We put the patients first!
Mark embarked on his satisfying veterinary technician career after interacting with a friend’s animals, rather than Mark’s own pets. Mark was allergic to dogs and cats, so his family refrained from keeping these furry household pets. Once he connected with his friend’s pets, he made the decision to develop a career working with animals, and found his first veterinary technician job while attending college. Fortunately, Mark’s allergy problem was resolved after several months, making his veterinary technician work much easier!
Mark’s first veterinary hospital job began with kennel cleaning duty, although he always jumped at the chance to assist a veterinarian or technician. Over time, Mark developed his veterinary technician skills while he completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology at Colorado University at Boulder.
When Mandy was growing up, she always wanted to be a lion tamer so she could make the circus more fun. Mandy’s life ultimately took a different turn, as she found herself managing veterinary practices rather than taming a cageful of roaring lions. However, during a seminar Mandy learned that she had developed the leadership skills to take on and master difficult challenges. Mandy also realized that part of her childhood dream had been fulfilled, as she gets to surround herself with a roomful of animals every day!
Caitlyn’s connection with Moore Animal Hospital goes all the way back to her childhood. Since Caitlyn’s mother, Dr. Backstrom, owns the hospital, Caitlyn has always been a frequent visitor to the clinic’s exam rooms and pet resort. As a result of her time spent at the hospital, Caitlyn developed a love for its many pet patients and an appreciation for the dedicated staff who care for them. Now an adult, Caitlyn has been working at the hospital for years while keeping on top of her studies. While Caitlyn works as the culture coordinator for Moore Animal Hospital, this means that she works to help promote and maintain a positive culture for the staff, pet parents and furry patients!
Of course, Caitlyn always takes time to engage in some playtime with the hospital’s canine and feline patients. Whether the pet is a young kitten or a geriatric dog, Caitlyn loves them all, and makes them feel special while they’re at the hospital.
When a guest speaker came to Victoria’s fourth-grade classroom with a lion cub in tow, Victoria instantly became obsessed with large cats. It didn’t take her long to decide that she wanted to help animals in a hands-on way. Victoria’s journey has now come full circle: she’s able to care for pets on a daily basis as a Veterinary Assistant!
Victoria grew up outside of Houston, Texas, and moved to Colorado after high school to study at Colorado State University; she fell in love with the state and decided to stay! She even had the opportunity during her schooling to spend three months living in Africa, where she worked hands-on with the cheetah population there—it’s an experience Victoria will truly never forget.
Hailee has been a nurturing soul ever since her earliest days. For her, getting to better the lives of not only pets, but the people who care for them, is a dream come true. That’s why she’s a Veterinary Technician!
A Colorado native, Hailee majored in communications and journalism at the University of North Carolina before deciding to follow her true passion and pursue animal medicine. She attended Front Range Community College’s veterinary technology program, graduating in 2017 as a Veterinary Technician. Hailee has been helping pets in that capacity ever since! She joined the Moore Animal Hospital family in June of 2021 and looks forward to continuing her veterinary journey here.
Madi Roberts has always adored animals. As a teenager, Madi stumbled upon a litter of two-week-old stray kittens on her grandparents’ property. After confirming that the kittens were, indeed, abandoned, Madi jumped into action, taking them in and single-handedly providing round-the-clock care. As a result of her efforts, all six kittens survived. More importantly, a passion for animal care was officially born.
During moments of her life when she felt most alone, Krysta was able to find peace and friendship in the hearts of animals. She appreciates their endless loyalty and how they have always offered her a safe place to process her feelings and deal with all the stresses of life. In return, she vows to be their voice for as long as she can!
When Bethany Cominsky’s college journey brought her to Colorado, she developed a deep love for wildlife and the outdoors. This fueled her interest in wildlife medicine. Being able to pursue her passion while interacting with people and their furry family members is a dream come true for Bethany!
Bethany’s career journey began as a volunteer at an animal shelter. She would later attend CSU, where she’d earn her Bachelors in Zoology. While attending school, Bethany worked as a dog bather, an animal farm volunteer and even assisted in a research lab. In January of 2022, she joined Moore Animal Hospital, where she hopes to continue developing her clinic skills.
Witnessing the impact that veterinary professionals have on pets and their owners – and experiencing it for herself with her own dogs – has inspired Aubriana to follow that same path. A passion for animals and an interest in medicine made this a natural career choice. What better job is there than one in which you get to practice medicine and love on furry critters all day?
