For as long as I can remember, I always LOVED animals. It was as natural for me to be friends with a dog, cat, or bird as having human friends. There always seemed to be kinship, a recognition of each other’s hearts when I was around animals.
As I grew up, I wanted to work with animals in some capacity. But I saw becoming a vet as my only option and knew I would have a difficult time seeing an animal sick or dying.
When I entered college, I decided to become a physical therapist. I dedicated my whole heart and soul into helping others for over a decade.
During my career, I never stopped helping animals. I would write letters to decision makers and sign petitions to help raise awareness of animal welfare issues.
In 2011, I visited the Performing Animals Welfare Society in California that changed the course of my life. I was able to meet animals that were rescued from performing animal trades. Seeing these animals living freely was a sight to behold. One elephant in particular that stole my heart was Nicolas. Nicolas was forced as a baby to ride a tricycle in a circus and seeing that image in my mind was so egregious, so callus, that at that moment, I knew I wanted to do more to be a voice for animals.
The photo of my hand in Nicolas’ paw print was a symbol of my pact with him and all animals that I was saying yes to be a voice for the voiceless.
Three years later, I resigned as a physical therapist to set on my path for helping animals. One day I read an article about a woman in Vermont who was working with state legislation to ban the sale and trade of ivory. I was able to contact her and said I wanted to help ban the sale and trade of ivory in Illinois. She introduced me to the good people at the Humane Society of the United States and Tusk Task Force. With their help, we fought the battle to ban ivory from being sold and traded in Illinois.
In 2018, I decided to start Wild For Change to advocate for all animal welfare and the conservation of nature because what animals and nature provides for us is invaluable and our interconnection with all of nature is necessary for us to thrive. It has been an absolute blessing for me to be on this path.
