Meet Sarah Jo, an Animal Health Program Manager!

Have you ever heard of an Animal Health Manager? Well, we talked to Sarah Jo, Animal Health Program Manager for the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum, to learn all about her job. Keep reading to learn what she does!

What is your job title and what are some examples of what you do?

I am the Animal Health Manager of the Ararat Ridge Zoo at the Ark Encounter and the Eden Zoo at the Creation Museum. I help keep all of our animals healthy! I coordinate their yearly physical exams and vaccinations with our veterinarians. When animals are sick, I help take care of them. I work with zookeepers to collect blood samples from the animals to ensure they are staying healthy and with a zoo nutritionist to make sure all our animals are receiving the proper diets. I also work with our vet specialists to give our animals physical therapy as needed. My job is to be a good steward of the creatures God gave us dominion over.

How did you get interested in your career?

I’ve always loved visiting zoos and learning about animals. In high school, I thought I wanted to become a music teacher, but on a family trip to a zoo, we got to see a dental procedure on a gorilla, and I knew that’s what I wanted to do.

What type of schooling/experience did you go through to become an Animal Health Manager?

I worked at the Creation Museum’s zoo while I was in high school and throughout college. I earned my bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology. To earn my degree, I needed to complete a four-week internship that I was able to do in South Africa. While I was in Africa, I worked on a wildlife ranch and with a local veterinarian to gain experience with native African wildlife. My favorite animal to work with in Africa were the cheetahs.

What is your favorite part of your job?

I love forming relationships with the animals! I’ve worked with Gomer the camel at the Ararat Ridge Zoo for 15 years, and I have a special bond with him. I love finding new, innovative treatments to help our animals.

What is the most difficult part of your job?

Being in charge of the animals’ health means I’m not always their favorite person, so building trust with the animals is a hard part of my job. Also, I don’t just care for cute, fluffy animals. If a tarantula or snake needs my help, I will always try my best!

Because we live in a fallen world, I see the effects of sin on animals. Animals don’t live forever, and it’s hard to say goodbye to animals you have worked with so closely. But as a Bible-believing Christian, I have hope in the promise of a new heaven and a new earth in the future where “[God] will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

What is the coolest thing you’ve learned in your field?

We have used many new treatments for our animals like a light-activated gel to heal wounds faster, essential oil treatments to help with seasonal allergies, and even acupuncture and chiropractic adjustment for our aging animals.

What have you learned about God through your work?

I’ve learned to see God’s glory in all the amazing designs in our animals. The more you learn about animals, the more you see God’s hand at work in their design. I often look at how well God has equipped animals to survive and think about how much more God loves us as humans made in his image.

For kids that might be interested in a career like yours when they grow up, how would you encourage them to get started?

Volunteer or intern at vet clinics and zoos if you can! Zoo medicine is a constantly growing field where we really don’t have all the answers, so it requires a lot of flexibility and willingness to learn from others. Having a humble approach will get you far. Being willing to say “I don’t know, but I will try to find out” is a saying we use often!

Thanks for answering our questions, Sarah Jo!

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