What do you want to be when you grow up? I can still remember being asked that question at a very young age, probably around 5 or 6 years old, and responding quickly with a resounding, I want to be an animal doctor! From the moment I was able to crawl, I have always been fascinated by animals from the smallest creepy crawlies to the largest ones at the zoo.

I do not think I fully realized what it meant to take care of an animal until my dad brought home a baby squirrel that had fallen out of the nest into the middle of the road. I was eight years old and can remember it like it was yesterday. After many sleepless nights of feeding him every 2 hours and treating a wound on his tail, I finally had an appreciation for caring for an animal…and I loved every minute of it! It was in that moment that I realized my true calling.

My first real experience with a veterinarian was working as a kennel assistant in high school for a local small animal veterinarian. I was fascinated at how she was able to diagnose a dog or cat’s problem without the patient being able to tell her what was wrong. Simply amazing.