Author Spotlight: Dr. Mark
Dr. Mark is a semi-retired veterinarian and an author who has been part of the HubPages network for quite some time. In addition to working with animals and writing for PetHelpful, Dr. Mark likes to find other unique ways to interact with and support those in his community.
Recently, he used the revenue share earnings from his articles to purchase backpacks and other crucial school supplies for young students who live in his town! We thought this was an amazing idea, so we decided to interview him about animals, volunteerism, and article writing for this week's newsletter:
HubPages: Could you tell us a little bit about yourself? What do you do for work, and what do you like to do outside of work?
Dr. Mark: I am a veterinarian, but I'm mostly retired now, so I spend most of my days with my dogs, horses, parrots, sheep, poultry, and of course, Niki, my Capuchin companion [pictured in tiled image to the left]. I still work at times when someone needs help, but usually, people bring their pets to me, and I treat them for free. A lot of families work just to provide food for the table, and pets are valued but sometimes suffer because of a lack of resources.
HubPages: You've written a lot of highly informative, useful, and successful articles on the HubPages network—mostly on PetHelpful. How did you get started writing for HubPages, and what advice do you have for newer authors on the network?
Dr. Mark: When I first started writing for HubPages, I was recovering from an accident and just wanted something to do. I have now deleted almost all of those early articles . . . what people really want to read is something that will help. I think the reason I have been successful here is that I answer the questions that people ask me every day in my articles. New writers need to understand that and try to figure out what readers need.
HubPages: Using some of the revenue share earnings from your articles to purchase backpacks and other school supplies for local kids is such a lovely idea! How did this project come about?
Dr. Mark: HubPages provides me with plenty of disposable income, so I decided to help some of the kids in my village whose parents struggle to provide. Illiteracy is still a common problem in my area, and I emphasize to all the kids I know that hours spent on schoolwork will pay off down the road. Something simple like a new backpack or a colored ink pen can have a fantastic effect. I have purchased a lot of notebooks, pencils, and other supplies since they need to write every day to be comfortable with that effort. I help as many kids as I know and would do more if I could.
HubPages: What's the wildest thing you've seen or dealt with animal-wise as a veterinarian?
Dr. Mark: What is the wildest thing I have done as a veterinarian? That is really hard to answer, as most work with small animals is sometimes rewarding, sometimes sad, and sometimes just plain exhausting. Since moving to this region of Brazil, I have been able to work with a lot more wildlife, something I have enjoyed since I worked with elephants in Texas, and Niki, who I mentioned earlier, has probably been the most fun and challenging—maybe even the wildest. A hunter killed her mom, and she lost a finger and fell to the ground. The hunter was decent enough to bring her to us, and we bottle-fed her. She is free to go back to the jungle, but she does not want to, so she lives outside. (If she comes in the house, she likes to break things. She seems to love the sound of broken glass in a thermos full of coffee.)
Thanks, HubPages! I really enjoy being a part of your site.
There you have it! Dr. Mark leads an exciting life and always has a story to tell. We'd like to thank him for using his time and money to help those around him and for being a valuable part of the HubPages community for so many years. Have any pet or animal-related questions? Dr. Mark may have the answers. Check out
his articles on PetHelpful
.
Image Credit: Dr. Mark
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