I have loved animals since childhood. My first job was at a petstore. Handled birds, rats, snakes, tarantulas, large insects, crawfish, baby skunks, etc. When we first moved to our farm, I had to catch a snapping turtle with a stick and a trash can. She was laying eggs in a plowed field and I was afraid she would bite the dogs.Once, I was talking to a friend on the phone. She heard the rooster in the background and had to hang up-she was THAT afraid of birds! I consider myself lucky after reading this thread!