I have always had a great love and connection with animals. I have a special interest in birds and wildlife, horses and have enjoyed a plethora of dogs and cats as part of my family throughout my life. Growing up I always knew I would have a career involving animals as my connection with them was so strong, always rescuing injured wildlife and taking in stray dogs and cats. I have worked in different capacities with animals from various veterinary hospitals as a receptionist and veterinary assistant and was also ahorse and carriage driver in Chicago, which is where I met my husband of 26 years.

I decided to go back to school to become a Licensed Veterinary Technician in the fall of 2022, after working in the veterinary profession off and on over the course of 25 years, with on the job learning and training. I wanted to gain a better understanding of how and why certain treatments are given, understand disease processes and sharpen my skills as a veterinary nurse. My focus is understanding how the body processes work and interventions for disease, so that I can be an advocate for pets by being their voice and help be a part of keeping them healthy and enjoying their best life with their humans. I am a certified Veterinary Assistant, and I am currently enrolled at PIMA Medical Institute for Veterinary Technology. I will graduate in June 2024 and from there take my state license exam to become a Licensed Veterinary Technician.

I have three kids and they are my world; we enjoy paddleboarding, hiking and spending the day on our pontoon out on Canyon Lake together. I also have five fur children and one fur grandchild. My sweet boy Olli is a mix breed pup who I adopted from SNIPSA in the spring of 2023, he is my hiking and paddleboarding sidekick and my intelligent and opinionated grand dog Rio, a chihuahua mix, who mydaughter rescued from the Texas-Mexico border in Brownsville. I also have two sassy cats Matilda and Luna, Ted bunny a sweet English spot rabbit and my beautiful and loving and slightly accident-prone Tennessee Walking Horse, Eve. I enjoy all nature related things including hiking, paddleboarding, horseback riding, and nature photography. I also enjoy playing the piano, listening to music, and most importantly spending time with my family and friends.