What about becoming wildlife biologist? You could get a 4 year degree in that and then go on to vet school later if you want to. I don't know what kind of pay that would allow for as a biologist but its a start toward true self sufficiency. With that kind of degree you could work in the field, write or do research. The baby boomer comment made me also remember that the statistics for librarians are also pretty good because so many of them are retiring now . I know that there is a school in Maine that does a complete on-line library science masters degree and possibly a bachelors as well. School librarians do pretty well and I believe the benefits are good. Keep an open mind and something will become available for you.
I love animals, too. I have 2 dogs, one cat, a parrot, 2 horses, 3 chickens and some strange unidentified creature that has taken up residence under the living room floor of my 125 year old home. We don't know what it is. It is nocturnal and makes my younger dog nuts when it starts scratching around under there. I think it might be a possum. And no I have NOT named it (yet). Ah...country living.
