I was born in San Jose and have lived here most of my life. I live in the house I grew up in (originally owned by my grandparents) with my parents, brother, and husband. However, I also lived in Washington State for a few years in the north Puget Sound region.

I became a Registered Veterinary Technician because I enjoy working with animals. I grew up with a plethora of pets ( cats, dogs, rodents, rabbits, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, crustaceans) and have always had animals in my life, so it felt natural to want to work with them. After working as a veterinary assistant for a couple of years, I went to Western Career College for my AS in Animal Science and to get my veterinary technician license which I received in 2005. My responsibilities in my role now are varied, but I always enjoy dental cleanings the most: it is so satisfying to make a dirty mouth look shiny and new!

I have been married since 2006 and my husband, David, is a cat lover (he loves dogs too, but cats are his favorite) and he repairs mobile devices. We have no human children but are happy being parents to our pets and being an aunt and uncle to my two nieces.

My pets include:

Lola - a 12-year-old tiny (4 & 1/2 pound) Pomeranian rescue. Her old owners could no longer afford to diagnose and treat her mysterious illness. It turned out to be an autoimmune disorder and she is now happy and healthy.

Sally - a 13-year-old mixed breed. She is a NARF adoptee that was found wandering the streets pregnant and homeless. All her puppies were adopted out through NARF as well.

Frostbite - a 10-year-old frost point Siamese mix. She was found under a tool shed during the first snow storm of the season - hence her name. She was a whopping 1/2 pound and about a month old. I would carry her around in my scrub top at work to keep her warm.

Roxanne - a 5-year-old seal point Siamese. She came from a feral cat colony near my sister's and was too beautiful to put back out. While she was at first skittish, once she realized she liked being petted, she tamed right up. She is now queen of the house and is far from shy.

Spacey Sprocket - a 2-year-old grey tabby. He came to Evergreen as a 2-month-old kitten in distress. He has Cerebellar Hypoplasia, a brain disorder which affects his coordination, depth perception, and movement. Luckily his case is not severe; he can get around and into things/trouble without too much difficulty! He is my little space cadet.

Marigold - a 6-year-old Buff Orpington chicken. She was originally my sister’s, but we took her in after a pack of five raccoons broke into her enclosure (they removed the gate from the hinges). She now happily roams our backyard looking for bugs to eat and staring at us through the glass door until one of us breaks down and gives her treats. Pineapples and pecans are her favorites.

Walnut - a box turtle that was found in someone’s garden. She had been attacked by an animal that damaged her shell and caused her front legs to stop working. Her neck and back legs still function, so she can observe the goings-on of the world and scoot around. She likes to swim because she can kick around with her back feet.

Besides working with animals and spoiling my own critters, I like crafting and am teaching myself jewelry-making with polymer clay, beads, and wire work. I’m also learning to sew. Being creative and working with my hands is always gratifying. I get my inspiration from nature, biology, the ocean, and space. The world is a fascinating place.