Julia Fischel is director of Companion Animal Services at spcaLA. She coordinates the adoption and foster-animal programs for dogs and cats. At what age did you choose your career? I must have been eight or nine years old. I was watching a nature program on television about wolves that turned into a show about hunting. Since then my feelings for animals and wanting to protect them has never faltered. By the time I was eleven, I was working at a nature center and taking classes about animals at the Bronx Zoo. Although I considered other career choices, I felt it was inevitable that I would find myself being around animals and working for a humane society. Was there a specific event or person associated with that decision? I had a lot of encouragement from my parents; my mother provided me with information, took me on nature walks, and lugged me back and forth to many activities so I could be around animals. I also had many "mentors" at my volunteer jobs as a child who made me feel good about being compassionate and wanting to help animals. What has been the greatest experience of your career? Every time I foster a litter of orphaned kittens. It can be very trying at times, but what an experience to watch as two-week-old kittens grow and develop into healthy cats...all under your care. It makes me see what a difference I can make to the life of an animal. What specialized skills do you need for the job? I need both animal skills and people skills. I have to know how to safely handle animals in many different situations, to learn about their needs and behavior so I can better understand them, and I even have to clean cages. Since I work with the public and often educate them about different animals and their needs and behaviors, I am required to use my speaking and writing skills. What is the most frustrating part of your job? It is frustrating that there are so many homeless dogs and cats and not enough people who are willing and able to care for them. Any advice for young people who are considering a career in zoology? It certainly won't be glamorous, you probably won't become rich, and very often people won't understand why you chose it. But it is such a worthwhile path, and it needs bright and compassionate people. If you could be any cat, which would you be? I would be a very well-loved, well-pampered, well-fed domestic house cat.