My love for animals has always been present since I was a child and my keenness to work with them in a professional capacity was solidified after completing volunteer work with Forest Dog Rescue as a Volunteer Dog Walker back in 2016-2018. Here I was responsible for walking dogs of various sizes, breeds and temperaments, some of which were working through past trauma. I ensured their wellbeing and safety was paramount during our walks together and created a strong bond with all the animals I walked on a regular basis. I am about to embark on a month-long volunteer placement at Springwood Mindfulness Sanctuary as part of my MA Human-Animal Interaction degree with Stirling University. Here I will be gaining further practical experience with horses, donkeys, dogs, cats, and chickens. I feel the knowledge and skills I gain from my time there will be extremely beneficial and easily transferable to this role. I have also had a variety of companion animals as part of my family throughout my life, from rabbits, chinchillas, hamsters and guinea pigs to dogs, cats and fish. I hold the desired qualities of trustworthiness, reliability and honesty which play a key role in and building rapport with a regular client base.