dolphin...You named him Happy?”

“Okay, fine. To each their own.” You shrugged him off.

You were in charge of opening the pen that would grant the dolphins their freedom. These releases were so important because these animals were wild, meant to be free to explore the ocean to their hearts’ content. Because of global warming, people’s constant neglect for the environment, and animal cruelty, animals like Happy were negatively affected. Your family’s mission was to educate and rehabilitate. You planned to carry this mission on because the environment’s troubles weren’t going to go away for a long time, you were sad to say.

Releasing the dolphins meant that they would get a second chance to live freely and happily. You hoped no one and nothing would hurt them again.

As much as it pained you to say goodbye to these patients...They weren’t patients anymore.

“Okay, guys,” you addressed the dolphins, “It’s time to go home.”

You opened the pen and the dolphins quickly rushed out. They jumped into the air and whistled.

Happy was the only one who lingered and looked at you.

“Go on, Happy!” You encouraged him. Your tears fell but you were ecstatic. This was such a fulfilling moment.

Happy dove beneath the surface and joined the rest of the dolphins into the deep ocean.

_______

[July 2020]

When you weren’t at the rehab center, you worked at the aquarium as a tour guide. You were giving a tour for the governor and his family. Your family hoped to get more government funding for the aquarium so you could expand the rehabilitation center.

The kids were so wide-eyed and happy to be at the aquarium, seeing the fishes of all kinds of colors and the whale shark that loomed overhead.

The governor was hosting a private party at the aquarium tonight. The Neo City Aquarium boasted monthly sleepovers for anyone who wanted  to sleep with the fishes...

Literally, not figuratively.

The children ran around while the adults mingled at the buffet area that was set up for their party. You helped run the event with your parents. Your mom was helping out with the caterers. Your dad was schmoozing with the state’s elite.

You took a break and walked through the underwater tunnel. You stole some champagne from the party and sipped it lightly.

Someone tapped you on the shoulder and you almost spilled your champagne on the floor. “Agh!”

You turned around and found a boy who grinned from ear to ear. Donning a cerulean tux, he was handsome. He had soulful brown eyes, a boyish smile, an unforgettable eye smile, and his soft, straight brown hair that nearly reached his eyes. He couldn’t have been much older than you.

“C-can I help you?” You winced, feeling like you were caught doing something you shouldn’t have.

“Y/n, it’s me!” The boy said enthusiastically. He couldn’t believe he was here with you.

You frowned. “I’m sorry...I don’t…”

His smile faded but it returned full force as he tried to convince you. “It’s me, Happy!”

“Huh?” You tilted your head in confusion. “How do you know about Happy?”

He said it slowly, “I am Happy…”

“Well, I’m glad to hear that...If you’ll excuse me…” You weren’t getting anywhere with this guy, even if he was your type from a physical standpoint.

He lightly touched your arm. “You saved a dolphin off of the Nakamoto Coast two months ago…”

Now you were listening.

He let you go and explained. “I know that this is going to sound crazy but I was the one you saved that day.”

You furrowed your brows. “What are you talking about…”

“The dolphin you saved has a scar on his underside. It’s shaped like a lightning bolt, almost…” He raised his shirt to reveal his lower abdomen. “Like this…”

It was shaped exactly like Happy’s scar. You dropped your champagne flute. It was a good thing it was made out of reusable plastic. “I…”

He offered you his hand. “Please come with me.”

“Where?” You hesitated.

“To the beach,” he said, “I want to prove to you that I’m not lying.”

You shot him a look. “You better not be. If Hendery put you up to this…”

“You can tell him that Jisung, Sungchan, and Shotaro send their love...I’ve met them in my travels. They liked their human given names so much that they kept them,” he said.

How the hell did he know about those three dolphins?

Now you were curious.

You’d excused yourself from the party. Your mom was thrilled because she thought you finally landed a boyfriend at the ripe old age of eighteen. Like you didn’t have the rest of your life to find a partner. That’s even if you needed one.

The aquarium was located right on the beach so you didn’t have to walk very far. You took off your heels and held the pair on your left hand. Chenle took off his blue dress shoes and did the same. His look had been one color, matching the deepest ocean blue.

You’d reached the shore, where the water reached your toes. “You’re gonna try and drown me here, aren’t you?”

He laughed. “Are you kidding? You are the last person I would drown.”

Did that mean he was capable of drowning people? You laughed nervously. “Thanks?”

He wasted no time and ran into the water with his suit on. You started. “Wait, dude, what are you-”

The water began to glow a bright aqua green. You squint your eyes to see where the boy had gone. The light faded quickly and instead you saw a dolphin tail break the surface.

