Honestly being 'too much' of an animal lover probably isn't possible, but in the event that it is heres a few signs so you'll know if you are or not.
1. You introduce yourself to animals before you introduce yourself to the owners
Don't lie you've done it. You've seen the cutest dog that you've ever seen in your life and run over and started petting it, and then looked up at the owner smiling who probably just started down at you shaking their head.
2. You think any animal is worth saving
The picture you see above a baby possum. I woke up one morning to my mother giving off a blood curdling scream, and when I ran into the kitchen she looked at me and went 'What. Is. That.' Lo and behold when I went out on the back deck there was this tiny baby possum in the pool holding on for dear life. After scooping him out, drying him off, and warming him up I took him to a nice wildlife rehabilitator who checks over all the animals she receives and after caring for them releases them to a reserve which doesn't allow hunting.
3. You'll swat at a bee and feel bad about it later
We've all had that moment when we heard a buzzing saw something come towards our eye and swatted at it before we really thought about it. Then you see it's a bee and you automatically feel guilty when you think about bees are slowly dying and how you probably aren't helping matters by giving one a concussion. Sorry little dude.
4. You volunteer at some sort of animal place
For me it's the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, a hospital focused on the successful rehabilitation and eventual release of every patient we get. Above is a Loggerhead Sea Turtle (named Rainbow Sherbert) we received this winter due to cold-stunning, which is a condition similar to hypothermia in which the turtle's body temperature drops too low and body systems shut down making them unable to forage, digest food, or swim. Turtles are also cold-blodded meaning that they rely on temperature of the water to keep them warm. Some turtles like Rainbow Sherbert end up getting stuck in waters during winter when they go from warm to cold very quickly which results in cold-stunning, which is where we come in! We take them in, and care for them until they're ready to be released.
5. You enjoy the zoo more than tiny humans
My roommate and I went to the Jacksonville Zoo and flipped out. We got there RIGHT when it opened and ended up spending over 9 hours there, and then at the end of the day when we were tired and our feet hurt we still waited around so we could ride the zoo train. It was a TON of fun, and I'm pretty sure we enjoyed more than some of the kids that were there.
