Corner Brook, Newfoundland
Mink farming is the very last thing that I thought I would be doing today, but I really do love it.
When I was 15, I read a book called 101 Ways to Save the Animals and at that point I gave up eating meat, I stopped using any products that were tested on animals, became anti-fur and against pretty much any use of animals except cats and dogs for pets.
From high school I went on to agriculture college because I wanted to eventually become a vet. Over the first few years that I spent there I became familiar with the agriculture industry. I started working with farmers, visiting farms and actually seeing their relationship with their animals. My perspectives began to change. And I began to realize that these people aren’t working with animals because they are cruel people. In fact it tends to be the opposite. They have an appreciation and a respect for the animals.
So when I was offered this job I decided to take it.
I think we provide the mink with a very good quality of life. We provide protection from the elements. They are provided with a good high quality balanced diet. We provide them with fresh bedding and a warm nest box. We do regular health checks and treat any sick ones. We euthanize them painlessly using carbon monoxide so they just fall asleep. Overall they seem very quiet and very calm. Not stressed. People always comment when they come onto the farm how content the mink all seem.
I love my job, I do