The boy who brought you here had just turned into a dolphin.

He was telling the truth: he was Happy.

You put a hand over your mouth and simply watched. He jumped into the air and made clicking noises.

“Happy?!” You exclaimed.

Once again, the beam of light appeared. It was brighter that you had to shield your eyes. Happy was gone and the boy’s upper body reappeared.

Along with an aqua green fish tail.

“I...I…” You started.

He made his way back onto shore and regained his nightwear as a human. He was back on two legs again. “I know you named me Happy...It’s a nickname I’ll always treasure in my heart. But my name is Chenle,” the boy said...

Excuse you, the merman said.

“You’re...you’re a merman…” You said.

“Yes…”

“But...you’re also a dolphin…” Your head was about to explode.

“I can transform into any aquatic being...Well, except for clownfish...I can never get the right shade of orange for them…” He started.

You shook your head. “If you were a merman...then why didn’t you transform back...all the time you were here?”

You started remembering just how much you’d told Happy...Chenle...about your life, your aspirations, about how some of your friends were moving away for college, and how you hoped you wouldn’t let your family down…You even made goofy faces at this guy.

You turned away from him in embarrassment.

Chenle continued. “The attack severely injured me...Had it not been for you and your family…I would’ve perished. I did not have the strength to transform back until you released me.”

“Oh…” You said.

He smiled. “I can’t thank you enough. You saved my life.”

You shook your head. “Oh, I didn’t do anything. The doctors and the rehab staff did everything.”

“But you were with me,” he said as he laced his fingers against yours without you realizing it. “You were the one who cared the most. The one whose face hasn’t left my mind since I was released…”

Your face felt warm. “Well, I…”

This was crazy. First, Happy was a dolphin. Then, Happy was a man. And THEN, Happy was a merman.

Someone must have laced your champagne with something. You passed out from the shock of it all.

“Y/n!” Chenle yelled as he caught you from hitting the sand.

A few minutes later, you felt like you’d awoken from a deep, uncomfortable slumber. You felt yourself wrapped in the arms of someone strong, warm…

Wet.

Your eyes opened and you found yourself in the water. What the-

“You’re awake! Thank Poseidon!” Chenle said as his arms were wrapped around you. He looked down at you, drops of water falling off of his slicked back hair. He looked absolutely glorious under the moonlight.

“Chenle, what are you-” You started as you shrugged yourself off of him.

Chenle shushed you. “Y/n, take it easy. I used some of my healing magic to help you wake up…”

“Healing magic?” You asked.

Chenle nodded. “Yes.”

You looked at him carefully. “I can’t believe you’re real…”

He sighed. “Really? You still don’t believe me…”

“No, I believe you...It’s just…A lot for me to process.” You said.

You still wondered if you were losing your mind.

You and Chenle talked for hours that night. He actually used magic to dry you and your dress. He was able to walk on land because of the full moon. That was why it took him a month to come see you and explain himself.

Chenle was the prince of the underwater kingdom, Atlantis. The mythical kingdom had proven to be real. Chenle told you all about it. How his parents ruled the seven seas in harmony. The merpeople had all sorts of abilities. They can transform into other marine life. They can heal. They can control the weather. They can manipulate water.

It was during the full moon every month that merfolk had the opportunity to walk on land to understand humans and their lifestyle. Chenle turned eighteen last year so he’d explored the human world a couple of times already. He was able to learn how to walk after the first couple of visits, apparently.

It was his first time visiting your hometown after being rescued. He’d only wanted to see you because you’d been so kind to him. He knew everything about you and he’d fallen in love. He couldn’t wait to see you again.

“So you’re a prince…” You started.

“Yes…” He answered.

“Then how come your...royal subjects didn’t come and find you?” You asked.

Chenle chuckled. “Actually, they watched me from afar…”

“What? Really?”

Now that you thought about it...You remembered pods of dolphins close to the shore the entire month Chenle had been at the rehab center.

“Yes...And they were relieved to see that I was in good hands. The entire kingdom wishes to invite your team down to the palace to bestow medals of honor to each of you.”

“Wow,” you said, “That’s...incredible...Too bad, we can’t breathe underwater or else I’d be the first to join you.”

He hesitated before he asked you the next question. “Actually...If you did wish to see Atlantis...I could make that happen.”

You gasped. “What?!”

He laughed. “Yes. So long as I’m in saltwater, I can use my magic.”

“I’ve noticed…” You said.

“y/n!” Your father called out to you.

