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Cameron Guevara UC Davis undergraduate, 4th year Major: Animal Biology  Randy and me. When I first joined the Green Care Lab, I had no idea just how much of an impact this internship would have on me. Coming from a background primarily centered around small animals and exotics, I was excited--but admittedly a bit nervous--to gain my first hands-on experience with livestock animals. I wondered how different their care would be, how they would respond to me, and whether I would be able to read their behaviors as intuitively as I could with the animals I was more familiar with. Now, after spending time caring for all the animals in the lab, I can confidently say that this experience has been transformative, deepening both my understanding of animal care and my passion for animal welfare.
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Alexandra Ina UC Davis undergraduate, 4th year Major: Environmental Science and Management  Lilly and Cal. My Work- Life- Ranch Balance
College life is no walk in the park. It is a chaotic, fast paced sprint where you are always trying to keep up. Entering my fourth year at Davis has brought me new and daunting challenges, as I tackle writing a thesis, finishing my classes, and a new data collection position in a lab! Not to mention, the reality of finishing college is starting to sink in, and it is overwhelming to face the vast uncertainty of what lies ahead. But amid all this chaos, I have found an unexpected sense of peace at the ranch. While there is always work to be done--mucking, walking, feeding, and mucking again, I find solace in caring for these animals I have bonded with over the past few months. I have found it fascinating to communicate with them, pick up on their behaviors, and understand their needs. Jazmine Cruz UC Davis undergraduate, 4th year Major: Animal Science  Before I started my internship at the Green Care Lab, I never would have imagined having this opportunity to work with miniature horses, donkeys, goats and pigs because of how afraid I was of animals larger than your regular cat and dog. I also would have never imagined the opportunity to work in an internship studying their cognition and behavior. Every shift I work, I am greeted by the overwhelming screams of Carebear, Romeo, and Jellybean (the mini pigs), who are excited to get their first feeding of the day. I always greet them with, “Who’s hungry?” and it fills my heart with joy seeing their little teeth and swinging tails. Usually around this time I can hear Mary, the mini donkey, braying while she waits for me to finish mucking both the goats’ and pigs’ pens. After marking their logs, I make my way to the mini horses’ and donkeys’ pen to greet them as they approach the gate. Usually Memphis, Mary’s son, has half his nose poked out the gate as he tries to escape the pen to go to the field. When the other interns and I turn out the mini horses and donkeys, my favorite part is watching Olivia, the mini horse, run into the field and begin to either forage or roll around in the dirt happily.
Jamie Tianero UC Davis undergraduate, 4th year Major: Animal Science  Me bonding with Olivia. I’d like to think that all of the animals in the lab have taken a liking to me, and I do think a bond has started to form with at least some of them. A bond with an animal is an establishment of a mutual trust and, like any relationship, is built up over time after getting to know each other. This trust benefits both humans and animals through the ease of handling and reduction of stress for both parties. Learning how to effectively interact and build trust with different species is an extremely relevant skill that I know will be useful in my future in the veterinary medicine field. The ability to read an animal’s body language and behaviors helps to build trust that could make a meaningful difference in the care they receive. Further developing this skill now, through hands-on experiences, will help me to become a more attentive veterinarian.
Sophie Morrill UC Davis undergraduate, 2nd year Major: Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology  Olivia grazing. It's incredibly fascinating how much you can learn from observing animals in such a short amount of time. I began my internship with the Green Care Lab this January, with my only prior experience working with large animals dating back to high school. However, due to a busy schedule at that time, I was never able to develop a strong connection with them during my past volunteering. I was excited to have the chance to build a genuine, consistent bond with these animals while gaining valuable knowledge along the way. As I spend more and more time on the ranch, it has truly become the highlight of my week. After studying for long periods at the library or sitting through lectures all day, I find myself longing to walk the minis through the luscious grassy fields or prepare some of the enrichment activities for the animals. Something about spending time mucking the pens outside in the fresh air and pausing to give the animals a good scratch has been so mentally refreshing.
Emily Corona UC Davis undergraduate, 3rd year Major: Animal Science  Memphis playing with the soft brush. Mud, rubber boots, shovels, buckets, more mud – the typical life of an animal science major at UC Davis. I’m no different; at this point hauling wheelbarrows and stocking feed is second nature. This is what I’ve always loved about the animal science major; be it through classes or my extracurricular activities, I never fail to find myself back in the pen working with the animals. It’s no wonder I was immediately drawn to the holistic nature of the Green Care Lab and its focus on animal cognition. I was incredibly excited to explore my recently chosen specialization of animal behavior in a hands-on environment.
Nina Spaccarelli UC Davis undergraduate, 4th year Major: Animal Science  Romeo after rolling in the mud, a form of enrichment Have you ever visited a place that houses animals, like a farm, shelter, or even a friend's house, and noticed the wide variety of items present in the animal's habitat? Or perhaps you've encountered situations where the absence of enrichment items was apparent. In those instances, you couldn't help but witness firsthand the impact that enrichment activities have on an animal's behavior and mood. Animals are greatly affected by their surroundings, responding to the stimuli they encounter, which significantly shapes their mood and behavior. That's why ensuring proper enrichment is absolutely essential for the well-being and happiness of our beloved animal companions.
Claire Short UC Davis graduate, Spring 2022 Major: Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology  Me giving a guest lecture in Becca's class I stepped hesitantly into the classroom and snuck past a handful of students who had arrived early. I felt self-conscious sitting down at the front of the room, facing 40 or so green plastic chairs arranged in haphazard rows, most of which would soon be occupied. When Becca first suggested that I give a guest lecture on animal-assisted therapy and experiment design in the class she’s teaching, I was excited. But for the past few days, I had been almost dreading this moment, although I knew that I would stop worrying when I got into the flow of the lecture. When I’m teaching, whether I’m working with humans or other animals, I become more aware of the subtle forms of communication that help me understand my students. This makes me feel more connected with those around me and keeps me in the moment.
Claire Short UC Davis graduate, Spring 2022 Major: Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology  Hanging out with Care Bear and Jellybean I often diligently avoid conflicts, which sometimes means being overly polite or letting other people have their way. But when I feel comfortable fully expressing my opinions, I have always hated to back down. When I was a kid, that compelled me to insist for years that “stragedy” was the correct spelling and change the rules of chess so I could un-checkmate myself. Although I do not condone cheating, my years of practice standing my ground and finding creative ways to come out on top fueled a productive debate at a recent lab meeting. When Jessie critiqued the experiment design that Nora and I had proposed in our presentation, Jessie and I began a battle of wits that evolved into a valuable discussion.
Jessie Ostrove UC Davis undergraduate, 4th year Major: Environmental Science and Management  Mary and I having a conversation It’s the end of fall quarter already?! I feel like just yesterday I was loading the mini horses and donkeys off the trailer for the first time into their new home. They’ve really settled in and shown what I believe to be their true personalities now, having gotten comfortable for quite some time. Although they continue to surprise me each and every day, I feel so fulfilled knowing they trust me enough to be their authentic, silly, unique selves.
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