Meet Jen: Mom, Receptionist, & DIY Aficionado
November 27, 2018
Jen is a receptionist at Pet's Best Friend Veterinary Hospital.
I grew up in Hamilton, New Jersey and spent most of my childhood around animals. I’ve always loved them and I still get excited when I meet new puppies and kittens. In the summer, I’d pet sit for family friends and all of those experiences helped steer me toward a career that involved working with animals.
My first pet was a calico cat named Molly. She was given to me when I was in kindergarten and she was my best friend for 21 years. Now I have two dogs, a German Shepherd named Rudy and a pitbull mix named Elsa, and three cats, two tabbies, Loki and Thor, and a calico named Charlotte.
I’ve been working in the veterinary field for about five years now. In all honesty, this job kind of found me. I had been a waitress at a local bar and grill and worked alongside one of the Pet’s Best Friend veterinary technicians, Tara. I was looking for steady, full-time work and she mentioned that the animal hospital she worked at was looking for a receptionist.
After filling out an application, I was invited in for an interview and it went so well that I was hired on the spot. Although I didn’t have any prior reception experience, I learned quickly and have since gained many new skills.
Working at Pet’s Best Friend Veterinary Hospital is extremely rewarding and I enjoy getting to know both my clients and patients. The most challenging aspect of my job is witnessing the sadness and heartbreak that transpires when owners have to say goodbye to their pets. Though it’s always difficult, I love what I do and can’t see myself doing anything else.
One thing I’d like to do in the future is make a difference in my local community. I hope to someday give back to those who have helped me in the past and be able to give to others in need. I dream of owning a large animal rescue and aspire to use it to strengthen community involvement in this area. I’ve built great rapport with the clients here and I believe I could use my communication skills to further enhance the lives of both people and animals.
While unfortunate, I see and hear about so many people looking to surrender their pets for various reasons. I want to make a difference in the lives of those types of pets by giving them a chance to find their forever homes. Being able to serve others in that capacity would bring me so much joy.
I’m thankful to work for a company like VetCor because it’s given me the opportunity to do what I love - all while gaining recognition for it. The incentives and team rewards are wonderful benefits but, more than anything, I appreciate being given the chance to meet such great people. My coworkers are truly my second family.
When I’m not at work, I enjoy spending time with my family, attending my son’s sporting events, and going for walks with my dogs. I’m also a big fan of tackling various projects around the house. Watch out Home Depot, here I come!