Apparently, he’d been kept out of the loop about your “date”.

“Dad!” You started as you got up from the sand.

“Who is this boy?” He demanded as he walked over to you guys with his loafers still on.

Shocked at your father’s hostility, you said, “Dad! It’s Ha-”

You turned to Chenle and he raised his eyebrows.

“This is Chenle, my-”

Chenle continued, “I’m her friend from school.” He got up from the sand and stood beside you. His demeanor changed then. “It is nice to meet you, sir.” He extended his hand out and gave your father a firm handshake.

Chenle acted like he’d been fully employed with an MBA and a six-figure salary. That must’ve been his prince personality coming out.

Your dad was taken aback by how confident Chenle had been. “It’s nice to meet you, too...May I ask why you and my daughter are out here so late?”

Chenle continued, “I apologize, sir. I hadn’t seen her in a month...And I missed her so I came to see her.” He looked at you then, a meaningful look on his face. You knew he was being honest and you felt your heart sway, then.

Your father cleared his throat. “Well, that’s very nice of you, Chenle but...it’s 2 in the morning...It’s time you called it a night, you two.”

You both looked at each other then, disappointed. It wasn’t like you could call Chenle up on his phone. You wondered if technology could factor into Atlantis...Or if they even needed it. You doubted it.

“Okay, dad,” you said, “Do you mind?” You motioned for him to leave you and Chenle for a few minutes.

Your dad shot you a look, feeling quite overprotective of his only child. He relented when you gave him the same unwavering look. “Alright. Good evening, Chenle.”

Chenle nodded and your dad walked away.

“So much for the trip to Atlantis,” you said as you crossed your arms in disappointment.

“Next time,” Chenle said, smiling down at you, adoring the way you pouted.

_______

[October 2020]

You met Chenle at the beach at nightfall several times since the night you first met at the aquarium. It was your turn to get to know Chenle more since he knew most things about you with you knowing.

He admitted to some embarrassing secrets, like how, during one of the times he visited land, he’d talked to a betta fish in a tank located inside a convenience store and everyone looked at him like he was insane. But what was most embarrassing for him was that he failed to realize that he couldn’t communicate with freshwater fish.

Chenle was courageous and kind. He told you that the reason he turned into a dolphin the day you found him was because he’d gone to help rescue a pod of dolphins from being hunted. In the process, he’d been struck. A Good Samaritan reported his injuries to the rehab center and that was how you met.

Chenle was second in line for the throne for his older brother would soon be crowned king of Atlantis.

Today was the day you would go to Atlantis with Chenle.

“Are you ready?” He asked.

You replied, “I...think so…”

You both held hands as you stood in the water together.

“Trust me,” he said as he winked.

You sighed. Chenle explained and showed his process for helping you breathe underwater.

Chenle had the ability to create an air bubble shaped to your person that surrounded you and kept your oxygen intake high.

In August, you’d tested the air bubble 12 feet under the surface and in September you worked your way up to 1200 feet under the surface.

Each time, it worked seamlessly.

However, you were going thousands of feet underwater so you were freaking out a little. You tried to not show it.

Chenle took your face into his hands. “You’re safe with me.”

You nodded, meeting his beautiful eyes as they glowed the same aqua green from the first night he revealed his true self to you.

You both dived down and Chenle extended his hands out, enveloping you with the clear air bubble.

You were able to maneuver yourself with your legs, like you were the one who swam.

Diving down with Chenle was always an adventure but now that you dove deeper and faster, you saw more of the wildlife and greenery underwater. The ocean was a force to be reckoned with but to you, it was also the most beautiful part of this planet.

Holding Chenle’s hand, he controlled the speed in which you traveled. He wanted to entertain you with the most gorgeous sights the ocean offered. He loved the awe and admiration in your eyes. He wished to always make you happy.

Chenle moved you two faster because your hometown was hundreds of miles away from Atlantis. You two didn’t have a lot of time until sunrise when you needed to get back.

And Chenle would have to retreat. Humans couldn’t know of the merfolk’s existence.

You finally saw it: the kingdom of Atlantis. The buildings stood tall, looking almost like modern-day apartment buildings. The merfolks swam alongside fish and other deep sea creatures. As the people recognized Chenle, a group of armed mermen approached you two.

“Who is this, Your Highness?” One of the armed guards asked.

He continued, “Jaehyun, this is y/n.”

At the sound of your name, all of the guards bowed deeply before you. “y/n, the savior of our prince.”

You put a hand over your mouth. “Oh, no, please don’t do that…”

Chenle laughed. “Alright, let’s go greet my parents.”

