- November 28, 2024
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Prudence Walker had three goals in life: to have her own veterinary practice, to buy a farm with lots of animals on it and to have a family.
A very driven person, Dr. Walker completed all her goals — just maybe not in the way she thought she would.
She graduated from vet school in her 40s, and had her own practice while living up in Tennessee, where she also had a seven-acre farm that included her massive, but furry, family.
"God gives you what you need," she said, "just not always want you want."
After having a miscarriage, Walker was unable to have children. Despite that hardship, she's still found other ways to be a mother, including being a foster mom — during which time she delievered a baby on a bathroom floor — and being a "monk mom" to as many monkeys as she can handle.
Licensed by the Florida Wildlife Commission and the United States Department of Agriculture, Walker currently owns three squirrel monkeys named Ella, Eli and Izzie, and one capuchin monkey named Oliver. She also breeds birds and hedgehogs, when she can.
Walker just recently moved to Ormond Beach from Tennessee and says the key to owning a monkey is knowing how to act like one.
"You cannot think like a human," she said, while grunting at 3-year-old Oliver. "And they have to know you're the alpha. Monkeys live in troops, and the alpha is usually male — except for me."
Oliver the monkey does go everywhere with Walker, but regardless still appears to be on the lookout for an alpha male. He's particularly drawn to men with beards because they remind him of his own species.
"When we're out, he goes husband hunting for me," she laughed. "He does a great job because every man he picks out is already married."
Due to health reasons, she no longer wants to continue her full-time practice, but she is hoping to do relief work for any local veterinarians. And of course, she says there is always room for another monkey.
Anyone interested can email [email protected].
Fun facts about living in an "animal house"
