Gwen R.

Gwen's commitment to the care of animals has been instinctual for as long as she can remember. She worked for a veterinary practice in high school and headed in the direction of veterinary medicine in college. It was then that her path shifted and she became a rehabilitator for people! She has worked as an Occupational therapist for the past 28 years but has continued to be drawn to wildlife rehabilitation. After Gwen's children were grown, she made the commitment to follow her heart and, with the full support of her husband, studied for and passed the Connecticut Wildlife Rehabilitators Exam. She applied for and accepted a volunteer position at the Mystic Pequotsepos Nature center providing turtle care, feeding hawks and owls and learning from the other more experienced rehabilitators. She's so excited to earn her permit to rehabilitate rabbits, squirrels and opossum babies in her own home -- and having an incubator will be hugely helpful for the tiniest patients. Gwen says that wildlife rehabilitation is one of the most exciting, challenging, exhausting and rewarding experiences of her life.