“Wait, you parents?!” You exclaimed. Chenle never mentioned meeting his parents.

The guards escorted you to the palace doors. They were heavily guarded by the biggest jellyfish you’d ever seen so no one could break in or break out without getting severely injured. The doors opened and the castle was beyond your wildest dreams. It was translucent and the towers ran high, shaped like icicles. It glowed with a magic of its own with all colors of the rainbow glowing, depending on the angle from which you looked at the structure.

You entered into the palace and into the grand throne room where the king and queen of Atlantis stood. Chenle was the spitting image of his mother. It was in the eyes and the smile.

You bowed. “Your Majesties.”

The queen and king looked at you in adoration.

“We can not express our gratitude enough for saving our son,” the king said.

The queen continued, “Whatever your wish is, we can make it so.”

“Oh,” you said, shaking your head, “That’s okay...In fact, I wasn’t the only one who helped the prince...I don’t deserve anything.”

Chenle looked at you then with so much love and respect. “You deserve the world, y/n.”

You nearly choked. “Chenle...I mean, Your Highness, I-”

Another young man entered the throne room and greeted Chenle by rubbing the crown of his head. “Little brother, you’ve brought a girl home to mummy!”

“Kun, gah, knock it off!” Chenle asked as he pulled himself off of his brother.

Kun resembled his father more but he was also handsome. You realized he was the crown prince and bowed. “Your Highness.”

“Y/n, it is an honor to finally meet you. I’m amazed that the wedding festivities haven’t begun.”

“Wedding?!” You asked and shut your mouth, thinking you spoke out of turn.

Kun and his parents laughed. Chenle sighed. “You’ll have to excuse Kun. He has a flair for the dramatic.”

Once you finished your time with the royal family, Chenle took you to the highest point in the castle. You two looked over the palace. You could see the darkness of the deep blue sea that laid beyond.

“Chenle, this is nothing at all like I imagined it. It’s...a dream,” you said.

Chenle held your hand. “You’re a dream, y/n.” He took it and kissed it.

_______

[December 2020]

You haven't seen Chenle since your visit to the kingdom. Every night that you could visit him, he was never there. You started to wonder if something had happened to him.

You even started to wonder if you’d dreamed his existence this whole time. You cried to sleep some nights, missing him. Longing to see him again.

It was New Year’s morning a few hours before daybreak that you sat alone on the beach, resolute that this would be the last time you would wait for him.

That was when he appeared.

“y/n…” He started.

“Chenle, what happened?” You asked. “I thought you-” You broke down in tears on the shoreline.

It wasn’t a full moon that night so he couldn’t run up to you and hold you like he’d wanted to do since last he saw you.

“y/n...Kun… he died,” Chenle said, trying to fight back his tears. As he was not the crown prince, he had an image to maintain of being strong for his subjects. Strong for his parents.

But with you, he broke down. Hard. Kun died during his travels along the eastern continent. He’d been intoxicated from an oil spill. His body was recovered by the royal guards and he’d had a royal funeral. The kingdom has been in mourning since then.

You didn’t care if you got soaked. You ran into the water and held him. You cried with him. Because of the negligence of your people, marine life suffered. That always pained you but to see it hit so close to home now, you were livid.

You held each other for as long as you could. Daybreak would occur anytime now but you imagined that most people would be at home asleep, nursing hangovers or recovering from being up all hours of the night. You wanted to be with Chenle for as long as you could help it.

“Chenle...what does this mean for you?” You asked.

He sighed. “I am the crown prince and...y/n...I will be wed.”

You pulled yourself away from Chenle’s embrace. “What?”

“It is the custom of my people. My parents are stepping down from the throne. As the crown prince, I must get married and produce a royal heir.”

You put a hand over your mouth. Marriage and a baby? You’d only finished your first semester of college. Chenle was on his way to becoming a king, a husband, and a father.

Now, you had to shove down your growing feelings for Chenle. Because you’d fallen hard. And now this was the sign you needed to know that you two had been from completely different worlds. It would never have worked out.

So you swallowed your pride and said, “I understand...You came to say goodbye.”

Chenle’s eyes widened. “What? Goodbye?”

Your eyes become glassy. You tried so hard to keep yourself from crying. “You’re spoken for...And I’m sure your wife will not be keen on you coming up to see a human woman…”

“y/n-” Chenle began as he tried to hold you again.

You moved away from him. “Don’t. Please.”

