Meet Timothy Cornwall: An educator and animal enthusiast

Years ago, when Timothy Cornwall was an education coordinator at Southwick’s Zoo in Massachusetts, the zoo acquired a baby kangaroo named Rufus, who had been kicked out of his mother’s pouch. The kangaroo required round-the-clock care, so he lived with Cornwall in his apartment on-site at the zoo and became part of Cornwall’s educational program for children. His presentations typically featured a variety of small, exotic animals, with Rufus as the grand finale.

“I would put him down on the ground, and he would hop around a little bit. Then he’d stand up on his tail and look at everybody. And he was just amazing,” Cornwall said.

One day, while presenting to a group of young children, a 6-year-old boy approached Cornwall after the show, looked at him earnestly, and proclaimed that it was the best day of his life.

“I was thinking about it later, and I thought, ‘He’s six years old. That might have been the best day of his entire life.’ He didn’t have that many days under his belt yet, so it really could have been,” Cornwall recalled.

Moments like these have been a regular occurrence throughout Cornwall’s career. He has dedicated his life to caring for, training, and educating the public about exotic animals.

From his time at Southwick’s Zoo to working as an exotic bird trainer in Florida, to his time as an ambassador animal resources keeper with Phoenix Zoo and serving as a zookeeper at The Living Desert — and now training puppies at Guide Dogs of the Desert — Cornwall hopes that by educating others and creating unforgettable experiences with animals, he can inspire future stewards of wildlife.

“Maybe that kid still remembers that… and maybe he’ll want to help take care of animals or make sure these things are protected going forward,” he said.

Originally from Winslow, Maine, Cornwall’s passion for animals was nurtured by his grandmother, Ivy Stringer, a teacher who spent hours reading an animal encyclopedia to him as a child.

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Cornwall has seen the question posed on why people should focus on helping animals when so many humans are in need. He argues that aiding animals and people are not mutually exclusive; all forms of assistance contribute to a greater interconnected good. He cites programs providing loans to women-owned small businesses in developing nations, which studies have shown not only improve individuals’ economic situations but also benefit local wildlife and the environment by reducing poverty-driven environmental degradation.

Cornwall emphasizes that no single cause is more important than another — whether it’s protecting wildlife or addressing poverty, all efforts are valuable.

In his current role as a puppy trainer at Guide Dogs of the Desert, a Palm Springs-based organization that provides custom-trained guide dogs to individuals who are blind or visually impaired, he witnesses firsthand the profound impact of his work. The organization offers all services—including guide dogs, equipment, and a 28-day residential training program—at no cost to participants. As with his previous roles, Cornwall is fully immersed in the work.

Recently, he participated in a week-long blindfolded experience, a practice the organization requires of its trainers to help them understand the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals. During this time, he learned to navigate with a cane and developed a deeper appreciation for sensory adaptation.

“I honestly wish everybody in the world could do it,” Cornwall said. He believes firsthand experiences like this foster empathy and understanding for those who navigate the world differently.

While people strive to be empathetic, he noted, it’s difficult to truly comprehend someone else’s experience without living it.

“You always try to be as empathetic as possible, but you can never perfectly emulate their experience in your mind,” he said.

Cornwall found that this temporary immersion helped him better understand both the needs of visually impaired individuals and the guide dogs he trains.

In addition to his work with guide dogs, Cornwall is currently writing a book based on his former long-running blog, Quail and Aardvark. The blog was inspired by questions he received about various animals, which he would research and answer in an informative yet engaging way, often incorporating personal anecdotes.

“The whole premise was that someone would ask me about a quail, and I’d give them an aardvark—I’d give them an answer to their question,” he said.

One of his other primary goals now is recruiting volunteers to house and care for puppies before they enter formal training and eventually go to their forever homes with their students. Currently, 29 puppies need temporary homes, a commitment of about a year and a half. No prior puppy or training experience is required.

For those interested in housing a puppy, more information can be found on the Guide Dogs of the Desert website.

Get to know him better below.

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Name: Timothy Cornwall

Age: 46

Occupation: Animal Trainer/Puppy Trainer at Guide Dogs of the Desert

Where do you live and who lives with you? I live south of Downtown Palm Springs with my partner Misti, our three cats, and two dwarf rabbits.

Where were you born and raised?  I was raised in the small town of Winslow in central Maine.

Years in the desert: 8

What brought you to the desert?  I moved here initially to work as a zookeeper at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens and to escape the New England winters.

What keeps you here? There are so many things that keep me here like Misti, a job I love and thrive at, the amazing and unique flora and fauna, and the ability to live in a unique community filled with so much beauty.

Favorite time of the year: Late winter and early spring.  It is cool enough to go out adventuring but warm enough for the reptiles, insects, and birds to be active.

How do you beat the heat? Being crepuscular and taking lots of day trips to other areas in SoCal.

Personal philosophy: Try to make the world a better place in any way you can, whether it be something big, like training dogs to help visually impaired people, or something small, like trying to make a friend smile. 

Favorite place to eat: Native Foods, it’s the best vegan food in the valley.  My puppies may eat meat but I only eat plants.

What’s the biggest issue facing our community? The current political regime’s gutting of science funding and regulatory agencies shows a blatant and intentional disregard for human welfare.  In a heartless attempt to target the LGBTQ+ community they have or plan to freeze funding that will decrease access to vaccinations, STD testing, and HIV medications.  This will undoubtedly lead to real world deaths, even beyond the communities they are maliciously intending to target.  

Favorite place to go or thing to do:  I love looking for wildlife in the many parks and preserves we have in and around the valley.  

Where would you take first-time visitors?  It would depend on what they like.  For nature lovers I take people to Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, or Joshua Tree National Park.  For people who are more interested in the city there are lots of neat mid century modern homes and buildings to see.

What’s missing in Palm Springs?  A small to medium sized music venue.  I would love to see something with the vibe of Pappy & Harriet’s but closer to home.

Where would you put your walk of fame star in the city? On the portion of Farrell Drive that passes through the Prescott Preserve.

What’s your guilty pleasure? I love going for a nice big iced coffee and sitting down to write for a few hours.

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