Young vet in training
Rankin boy cares about the health and happiness of animals
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
RANKIN INLET
It's never too early to start career planning, especially when you're a robust young boy with a love for animals.
An impressed young Will Hartman looks on as animalhealth technician Jen Dakin demonstrates tooth cleaning during the Tuxedo Animal Hospital's pet clinic in Rankin Inlet this past fall. - photo courtesy of Page Burt |
Will Hartman, 9, has four dogs - three retrievers and a husky named Hunter, Lucky, Riggs and Herbert.
The youngest, Lucky and Hunter, are brother and sister.
They were born on the same day, with Hunter born in the morning and Lucky in the afternoon.
Hartman loves spending time with them, and he also likes helping out Nanuq Lodge owner John Hickes with his numerous sled dogs.
He also cares a great deal about the health of animals.
Hartman volunteered his time to help out a bit when the Tuxedo Animal Hospital held its annual pet clinic in Rankin this past September.
He was fascinated with the work the animal health-care specialists were doing, and soon found himself watching Dr. Jonas Watson perform surgery.
"I was a little nervous, but it wasn't near as bad as I thought it might be," he said.
"I wasn't scared and it really wasn't gross. They were all really nice to me, and I really liked watching them help the dogs and the other pets.
"I'm looking forward to hanging out with them more when they come back again."
Hartman is too busy with the everyday joys of being a child to worry about what he's going to be when he grows up. But still, something inside him stirs at the thought of caring for animals on a regular basis. Hartman said he loves that his four dogs are all big, friendly and kind.
"I spend a lot of time playing with my dogs and I do some mushing too," he said.
"Sometimes I have to feed and clean up after them, but I don't mind. I wouldn't mind being a veterinarian some day, or just helping care for animals in some way. We need lots more people to be kind to animals, and who want to care for them and make sure they're healthy and happy."
