Profile Essay Example
Brianna Simpson
Mr. Bernstein
English 101
16 October 2013
Essay #2: Profile
Never Wild
Those who wish to pet and baby wild animals, "love" them. But those who respect their natures and wish to let them live normal lives, love them more. − Edwin Way Teale
Nearly two miles up a rocky washboard dirt road in Phelan, California is Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary at 8545 Buttemere Road. Driving up, I could see two signs on the chain link fence that rounded the corner of the property − one, directing my attention to a house down the road on my left read, "Almquist Home," and the other pointing ahead on the left claimed, "Learning Center." I parked in the white, pea-sized gravel lot directly in front of the learning center. There I met Joel and Chemaine Almquist who own ten acres in the chaparral just east of the San Gabriel Mountains. Joel wheezed in a raspy, grating voice, "I've always had animals, and Chemaine, well, she just has to have what she has to have. We've been here since '97. I had many of my snakes before that though. But we've only been open to the public since then." So, for almost twelve years, the Almquists ran the show on their own ambition and with their own finances. In January of 2009, their family was selected to receive an "Extreme Makeover" for their home. Extreme Makeover was a reality television series that rebuilt the homes of families in need, and the Almquists direly needed a new home. Because of everything that was required to care for their animals, their home was quite literally falling apart around them; they could not afford to look after themselves and the animals. What they didn't expect was having new enclosures built for their animals and a learning center built to better educate the public about wildlife. I ambled into the learning center and a symphony of screeches, screams, and whistles erupted from the
Mr. Bernstein
English 101
16 October 2013
Essay #2: Profile
Never Wild
Those who wish to pet and baby wild animals, "love" them. But those who respect their natures and wish to let them live normal lives, love them more. − Edwin Way Teale
Nearly two miles up a rocky washboard dirt road in Phelan, California is Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary at 8545 Buttemere Road. Driving up, I could see two signs on the chain link fence that rounded the corner of the property − one, directing my attention to a house down the road on my left read, "Almquist Home," and the other pointing ahead on the left claimed, "Learning Center." I parked in the white, pea-sized gravel lot directly in front of the learning center. There I met Joel and Chemaine Almquist who own ten acres in the chaparral just east of the San Gabriel Mountains. Joel wheezed in a raspy, grating voice, "I've always had animals, and Chemaine, well, she just has to have what she has to have. We've been here since '97. I had many of my snakes before that though. But we've only been open to the public since then." So, for almost twelve years, the Almquists ran the show on their own ambition and with their own finances. In January of 2009, their family was selected to receive an "Extreme Makeover" for their home. Extreme Makeover was a reality television series that rebuilt the homes of families in need, and the Almquists direly needed a new home. Because of everything that was required to care for their animals, their home was quite literally falling apart around them; they could not afford to look after themselves and the animals. What they didn't expect was having new enclosures built for their animals and a learning center built to better educate the public about wildlife. I ambled into the learning center and a symphony of screeches, screams, and whistles erupted from the