Volunteering for the
Emerald Coast Animal Allies was a great experience for me to be a part of. After I earned my ten hours of service
learning, I continued to volunteer because I enjoyed it so much. I was able to meet new people who shared the
same interest in animals as I do. Taking
care of the health of animals and being included in the adoption process has
been an extraordinary experience. Throughout
this entire experience, it has made me understand the struggle that many
animals have to go through. Interacting
with animals in our environment relates to several of our lessons that we
discuss in class. One of the lessons
related to my volunteering experience is learning about the habitats of
species. In Chapter 8, Community
Ecology, the lesson explains about the human causes of habitats and species
within a community. By being involved
with animals, I realize that all animals can be disrupted by human
engagement. Many of these animals are
taken from home to home. This causes
them to change environments, which is very hard to adapt. Finding a stable home for these animals will
potentially fix this issue. The lesson
also discusses the relationships of symbiosis.
For example, when a kitten gets fleas, which is very common from
changing its environment constantly, the kitten is harmed. When a kitten gets a tick, the tick is able
to get its nourishment. This is an
example of parasitism.
