Ever wonder what it would be like to intern with Mercy For Animals? We interviewed Daniela Castillo, who recently completed an internship at MFA’s Dallas office, and asked her to give us the scoop.
A veterinarian with a master’s degree in wildlife conservation, Daniela has devoted her life to helping animals. Daniela grew up in southern Mexico, but now lives in Tallahassee, Florida, where her husband is a graduate student at Florida State University. While she is passionate about many animal issues, helping to raise awareness about the plights of animals on factory farms is where she has chosen to focus her efforts.
What motivated you to intern for MFA?
While I was studying for my master’s, I decided that I wanted to work for animals rights, and many of my class papers were about animal rights. I learned about Mercy For Animals during this research. I feel the best way to help the most animals is to help people learn about becoming vegetarian, and so I wanted to learn from MFA how to be an activist and how to do outreach. Before my internship, I had no idea where to start. I also wanted to do an internship as a way to hopefully get a job in the future with an organization like MFA.
What inspired you to go vegetarian?
I became pesco-vegetarian when I was 15. As a child, I felt very close to animals and I knew I wanted to do something to help them. During my studies in veterinary school in Mexico, I saw very closely the cruelty to farmed animals, including the use of hormones and antibiotics and mutilations, and I felt more strongly about my vegetarianism and tried to influence my classmates.
A few years ago, when I was getting my master’s degree in wildlife conservation, a classmate shared a story about how turtles, dolphins and sharks were killed as by-catch in the tuna industry. I went online and looked it up and saw it was true. By that time I was also reading about pain in sea animals, so I stopped eating all seafood after that. And about a year ago, I became vegan so that I could be 100% consistent with what I’m saying and doing for animals.
How do you feel your internship has helped you as an activist?
It helped me a lot, and now I really feel like an activist! Before the internship, I didn’t know other activists in my area and had never leafleted before, and I was nervous to go leafleting by myself. I really feel like an activist now after this internship. I appreciated that I was trusted with a lot of responsibility. Before MFA, I was vegan and was just trying to talk to people in my life, but it was really hard for me to talk to people I didn’t know. Now it’s a lot easier. I don’t feel alone anymore.
What did you think of Dallas?
I loved my whole month in Dallas so much I cannot describe it. I loved that Nora (MFA’s Dallas campaign coordinator) introduced me to so many local activists, who are such great people. They made me feel like I was in a new home. I made very good friends and activist soul mates. I never imagined having a community like that. I really enjoyed the housing. I did not imagine it was going to be so nice. It was nice to wake up in a really nice place each day.
When I was doing establishment outreach and leafleting, the people there were very open and nice. And there are great vegan restaurants there. Spiral Diner and Veggie Garden are the best restaurants I’ve ever gone to. I found it very easy and fun to eat vegan in Dallas.
Do you have any advice for animal advocates?
This MFA internship is a really, really good opportunity if you want to make a change for animal rights. It really fulfilled my expectations. My only suggestion is to go for a longer time than the minimum of a month. I wish I had stayed longer, as I know I could have learned a lot more. Dallas is the perfect place to intern because the weather is better, the people are nice, the MFA volunteers in Dallas are amazing, and the Texas coordinator rocks! I really loved my time there. And strongly recommend it.
Inspired? Click here to learn more about MFA’s Internship Program and apply today for an exciting internship in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, or Columbus, OH.
