Future veterinarian hopes to make positive change

“I was raised on a kind of farm area in California. When I was 6 years old, I had a Pomeranian named Fluffy. One day he was out roaming, and he got bitten by a snake. He started limping, so we took him to the vet. As it turned out, he died on the table due to the snake bite. That memory definitely stuck in my head. It was pretty traumatizing. It’s very hard to lose a dog any time, especially at such a young age. I had gotten him for my birthday just a few days earlier, so it was even worse.

“I’ve always loved animals. Seeing them on the streets homeless or injured because of abuse really hurts me. So I just want to be there to help them whenever I can. That’s why I’m studying to become a veterinarian. I’m hoping to make a difference for pets and their owners.”

— Yesenia Chavez