Chenle put his arms down and looked at how defeated you looked. He wanted nothing more than to make you his wife. You would’ve been his first choice in the long run but now that Kun had passed, he was crown prince and with that position, there were responsibilities.

He had originally planned to wait until you were both older to ask for your hand in marriage and try to convince you to live with him in the palace...Somehow...But he knew that you belonged to the land...He could never ask that of you. So he kept his dreams to himself. He simply enjoyed being in the moment with you.

But, you were right, he realized. He couldn’t be with you like this anymore.

Chenle cried before you. “I’m so sorry, y/n...I love you.”

You froze. “What?”

“I’ve loved you since the moment you made that dolphin noise…” You both remembered your first days together, when Chenle had been Happy the dolphin. You were playing around with the other interns and you tried to make a dolphin noise to get Happy’s attention. Everyone laughed at your impersonation and you covered your face in embarrassment. Chenle thought you were adorable.

“Chenle, I love you, too,” you said. You started falling for him the day he appeared to you at the aquarium. But you fell for him when he showed you the ocean, told you his stories, and made you laugh. You both showed each other the best of your worlds and you hated that this was how you would part.

Chenle held your face and you wrapped your arms around him. You kissed each other for the longest time before you bade each other farewell.

_______

[July 2036]

It was moonrise. The sun had just set and night had fallen. You walked hand in hand with your four year old son. You walked along the shore you’d ingrained into your memory. The shore where you met with Chenle so many times. You hadn’t seen him since your last farewell so this beach once again became a happier place to be.

“Mommy! Mermaid! Mermaid!” Your son pointed out to the ocean.

“Sweetie, that’s probably a dolphin,” you said as you looked out into the water and recognized an aqua green fish tail.

Your heart nearly stopped.

Chenle, older and more handsome, swam closer to the shore and watched you. You looked just as beautiful as he’d met you. You had a more determined and confident look in your eyes. You become who you were meant to be. He could see it.

“Mommy, that’s a mermaid!” Your son said.

“Chenle,” you started.

Chenle walked out of the water, now in his human form.

“Wow!” Your son exclaimed.

“Just like your mother,” Chenle said to your son as he knelt down to greet him. “What’s your name?”

“Finn,” he said.

“Hi, Finn. My name is Chenle.”

“Hi, Chenle!” Finn said.

Chenle got up and met your shocked expression with his radiant smile. “It’s been a long time.”

You nodded. “It has.”

“Have you been well?” He asked.

You nodded. “Have you?”

“Yes,” he said, “Shall we sit?”

You and Chenle sat together with Finn playing right beside you. Chenle told you he’d married the daughter of one of the family’s royal advisers. She’d never loved Chenle either. They both entered the marriage as partners for the sake of the kingdom. They produced seven heirs, seven daughters.

Chenle’s wife had a lover, a man she’d loved since before she’d married. She’d told Chenle about him. Chenle also took on a couple of lovers over the years but you were all he thought about.

You’d done what you set out to do. You graduated college with a degree in marine biology. You went to veterinary school and graduated with high honors. Now, you were the leading veterinarian at Neo City Aquarium’s Rehabilitation Center. You’d met your husband Jeno through a mutual friend. You two hit it off, dated for three years, got married, and had Finn.

Chenle surprised you with the news that the condition of the ocean had improved in the years since you’d met. It was because of generous people like you who advocated for the respect of the seas that Chenle and his people could help their kingdom thrive. The temperature of the ocean overall had improved and oil spills and pollution were the lowest they’d ever been.

You two were happy in certain ways. But it pained Chenle to see you’d been happy with another man. A part of him that he hated so much wished you’d waited for him. It was a selfish desire but he couldn’t help it.

You knew from long ago that waiting for Chenle was a dream that you could never entertain so you pushed forward with your ambitions. You wanted to do what you could to protect the ocean. You loved it as much as Chenle had. It showed in your work with marine life and in your advocacy to combat climate change.

“Mommy, where is Daddy?” Finn asked.

You remembered that Jeno would be here at any moment. You checked your texts and Jeno told you he’d pick you and Finn up in ten minutes.

“Ten minutes, sweetie. That’s soon. Let’s get ready to go,” you said. You looked at Chenle’s eyes. You knew this was another farewell. Even if it was less devastating than the first. Both of you still harbored a little bit of pain over what could’ve been.

“Goodbye, y/n.”

“Goodbye, Chenle.”

“I’m happy that you’re happy,” he said.

“I’m happy that you’re happy,” you echoed.

He gave you a beautiful, polished conch shell. “Perhaps you can make a necklace out of it. I want you to have it. It’s a gift from my parents and I.”

