FORMER Wirral student Nikki Johnson may have studied for a degree in “human” psychology but she soon realised that it was animals that she really wanted to understand instead.

Now, after gaining a masters in animal behaviour, 23-year-old Nikki has landed her dream job – with the RSPCA.

She cares for sometimes needy and rejected animals as an animal centre assistant at the Cross Lane branch of the RSPCA in Wallasey Village where her duties include health checks, cleaning and feeding, micro-chipping, record-keeping and dealing with the public.

Nikki, who left St Mary’s Catholic College in 2009, went on to study for a degree in Applied Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University.

In her last year there she decided that her future lay more in the animal kingdom, so she became a volunteer with the RSPCA and applied to do an MSc at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Soon after her second graduation she got the chance to work in the Caribbean as a “baby watch” intern at Dolphin Quest Bermuda. 

She said: “It was fantastic. I was there for six weeks and witnessed two dolphins being born, helped monitor the mothers and calves and learned the role of a trainer, as well as interacting with the public.”

It was while in Bermuda that Nikki bumped into well-known resident, Hollywood actor and dolphin enthusiast Michael Douglas.

Nikki is also currently enjoying work experience at Blackpool Zoo where she cares for the sea lions, birds, primates and learns all of the various roles of trainers and keepers.

And if that is not enough, Nikki has also spent the last seven years working part time at Wilkinson’s in Liscard to help fund her degrees and internship.

She concluded: “I think I really got interested in working with animals because I never had a pet when I was little, so I’m making up for it now."