Veronica has been working in veterinary medicine since she was just 15 years old, beginning her career in the Chicago area and growing up hands-on in the field. After moving to the Huntersville area about three years ago, she knew she wanted to continue caring for animals while also continuing to grow personally and professionally within the veterinary field.
Caring for sick and injured animals isn’t for everyone, but for Veronica, it’s exactly where she’s meant to be. She finds deep fulfillment in making a difference not only in the lives of her patients, but also in the lives of the people who love them. Whether it’s supporting pet parents during stressful moments or tackling the “gross but satisfying” parts of the job (like a well-done abscess lancing).
Veronica’s veterinary journey began close to home, where she started as a veterinary assistant learning foundational skills like restraint, anal gland expression, and patient care, while already being comfortable with grooming basics such as nail trims and ear cleanings. Over time, she’s continued to build on those skills and deepen her commitment to helping animals in meaningful ways.
One experience that shaped her passion for emergency and critical care involved a Labrador who was brought into the ER after being struck by a train. His injuries were severe, and many believed he wouldn’t survive. Veronica had the opportunity to care for him throughout his recovery, and after four weeks in the ICU, he walked out on his own. Watching that journey, and being part of it, remains one of the most powerful moments of her career.
What Veronica loves most about her job is knowing she can help animals in ways not everyone can. The gratitude she receives from both patients and pet parents makes the work incredibly rewarding and reaffirms that this is what she was put on this earth to do.
Originally from Burbank, Illinois - just outside of Chicago - Veronica shares her life with her fiancé, Tommy, a drummer in the bands Gunshine and Shotgunsandroses, and all of their beloved pets. Her animal family includes Slash, a cat with the confidence of a dog; Sauron, a grumpy queen-bee cat; Courage the Cowardly Dog, a wildly energetic mutt who lives up to her name; several snakes including T-Bone the ball python, Alice Pooper and Odin the boas, and their daughter Calico; and Captain Fuzzy Bottom, a salmon pink bird-eating tarantula—one of the largest tarantula species in the world.