My name is Judy, and I am eight years old. I live with my father and mother in a small house near our large farm. I love our farm very much because it is not just a place where animals live; it is a beautiful world that I experience every day.
In the morning, I wake up early, before the sun rises. I open my window, see the dew on the grass, and hear the animals’ voices. The sheep bleat, “Baa, baa!” The cows make loud sounds, the chickens run everywhere, and our dog Barqouq stands near the door, barking as if he is announcing the beginning of a new day.
My father is a veterinarian. He has worked on our farm for many years. He loves animals very much and knows how to care for them. When an animal gets sick, he examines it carefully, treats it, gives it medicine, cleans its living area, and makes sure it has enough water and suitable food.
I love helping my father, and I dream of becoming a veterinarian just like him when I grow up. I want to continue what he started, take care of animals, and keep our farm clean and healthy.
One morning, I heard my father calling me:
“Judy! Come quickly! I need your help!”
I put on my white coat and rubber boots and hurried to him. I found him standing beside a sheep named Qamar. Qamar was sitting on the ground and was not moving much.
I asked my father, “What has happened to her?”
He replied, “She seems to be sick, and perhaps she has eaten a plant that is not good for her. We will examine her, and you can write down your observations in your notebook.”
I had a small notebook that I called my Animal Notebook. I wrote down the animals’ names, what happened to them, and their treatment and feeding schedules. I picked up my pencil and wrote: “Qamar is sick and is not moving much.”
My father examined her eyes, mouth, and stomach, then took her temperature. He said it was slightly high and that she might have eaten a poisonous plant growing near the fence.
I felt frightened and asked, “Will she be all right, Dad?”
My father smiled and said, “God willing, she will get better with medicine and proper care. But we need to find out where she found that plant.”
I went with him to the field. There was a broken section of the fence, and a plant with poisonous leaves was growing nearby. My father explained that the plant was toxic to sheep.
I put on my gloves and helped him remove the plants. We did not use chemicals because my father explained that some chemicals could pollute the soil and water and harm other animals. We placed the plants in a sealed container, and then my father repaired the fence.
After that, my father gave Qamar some medicine and placed clean water in front of her. I stayed beside her throughout the day, watching her carefully and making sure she was breathing normally and eating a little.
My father told me, “Animals cannot tell us in words where they feel pain, so we must pay attention to their behavior.”
I replied, “I will watch her carefully!”
He added, “The most important thing is to take care of her environment. A clean place, fresh water, and proper food help animals grow up healthy.” I liked what he said and wrote it in my notebook so I would never forget it.
Two days later, Qamar felt better and began walking again. I was very happy and thanked my father for teaching me how to help animals.
As the days passed, I began helping my father more often. I put food in the feeders, cleaned the water bowls, and made sure the sheep stayed away from poisonous plants. I also checked whether any animal had stopped eating or was behaving differently from usual.
One day, it rained heavily. Some areas filled with water, and puddles formed near the farm. At first, I was happy because plants need water, but my father warned me that we had to be careful. A few days later, some cows began coughing, and some sheep appeared ill. My father examined the animals and explained that an infection might be spreading among them. I felt worried and asked him, “Will all the animals get sick?” He answered, “Not if we act quickly. We will separate the sick animals from the healthy ones, clean the enclosures, and make sure the water is clean.” I helped him move the sick animals to a separate area. We cleaned their sleeping spaces, opened the windows to improve ventilation, and changed the bedding. Then we checked the water bowls. I noticed that some of the water troughs were near a small drainage channel where dirty water could collect. I told my father, “Perhaps the rainwater mixed with the dirty water and carried dirt into the troughs.” My father looked at me and said, “Excellent observation, Judy! We must prevent the animals from reaching those troughs and examine the water.”
We built a fence around the area, cleaned the troughs, and brought fresh water from the storage tank. My father also contacted a veterinarian from the nearby veterinary center, who came to help us examine the animals. We all worked together for several days. I recorded the animals’ temperatures and placed a mark beside the name of every animal that recovered. Eventually, the animals got better and returned to the herd. I learned that a veterinarian does not only treat animals after they become sick but also tries to prevent diseases from spreading. I also learned that clean water, fresh air, and cleanliness are very important. That evening, I sat with my father under a large tree near the farm. The sky was orange, and the birds were returning to their nests. I asked him, “Will I be able to become a veterinarian when I grow up?” He smiled and replied, “If you study hard and work diligently, you will be able to achieve your dream.” I said, “I want to become just like you.” My father answered, “You can learn from me, but be yourself, Judy. Perhaps you will become an even better veterinarian than I am and discover new ways to care for animals.”
