Laura Rotz grew up in the Northern Bay Area where her love of animals began early in life. Her childhood was spent caring for everything from dogs and horses to tadpoles. Following high school, Dr. Rotz attended California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo where she studied Animal Science as part of the pre-veterinary program. During her time at Cal Poly, she continued to be involved in the veterinary world outside of school by working as a small animal technician and volunteering at wildlife sanctuaries. Dr. Rotz graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary medicine. After veterinary school, she returned to California to be closer to her family. Dr. Rotz lives in Cameron Park with her Chihuahua mix Dusty and her cat Dimitri. Her interests outside of work include hiking, snowboarding, and traveling [citation][4].