Nicoles Bio

I don't know how it all started or why I've always felt so connected to animals; all I know is that the path of my life has always been paved by my love for them. I had the blessing of having the most amazing parents in the world who let me explore my love for these animals and put up with having all types of creatures in their home. I have learned so much from the animal friends I have shared my life with. One of the first, and greatest, lessons came when I was about 10 years old. I found a baby robin under a tree. My parents and I took him to the vet and learned how to properly raise him. For the first time in my life there was a little being that was dependent on me. After a few months, it was time to let him go. I realized that as badly as I wanted to keep him it wouldn't be fair and so I took him to my backyard, kissed him on his head and said good-bye. Although I couldn't keep him, the lessons he taught me would be with me forever; lessons of love, friendship, responsibility, caring, and ultimately, unselfishness. These are the lessons that I have carried with me through the years. They are the lessons that made me realize that I wanted nothing more than to share my life with as many animals as I could. After that experience I went on to volunteer with an adoption agency, Paws to Love Adoptions. I also met a couple of wildlife rehabilitators, named Lou and Ro, and worked alongside them from when I was 13 until now. In 1998, as soon as I turned 16, I got a job at a local animal hospital. I became a Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator in 2000, and graduated from Mercy College in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in Veterinary Technology. I then went to work as a Licensed Veterinary Technician at Valley Cottage Animal Hospital. Unfortunately, in May of 2005 my allergies to cats became extremely severe and with great reluctance I had to make a career change. I am currently training animals for movies, commercials, TV shows etc. and share my life and heart with a number of amazing creatures.

A Message from Our Founder

Ever since I can remember, I was fascinated by animals. By their ability to provide friendship, healing, and uncondtional love (among other things). The lessons that I have learned from these amazing creatures have proved time and time again to be invaluable. Unfortunately, many people cannot see the worth of these amazing beings that we share this earth with. Some because they don't want to see it and others simply because they haven't had the opportunity to. The pet trade allows many of us to share our lives with all kinds of wonderful animal companions. My concern is that it has gone too far. Millions of animals are put to sleep every year due to overpopulation. Millions of animals live miserable lives year after year because their "owners" didn't know how much time they would need or the type of care they actually required. So, they sit in a cage, day after day, never having their needs met. Never feeling loved. And when quality of life issues arise the response is "They are JUST animals" Yes, they are "just" animals, but they are animals that exist for their own reasons, not for ours. They are animals that were more than happy living in jungles, and forests, and on mountaintops, and in deserts. They were happy there. They met their own needs and lived their own lives. We, as humans, decided to take over that. We captured them and bred them for our own uses. We domesticated them, caused them to have to rely on us and therefore it is our duty to protect them. It is our duty to educate ourselves and others about these animals. This is the heart of why "Animal Experiences" was created. To show people how amazing these animals are and to educate them about them. Please educate yourself before obtaining ANY animal, whether it be a dog, a cat, a bird, a reptile, a rodent or anything else. We owe it to the animals and to ourselves to enter pet "ownership" responsibly. Thank you for your interest in "Animal Experiences".

-Nicole, founder Animal Experiences