From the very beginning, animals have been a part of my life. Since before I can remember, my mother said that 2 orange kitties slept in my crib and comforted me. On long trips when we drove for hours to my grandparents, I would be examining the lips, mouth and ears of our dear old patient Labrador retriever. Mom said she should have known then I would become a vet. Even my brother’s cat woke me up having kittens on my bed. Throughout my life growing up, I was surrounded by our dogs and cats and later horses. All of these were close family members as was the occasional tortoise we rescued in the desert where I grew up.
While I was in high school, I became inspired when I read about women veterinarians working in the many fields of veterinary medicine. I had not realized that was a real career option for me. The more I looked into it the more determined I was to take my love of animals and my aptitude for science and combine them into a lifelong passion. I love the healing profession, the nobility of all the animals I treat and, the challenge of understanding them not only medically but behaviorally and emotionally. I love internal medicine, which is like solving a mystery, and the boost I get when I am able to return an ill pet to a healthy state. I have come to love seeing the bond that develops between the human “parents” and their pets and the loving care they give those pets.
I started my practice here in Auberry in 1984 to meet the need of the foothill community. It is so close to Huntington Lake where I spent my summers as a child at our cabin at Lakeshore. As I have often stated over the years to friends, I never could see myself in “brick building Fresno”. I love the rural beauty of our area and the genuine friendliness of the foothill and mountain people.
My hobbies center on my own animals, my yellow lab, Sparrow, one kitty, and my wonderful palomino Morgan horse, Sam. I drive Sam in my carriage for pleasure and competitively, often with Sparrow in the vehicle with me. I also trail ride over the local foothill area and in the Sierra, often packing into the high country.
Education: U.C. Davis.