It was a beautiful shade of cream with traces of pink. “Thank you.”

Giving you one last longing look, Chenle got back into the water and smiled at you before he dove into the water again. A tear escaped your eye but you quickly wiped it away.

[July 2076]

Your children had their own children now. You and Jeno had divorced when Finn was 19, Dylan was 17, and Kai was 14. You split on amicable terms. You simply fell out of love with each other. Jeno could always tell you couldn’t get over your first love. No matter how hard you tried.

What gave you joy was your children. And like you, they’d all been invested in the aquarium and the center. They kept the legacy on.

Your daughter Kai had gotten married today at the beach. Everyone was celebrating on the makeshift dance floor on the sand. You stood at the shoreline alone, feeling the water hit your toes. You enjoyed the sensation every time.

You saw his aqua green tail. You couldn’t believe it. You must’ve been seeing things. You’d recently retired. You were as bright and alert as that of a healthy fifty year old’s but perhaps your eyes were now deceiving you. You had been in your seventies, after all.

Chenle, as gray as you were but as handsome as he’d been the first time you saw him, beamed at you.

You told your kids about Chenle. Finn remembered meeting him. Your eldest son knew it wasn’t in his imagination so he begged you to tell him about Chenle, Atlantis, and the ocean. Kai and Dylan had also been curious. Now your three children watched as you met eyes with Chenle.

Your three kids walked over to you. Kai put her hand on your shoulder. “Mom...go be with him. We support you.”

“But Kai...Your babies…” You started. You didn’t want to leave your children so abruptly. Even if they were older now and independent, you wanted to be there for them in whatever they needed.

“My daughter is my first and last, I promise you that. You promise to come visit, right?” Kai laughed. She’d had her daughter with another man a few years before her marriage today. She’d named her daughter after you.

Dylan started, “Mom...You’ve given us so much love and support...We want you to go after what you want. Who you want.”

You fought back a sob and hugged your children. “I love you three. You are the loves of my life.”

“We love you, too,” Dylan said, wiping his tears with his jacket sleeve.

Finn waved at Chenle. “Hi, Chenle! I knew you were real!”

Chenle laughed. “Hi, Finn!”

You hugged your children tightly and walked into the water. Chenle had his arms wide open for you and enveloped yourself into his embrace. With his magic, you became a mermaid. You sported a radiant fuchsia tail. You both waved to your children before you dived deep into what always felt like home.

[Fin]

Come back tomorrow for another spooky story...

[gettingvetted]

An Excerpt on Dr. Pol

Or, Why Most of the Veterinary Community Don’t Like Him

Basically, he is an old vet who has not kept up with the standard of medicine, and he is proud of it. There’s nothing wrong with being old, and there’s nothing wrong with doing things that have worked for you for years... as long as there is not literal scientific evidence against it. Veterinarians have strict continuing education requirements for a reason!

For example (and these were all ON THE SHOW) - A puppy attacked by another dog or large animal is put in a cage to await treatment and dies as a result. It should have been immediately triaged, placed on oxygen/fluids/pain relief as necessary, and had diagnostics performed to determine the extent of the injuries and required repairs begun, or euthanized if poor prognosis or lack of owner finances. Not allowed to die alone in a cage without treatment. - A dog with a GI obstruction dies. It wasn’t surgerized, euthanized, or even placed on fluids or pain relief to await one of those two fates. It died. - A dog’s tail is amputated without anesthesia or sterile technique. This is not neonatal tail docking (which is unethical to start with). This is an amputation. A surgical procedure in an adult dog. - A dog has an FHO (read: cutting off pieces of bone, which is a type of surgery where it is considered absolutely necessary to be 100% sterile), without proper sterile technique or pain relief. - A Boston Terrier (brachycephalic breed) has its eye removed without sterile technique, pain relief, or, get this - intubation. Intubation is where a tube is placed into the trachea so that oxygen and anesthesia can be delivered to the patient’s lungs. It is not always necessary for very short procedures or on very small animals such as tiny kittens or some exotics, but brachycephalic breeds ALWAYS require intubation during anesthesia. One of the defining characteristics of a brachycephalic is an elongated palate, which causes the “cute” (actually disgusting) snoring/honking/snorting that comes to mind when you think of a pug, English bulldog, or Frenchie. This same elongated palate blocks the airway when it is relaxed, which is the default state when under anesthesia. For all Dr. Pol knew, this animal was not receiving oxygen or anesthesia at all during this procedure.

