I work not only at the clinic but also on a private farm in Pensacola, Florida—a place our team of volunteers lovingly refers to as the Misfit Ranch, where we take in and nurse dogs that have been abused.

It all went back to late 2009, when I’d felt so trapped then. One day I got a call from my friend Mary who was looking for a helper to move to her farm nearby and take care of the horses part-time. Something bright in me came back to life upon hearing it.

Animals were a huge part of my growing up years. My parents and I often brought home sick or injured dogs. We’d nurse them back to health and find them homes. Even though I was just a kid, I’d felt such joy and purpose then.

Taking care of horses... Something in me said that I needed to do this. It was the horses that helped restore me. Their presence calmed me. Little by little, the fear that had its hold on me for so long disappeared. At the same time, I was considering a big plan.

I started volunteering with dog rescue groups in the area. I felt drawn to the dogs for whom it was hard to find homes. However, I wanted to be able to do more for these dogs. I began training to become a vet technician (兽医助手). I started treating animals in 2017 and got a job at a clinic.

Sometimes I would take stray (走失的) dogs home with me from the clinic to give them care overnight. I always had a soft spot for the tough cases—the broken ones who, to others, seemed hopeless.

Word spread and I became the go-to for abused dogs in North Florida. Vets would give out my number and people would contact me through social media. The Misfit Ranch grew to a point where I needed help caring for these animals that had no place to call home.

【小题1】What did Mary want the author to do?

A．Look after the horses.	B．Sell the private farm.
C．Stay positive every day.	D．Move house with her.

【小题2】What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．A warm-hearted father.	B．The pain of growing up.
C．A child’s love for animals.	D．The purpose of saving dogs.

【小题3】Why does the author hope to be a vet technician?

A．To win others’ respect.	B．To start dog rescue groups.
C．To realize her friend’s dream.	D．To provide better service for dogs.

【小题4】What can we infer from the text?

A．It was easy to find home for abused dogs.

B．The locals tended to ask the author for help.

C．There was a need for hands on a farm.

D．Social media have caused much trouble.