Kicked, Bitten, and Scratched: Life and Lessons at the World's Premier School for Exotic Animal Trainers

One of my favorite books that I’ve read countless times. You will learn a lot and enjoy every single page.

I understood what this book was about at the beginning and I was not looking to learn how to train an animal. I happen to have read and practiced training birds, monkeys, dogs, and cats, so I don't really need instruction in training.This book is simply about the students and experiences at the Moorpark EATM program. The program came into being some years after both my sister and I graduated from school and we never had the chance to go. I wanted to work at the San Diego Zoo (doing what Joan Embree did was exactly what I wanted) but I had no idea of how to get there and neither did my sister, so we ended up both being pet groomers.Nevertheless this book gave me a chance to dream of what could have been. So the book was just what I was looking for. For anyone dreaming of working at a Zoo, GO for it but be VERY persistent! For me the book was a little disorganized, that is I had to keep looking up what animal had what name etc.It was so good for me I gave it to my sister. She also enjoyed it. I actually got on Kindle hoping someone had written a similar review. I am ready for another book about Moorpark and EATM!!!  Kicked, Bitten, and Scratched

I thouroughly enjoyed reading this book. As a 1997 graduate of the Exotic Animal Training and Management Program the book brought back a lot of memories both good and bad. The author did a very good job at impartially portraying daily life at the school and the types of people that attend the program.The daily grind of waking up early to clean the zoo, long days of very challenging course work and dealing with your 2nd years lording it over you while having to endure all the of the petty squables in your own class. She also did a good job at showing how the school affects all aspects of your life, in essence you have to give yourself over completely for 2 years and everything else (family, spouses, income,...etc) are all subordinate to EATM.But on the other hand she captured the wonder and joy of working with the animals and being able to have close personal contact with them. Being able to walk Rosie the baboon or sitting next to her cage and grooming with her made all the other cares and worries go away.If you are thinking about going into the animal field or just interested in it I highly recommend this book. If you are thinking about applying to EATM then this book is a must read, nothing else will allow you to make an informed decision about attending the program like this book.Overall for me this book brought back the roller coster of emotions that I felt while attending EATM and a lot of good memories, thanks for the book.

This is an engaging look at an extraordinary program for people interested in working professionally with wild animals. If I were a lot younger, I would enroll in this school in a heartbeat. The descriptions of the programs and the daily life of the students and their animal charges, many times funny, sometimes tragic, is excellent reading - lively, entertaining and informative, and well written into the bargain. My only quibble is one mentioned in another review - so many animals are mentioned by their "given" names after being introduced to us only once, that I couldn't keep track of which animal was later being referenced. Was "Sam" the wombat or the tiger? I had to constantly look back to find out who was biting whom. Apart from that, this is a really interesting and entertaining book.

I grew up one town over from EATM, apparently around the time it got going. As an animal behavior nut I remember (decades ago!) seriously considering applying for the program, but at the time zoos weren't the kind of places they are now (more focused on conservation and education than entertainment) and I went another way.Fast forward to me having time to revisit the passions of my youth, considering a career change. The EATM program is now world-class and one of perhaps three programs world-wide for exotic animal training. I didn't realize how unique it was, because it was in my backyard and when you're a kid nothing that close is special. This book follows the first year class of 2004 through trials and tribulations, and though I realized that this is still not the direction for me, but living the program vicariously page by page was wonderful.

Read this book before I went through the EATM program. I was able to get some insight before starting. I also gave it as gifts to those around me so they would understand what I was embarking on. I also read it afterwards and felt it did give a fair account of the program. Also talked about many of the animals there who are still there. Which was fun to read now that I know them.

This book was interesting from start to finish I never wanted to put it down! It showed pretty much the day to day at the unique animal training school in Moorpark, and now I feel so much better prepared for what will await me when I get there for this fall semester. I also loved reading about how it has changed from when it was first started. It gave you insights on what sort of people the teachers are. If you have been dreaming of training animals as a profession at sea world or for movies in Hollywood, this is the book for you. I am amazed that for as long as this school has been around that still not many people know about it.

This book tells a good story about the positive aspects of using operant behavior principles in animal training- and all the good outcomes in terms of care for animals- as well as the educational opportunities this provides.

I bought this book to learn about training different animals but it is all about the students and staff although the killing seems to occupy a large amount of description.It was not what I thought it was by the description so one for the bin I think!

I read this book at night while I was holding my baby. This book was so addictive I couldn't put it down, even though I was sleep deprived. It was really interesting to read about what it is like for these trainers to be taught what to do. I could never do it, because I wouldn't be able to break a pigeons neck, a requirement these students need to accomplish so they can keep their charges fed.