He has also had official fines and sanctions placed upon him. -  2010 Complaint - $500 fine and 1-year probation. The first complaint was filed against Dr. Pol by a client in 2010 for giving poor advice and misdiagnosing dead puppies via ultrasound. The client had made multiple phone calls to Dr. Pol, complaining that her pregnant dog had passed her due date and was exhibiting a vaginal discharge. The phone calls were not documented, something all veterinarians can be guilty of. But when Dr. Pol and his associate performed an ultrasound days later, Dr. Pol claimed he saw movement from the puppies when, it seems, the 10 puppies were already dead. In 2012, Dr. Pol and his veterinary associates were found to be negligent, fined, placed on probation and ordered to complete some continuing education. During the proceedings, Dr. Pol claimed that he had done nothing wrong except for not documenting the phone calls, and that a jealous ex-associate had complained about him just to cause trouble for him. Nat Geo WILD tried to spin the outcome, stating that the fine was merely for an “administrative complaint, not malpractice or misdiagnosis.”  -  In 2014, a veterinarian filed a different complaint against Dr. Pol stating that when performing surgery on that Boston terrier from above that had been hit by an automobile, Dr. Pol didn’t wear sterile surgical attire. The veterinary board ordered Dr. Pol to pay a $500 fine and serve a year of probation in response to this complaint. However, the Michigan Court of Appeals overturned the disciplinary action in 2016, stating that the evidence provided was not sufficient. - Much more recently (2020) Dr. Pol was placed on professional probation for negligence. He was ordered to complete continuing education “in the areas of small animal surgical preparation and monitoring, and small/large animal aseptic technique.” The case dates back to 2013, when a TV viewer criticized how Dr. Pol performed an ovariohysterectomy on a dog. The state attorney general investigated the matter and filed a complaint against Dr. Pol for "failing to intubate the dog during surgery, failing to use an electronic monitoring device during the procedure, failing to request assistance locating the dog’s uterus during surgery and failing to wear a surgical cap, mask and gown during the procedure." In 2015, the state received another complaint from a horse’s owners stating that Dr. Pol was not wearing a cap, gown or gloves when treating a cut on their horse’s leg and that he had also failed to trim the horse’s hair near the laceration. (It should be noted that in general, a cap and gown are not worn while treating equine leg lacerations. Sterile gloves are not usually worn either, but at minimum, examination gloves should be worn and the wound should be clipped and cleaned before repair. Many times you will discover that the wound is bigger or deeper than it initially appears under all the hair and dirt.) At any rate, his attorney isn’t worried. He says that the appeals process will not have a negative impact on the TV show. “This case demonstrates how the Michigan Veterinary Board makes arbitrary decisions. The Board even agreed that Dr. Pol’s care was competent. We have had these issues with the Board previously, which resulted in the Michigan Court of Appeals reversing the Board for arbitrary and capricious decision-making. Dr. Pol will continue to challenge the Board until a fair and rational process is used for review of veterinary care.”

Another thing that we don’t like about Dr. Pol and vets like him (such as Dr. Jeff) is that they make the rest of us look bad. When we require $400 for an enucleation (eye removal) as above, people whine and complain and say that’s way too high, if you really loved animals you would do it for $70 like Dr. Pol does. The fact of the matter is, you cannot offer good medicine for cheap unless you cut corners in patient safety and comfort (or unless you receive special grants/funding from the government or charitable organizations). 

First, do no harm.

[mountphoenixrp]

We have a new citizen in Mount Phoenix:

                    Nakamura Kai, who is known by no other name,                                a 20 year old son of Yanluo Wang.                     He is a student and volunteer at Stop&Paws.

FC NAME/GROUP: Huening Kai, member of TXT CHARACTER NAME: Nakamura Kai (born Choi Kai) AGE/DATE OF BIRTH: August 11, 2002 PLACE OF BIRTH: Seoul, South Korea OCCUPATION: Veterinary Medicine student, volunteer at Stop & Paws HEIGHT: 183 cm (6’0″) WEIGHT: 67 kg (147 lbs) DEFINING FEATURES: N/A

PERSONALITY: Growing up on a loving house, Kai grew to be a cheerful young man with the heart of cotton candy. Extremely passionate about animals and books, he is keen on becoming a skilled Veterinarian and proving to himself that he is a good person despite his nature, by caring about others whenever Kai is able to. His family taught him about compassion and self-improvement and Kai lives by those words every single day.

