Where It All Began

Victoria's Amazing Pets

A love of animals that grew into an educational mission.

The original program that helped shape Victoria's Amazing World — sharing the joy of animals while encouraging children to learn, care and get involved.

My Story Begins Here

It all began when I was just a baby, and my grandfather introduced me to pigeons and chickens. Then came that magical Easter morning when I woke up to find the most beautiful little chicks in need of a mother. I instantly fell in love with them and made it my mission to learn all about them.

Because I thought my classmates would enjoy them as much as I did, I asked my teacher for permission to bring them to school and share them with my class. While I waited for permission, I decided to create my own video and educational program, which I called Victoria’s Amazing Pets.

Here you will find that original video, along with many pictures from the wonderful opportunities I have had to share my love of animals at schools, libraries, nature centers, senior centers and other community programs.

Preview of Victoria's Amazing Pets original YouTube video

Watch the Original Video

Watch the original video on YouTube ↗

The original Victoria’s Amazing Pets video — where the educational program began.

The beginning

The First Presentation

These two photographs capture the very first time Victoria shared Victoria’s Amazing Pets with a group and showed the original program she had created.

Students watching the original Victoria's Amazing Pets video during an early presentation — Showing my 5th grade class my video, Victoria’s Amazing Pets for the first time

Victoria during one of her first Victoria's Amazing Pets presentations — My 5th-grade teacher, Ms. Pernice, introducing me for my very first presentation.

A fellow student's message about being inspired by Victoria's school assembly

The Kind of Impact That Matters Most

A message from a fellow student after one of Victoria’s school assemblies — sharing that the experience made her own passion for animals grow even stronger.

Documenting the beginning

Victoria’s Amazing Pets

Published in Newsday on August 15, 2014, this article documents Victoria’s first Victoria’s Amazing Pets presentation for her fifth-grade class.

Newsday • August 15, 2014

“Chickens and pigeons get to fly the coop for a day in school”

A firsthand newspaper account of the classroom presentation that marked the beginning of Victoria’s Amazing Pets.

Click the article to open it larger ↗

A scrapbook of the journey

Sharing Animals, Sharing Wonder

From classrooms and libraries to larger school assemblies, community programs and television coverage, Victoria’s Amazing Pets became a way to bring children and adults closer to animals.

Victoria presenting Victoria's Amazing Pets to students in a classroom — Sharing the program in the classroom

Victoria at Islip Library with Cato and children — At the library with Cato and the kids

Victoria with a large group of students at Riverhead Charter School — Riverhead Charter School — reaching a large group of students

Victoria filming an interview at the Long Island Aquarium — Filming at the Long Island Aquarium

Victoria being filmed for television news during a senior center program — Being filmed for the news at a senior center

Victoria's Amazing Pets school presentation with video screen and animals — Bringing video, animals and education together

Victoria holding a bird at a poultry event — Learning from animals wherever the journey led

The animals who inspired it

Meet My Amazing Pets

My program always comes back to my connection with the animals themselves — caring for them, learning about them and sharing what makes each one special.

Victoria smiling with a black and white crested chicken

The Animals at the Heart of the Story

The bond came first. The educational program grew from Victoria’s genuine love of her pets and her desire to help other children see animals differently.

Some of my Amazing Pets

Victoria holding a bird at the Northeastern Poultry Congress

Always learning, always sharing

In the news

Victoria’s Amazing Pets in Print

The story of the program also began appearing in local newspapers. These clippings help preserve that early history and the people, schools and communities that became part of it.

Amazing Achievement

An early feature highlighting Victoria’s educational presentations and animal interviews.

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“Fowl is a favorite of Fonzie fan”

A newspaper feature about Victoria, her birds and her presentations to other children.

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“She’s Amazing”

A later clipping showing how the mission expanded into animal advocacy and Victoria’s Amazing World.

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A simple story that kept growing

From Amazing Pets to Amazing World

What began with a few beloved animals became a way to educate, connect and inspire — and eventually grew into the larger mission of Victoria’s Amazing World.

Step 1A love of animals begins at home

Step 2Victoria creates Victoria’s Amazing Pets educational program

Step 3Schools, libraries & communities invite her in

Step 4The mission grows into Victoria’s Amazing World

Pets and wildlife create the connection.

Compassion and curiosity open the door. My goal is to leave children asking, “What can I do?”