Born in Chicago, my dad was a chemical engineer and my mom was a homemaker. I was the youngest of 3 children, my brother John and sister Julie. My family moved to a fruit farm in Southwestern Michigan when I was 4. We raised grapes, cherries, peaches and tomatoes. This was the best fruit I have ever eaten!It was here that we were given our 1st two kitties (Frisky and Tootsie) and a German Shepard (Brutus). I fell totally and completely in love with them and found my passion and purpose in life which is the care of animals.My interest in veterinary medicine grew throughout my life. I was blessed to attend Michigan State University in East Lansing as an undergraduate in 1975 and was accepted to MSU Veterinary School in 1977. I graduated with the class of 1980 then moved to Colorado to complete a one year small animal internship at Colorado State University.