If you’re having a bad day, Kai will do his best to be there. If the rain brings you down, he can be sunshine for a little while. However, everyone has their own flaws and despite always focusing on spreading empathy, his godly nature makes him sensible to distress, a reality that haunts him on a daily basis. Kai is a kind, dedicated young man that struggles to keep himself away from the temptation and reality of what it means to be a son of Yanluo Wang

HISTORY: Choi Minryeong, a talented young woman from a respectful family, lived by her own rules and sought out pleasure and new adventures constantly. Such spirit took her to live abroad and settle in Japan for a while, where she met friends, among them was Keiko, an equally free-spirited woman. Occasional hook-ups were a must in her luxurious life and on a very special encounter, Minryeong saw herself becoming infatuated by a mesmerising and mysterious man.

However, such a lovely time would soon turn upside down with the realisation that from their intimate moments, the woman had become pregnant. Minryeong was not prepared to be a mother, there was so much to see in the world and the idea of a baby did not follow along her life plans. In addition to that, on the same day she did the pregnancy test, the young woman got her life even more twisted, by being told by the man she’d be dating, that he was a Chinese God. The impact of her reality was too much and with the help of her family, the woman fled back to Seoul, where she lived her pregnant life mostly in high-end hotels, distancing herself from the child’s father and from anyone else except for one specific friend that she kept in contact via phone calls or email. A couple days after she gave birth, Minryeong flew to Kochi on a private jet, unbeknownst to her family and left her son to the care of Keiko, to be adopted and loved like she couldn’t love him.

Life with his adoptive family was good, having a mother and an older sister that loved him made Kai grow as a cheerful toddler, however, whenever he’d have a tantrum, that energy would pass to everyone else. Realising this, Keiko researched the boy’s father and the acknowledgement of his nature was terrifying. Despite this gloomy turn of events, Keiko managed to educate both children the best way she could and life overall was comfortable.

Behave, be kind, and ignore the good feeling of seeing someone unhappy. These were the most adamant lessons Kai was told when growing up, but Kai never fully understood why. His sister was quite busy and promising, while all Kai cared about was reading about animals and playing on the muddy grass backyard. Despite having his specific interests, Kai was rather popular across middle and high school, mostly thanks to his looks one specific rainy day during high school, the school bullies picked on Kai, to the point he was left on the floor with a bloody nose and angry to his core.

This triggered his powers to bring the feeling of misery on others and the three high schoolers screeched in despair, alerting the attention of the school. Since only Kai had the physical proof of his abuse, he was left off without any penalty. However, by coming home, Keiko finally told him why such an occurrence happened. Kai was shaken, feeling afflicted with his own nature and at the idea, that he could make his family screech the way the boys did. Kai decided to not tell Kazuha about his powers and begged his mother to keep it a secret between the two of them.

The rest of high school went through smoothly, with the bullies barely looking in his direction again and rumours about what happened never spread, as the boy found they would be ridiculed. With the aim of suppressing his nature and solely focusing on doing good for his family and his goals, Kai graduated with one of the highest scores and soon would attend college. However, those plans were shifted, with the sight of his sister leaving to a place called Mount Phoenix and Keiko told him he should follow her. Kai never questioned his mother and he did not wish to be away from Kazuha again, so he made his way to this island and hope that we would never hear anyone screech again.

PANTHEON: Chinese CHILD OF: Yanluo Wang, God of Death

POWERS:

able to gain energy and feel exhilarated from people in misery around him.

can cause mental suffering and misery in other people for short periods of time.

his occasional premonitions of death come during his sleep, in the shape of nightmares.

STRENGTHS:

Reliable: Kai has a tendency to go out and beyond for the people close to him. He is someone one can talk to when in need, or to simply have as a company on a bad day. Also, whatever Kai commits himself to do, he will not stop until it is completed according to his high standards.

Compassion: despite his natural ability to revel in misery, Kai taught himself to strive to be the opposite. He is caring towards people and especially with animals.

Studious: Kai loves to read about many subjects, making him knowledgeable in many topics and facts about the world and history.

WEAKNESSES:

Occasionally lethargic: since he decides to not pursue his godly abilities, Kai rarely gains energy from people in misery and sometimes it gets to the point he’ll be very tired and need plenty of sleep.

Unskilled demi-god: Kai has been very stubborn when it came to embracing his powers. Refusing to practice, it’ll cause harsh repercussions for him and the people around him. If he is under distress emotionally, his ability to cause mental suffering can be triggered in exaggeration unwillingly.

Easily tempted: Living all his life avoiding and ignoring how his body reacts to misery, sometimes it is very difficult not to succumb to how good it feels to provoke distress in others. In general, his willpower is strong, but not if he feels the effects of his godly nature.