I thought about his words for a long time. From that day on, I decided to observe the world carefully and learn everything I could about animals, plants, soil, and water. I read books, watched my father at work, and asked my teachers questions about diseases that affect animals. I also began helping my friends at school whenever they found a sick animal. I told them not to frighten it or touch it carelessly and to ask an adult for help. I dreamed of having a large farm when I grew up. I imagined it with wide, clean fields, many trees, and a special clinic for treating animals. I wanted the animals to live in comfort, have plenty of clean water, and enjoy spacious areas rather than being kept in cramped enclosures.
One day, I asked my father, “Why don't we let the animals graze everywhere?” He replied, “The land needs rest, too. If animals eat the grass in the same place all the time, it will not grow properly, and the soil may erode.” My father thought about the problem and divided the land into sections. We let the animals graze in one area and then moved them to another, giving the first area time to recover and allowing the grass to grow again.
After a while, I noticed that the land had become greener. My father also planted trees around the fields to provide shade for the animals and protect them from the sun. I helped him plant the seedlings. I dug small holes, placed the plants inside, covered their roots with soil, and watered them. I felt happy whenever I saw a tree growing taller. My father said, “The trees we plant today will provide shade for many animals in the years to come.” I imagined myself as an adult, sitting under the trees and checking on the animals nearby.
Our farm faced a major challenge one year. The summer was extremely hot, and there was little water in the wells. Some grasses dried up, and my father worried that the animals might suffer from thirst.
He met with the owners of nearby farms, and they decided to cooperate. They collected rainwater in large tanks, organized its use, and planted drought-resistant plants. They also stored animal feed during the spring so that it would be ready for the summer. I helped my father provide water for the animals and made sure every animal drank enough. I learned that cooperation makes difficult problems easier to solve. I told my father, “When I become a veterinarian, I will help all the farmers, not just our family.”
He replied, “That is a wonderful dream. A veterinarian serves animals and people alike.”
I also began thinking more about the environment. I started looking for plastic waste near the fields and collecting the pieces that animals might accidentally swallow. I reminded everyone to turn off the taps and never throw rubbish into the drainage channels. I learned that animal manure could be turned into useful fertilizer. My father prepared a special place where we put the manure and plant remains. After some time, they decomposed into compost that we could use in the fields.
I said, “We don't have to throw everything away. We can make use of it!”
My father smiled and said, “You are thinking like a veterinarian and an environmental engineer at the same time.” At school, my teacher asked me to speak to my classmates about my dream. I stood in front of them and said: “When I grow up, I want to become a veterinarian like my father. I want to treat animals, protect the herd, and help farmers provide a good environment for their animals. I want every farm to have clean water, suitable food, spacious areas, and trees that protect animals from the heat.”
My classmates applauded. I felt both shy and proud. After that, my friends began helping me collect rubbish around the school. We planted small trees and placed bowls of water near the garden for the birds. My teacher told us that small actions could make a big difference when people worked together.
The years passed, but my dream never changed. Every morning, I woke up and went to the farm before school. When I returned home, I read about animals and drew pictures of them.
I drew myself in the future, wearing a white coat and holding a veterinarian's bag, standing among sheep and cows. Sometimes I drew my father beside me, and sometimes I imagined children learning from me how to care for animals. One beautiful night, I sat beside the window and looked at the stars. I imagined myself grown up, working on a large farm. The animals lived safely, the fields were green, the water flowed cleanly, and people worked together. I said to myself, “I will continue what my father started. I will treat animals, protect the land, and make my farm a beautiful place for all living creatures.”
The next morning, I went to my father and told him about my dream. He placed his hand on my head and said: “A beautiful dream requires knowledge, hard work, and patience. Start today, and step by step, you will reach your goal.”
From that day on, I began learning something new every day. Whenever an animal became sick, I learned how to recognize its symptoms. Whenever a plant withered, I looked for the reason. Whenever the water became dirty, I asked how we could clean it. I knew I was still young, but I believed that every bit of help I offered brought me closer to my dream.
One beautiful evening, I stood in the middle of the farm. Qamar was grazing beside her lambs, the cows rested beneath the trees, the chickens searched for grains, and Barqouq ran between the enclosures.
I looked at my father, then at the green fields, and said: “When I grow up, I will become a veterinarian. I will care for all animals and protect the environment for their sake and for the sake of people.”
My father laughed and said, “I am sure you will achieve that, Judy.”
I smiled and felt that my dream was no longer far away. Its first steps had already begun on our small farm, among the animals I loved and beside a father who had taught me that kindness, knowledge, and hard work could make the world a better place.
From that day on, whenever my mother asked me what I wanted to become when I grew up, I answered confidently:
“I want to become a veterinarian like my father and live in a world where farmers, animals, nature, and people live together in harmony.”
