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NA native happy to work with dogs
 In Alaska North Attleboro native Emily Iacobucci poses with one of her charges. She is spending the summer working as a Student Conservation Association volunteer, working with dogs, in Denali National Park in Alaska. (Submitted photo)
Top Headlines Emily Iacobucci, 22, a 2004 graduate of North Attleboro High School and a recent graduate of Boston University, is serving in an internship at the dog kennels in Denali. She was matched up with the internship through the Student Conservation Association, which pairs more than 3,000 students with volunteer opportunities in national parks, forests and other conservation areas. "Before I apply to graduate school, I wanted to gain some practical conservation work experience," she said in an e-mail to The Sun Chronicle. "I leapt at this opportunity that the Student Conservation Association made accessible to me. Denali is a gorgeous place worth every effort to protect it. The dogs I work with are fantastic, and in their own way they contribute a great deal to the conservation of Denali. I feel extremely privileged to be living here for the season and working with such dedicated conservationists - both two-legged and four-legged." Iacobucci, who graduated from Boston University with a degree in biology, specializing in ecology and conservation, has her hands full working at the kennels. "We have 30 dogs at the kennels, as well as eight puppies at the moment. The puppies are 8 weeks old today, and they are already taking little runs around the track in a little, yappy jumble," she said. "On a day-to-day basis, I help take care of the dogs, answer visitors' questions, and I also give demonstrations. "The demonstration consists of giving a brief history of sled dogs' role in the history of the park, their current role, and finally we hitch five dogs up to a historical sled and take a short run around a gravel track." Iacobucci first heard of the Student Conservation Association several years ago when looking at the organization's Web site - thesca.org. She decided to apply for an internship in Denali and in March she had an interview with Karen Fortier, the kennel's manager. She started working in Alaska in May and will be there until mid-September. AMY DeMELIA can be reached at 508-236-0334 or at ademelia@thesunchronicle.com.
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