Growing Up in a Mini "Zoo": My Lifelong Love for Animals

Why my love and interest for animals and their welfare is so deep? Here's why:

From the time I was just a little kid, around 5 or 6 years old, my life has been filled with animals. You could say I was practically raised in a mini zoo! My deep love and care for animals started early, thanks to my parents, who also grew up with pets. Their passion for animals was something they passed down to me and my elder brother naturally.

In our lively household, we had a menagerie of pets. I remember having four adorable hamsters who, despite their tiny size, had personalities big enough to rival WWE wrestlers. We had to keep them in separate cages because of their feisty nature. Then there was our fluffy and energetic Husky, who kept us all on our toes, and a charming Shiba who always knew how to make us smile. Our British Shorthair orange cat was the king of cool, strutting around the house with an air of elegance.

My mom, on the other hand, had a beautiful canary that filled our home with songs—and a fair amount of mess, as he loved to fling seeds and veggies across the room. My dad and older brother had an impressive aquarium full of vibrant fish and a couple of turtles. And let's not forget my grandma's morocoy, a massive yellow-footed tortoise who was surprisingly quick for his size. He was a heavy guy but had a gentle soul.

The crown jewel of our little zoo was our collection of birds: four lovebirds who chirped away merrily and a parrot with a bit of a potty mouth—though hearing him swear never failed to make us laugh. After all those pets, I even asked for a bunny at one point. But my dad, ever the voice of reason, kindly declined, pointing out that our home was already bursting at the seams with animals.

This bustling, pet-filled environment is where my passion for animals was born and nurtured. It’s something that’s stayed with me my entire life, and even now, as an adult, I can’t imagine a life without animals. My husband and I adopted a 1-year-old tuxedo cat (a British Shorthair) two years ago, and he’s become the heart of our home. He’s fluffy, mischievous, and completely adored—we can’t imagine life without him.

Being a cat parent is a wonderful journey. It’s full of love, cuddles, playful moments, and yes, the occasional scratch. But every bit of it is worth it. My lifelong love for animals and their welfare has shaped who I am, taught me empathy, compassion, love and care, and it continues to be a driving force in both my personal as well as in my professional life today. 🌸