Aubriana’s journey began at a canine rehabilitation center in Colorado Springs where her Mom has worked for many years. Having that “in” allowed her to follow patients and observe what goes on behind the scenes. From there, she decided to relocate to Fort Collins so she could attend CSU. Professionally, Aubriana has a special interest in orthopedics. She also finds radiology particularly fascinating.
For as long as she can remember, Sydney has loved animals. In fact, as a baby, her first word was ‘dog.’ It came as no surprise to her friends and family that she would end up pursuing a career in the animal care industry. As a Veterinary Assistant here at Moore Animal Hospital, Sydney has the opportunity to do what she loves most – help pets stay healthy and live their best lives!
Sydney’s professional journey began at the young age of 15, when she landed a job at an animal shelter in New York. From there, she took a job as a Veterinary Assistant at an animal hospital. In 2021, Sydney and her family relocated to Colorado. Shortly thereafter, she joined the Moore Animal Hospital team.
Growing up in Southwest Texas, Justice remembers always being an avid animal lover. She even started her own dog walking and pet sitting business, which she maintained throughout her adolescent years. While her ultimate dream is to one day open a wildlife sanctuary, she is content for the time being caring for and loving on the patients here at Moore Animal Hospital.
Justice moved to the Fort Collins area to pursue her degree in Zoology from Colorado State University. She plans to continue toward her doctorates following her undergraduate years, with the goal of becoming a veterinarian. As a Veterinary Assistant, Justice enjoys learning new things and sharing her knowledge with others. She has a particular affinity for cats and large breed dogs. Justice’s professional passions include conservation, animal behavior, rehabilitation, and overall animal health and wellness.
Katie Jo always tagged along to the vet’s office with her parents when one of her childhood pets had an appointment. She was fascinated by the way the veterinarians were able to diagnose problems in a patient who couldn’t tell them what was hurting—she knew that she wanted to be a part of a team that did just that. Katie Jo gets to satisfy her interests in anatomy and physiology and spend time around animal-lovers and adorable pets every day as a member of Moore Animal Hospital’s Veterinary Assistant team!
Ever since he can remember, Robert has been interested in the natural world and how science keeps everything turning. When the opportunity arose for him to try his hand in the world of animal medicine, he knew that it was too good to pass up. What better way to satisfy his fascination with biology and anatomy while bettering the lives of others at the same time? Robert is proud to volunteer with the Moore Animal Hospital team!
Robert is originally from Jacksonville, Florida and spent several years managing restaurants and grocery stores in his home state and in Maryland. Next, he embarked on a career in law enforcement. When he moved to Colorado, Robert decided to pursue something he had always been passionate about: animal medicine. The vast network of current and former veterinary professionals around Fort Collins quickly connected him with several clinics and individuals—that journey brought him here to Moore Animal Hospital, and the rest is history.
At the age of 12, Sarah Calta started volunteering at a Connecticut animal hospital in order to spend more time with her aunt, whom she would visit every summer. Little did she know that working with pets would ultimately become her lifelong career. It wasn’t until after her beloved aunt and mentor pulled her aside, and said “you have a way with animals, I think you should pursue this field,” that Sarah finally recognized within herself a passion for animal health care.
While Avery has always been intrigued by veterinary medicine, her interest blossomed into a full-blown passion when she began working at an exotic wildlife rescue center. Witnessing the remarkable transformation of these animals, and knowing she played a role in their recovery, Avery knew without a shadow of a doubt that she wanted to dedicate her life to caring for animals. As one of our rock star veterinary assistants, Avery gets to do what she loves each and every day!
Avery launched her professional journey in high school, where she took a class in veterinary medicine and earned her veterinary assistant certification. After three years of volunteering at the wildlife sanctuary, she accepted an internship and was eventually hired as a full time keeper. In February of 2022, Avery joined the Moore Animal Hospital team. She loves the fast-paced environment and enjoys getting to know our clients and their beloved pets.
Growing up in Puerto Rico, Javier spent most of his life dreaming about a career in uniform, whether police, firefighter or soldier. It wasn’t until he joined the army, however, that Javier discovered that scrubs are a uniform as well, and that the people who wear them play a role in keeping the community safe and healthy. This realization, coupled with a lifelong love of animals, led Javier to pursue a career in the veterinary industry.
Javier’s journey to become a veterinarian began when he was serving in the military in South Korea. While assigned to the Honor Guard, Javier had the opportunity to speak with the highest ranking members of both the US and Korean Army. It was through these conversations that Javier discovered his goal in life was to reduce unnecessary suffering in the world. And what better way to do that than by helping animals? Professionally, Javier has a special interest in dentals and x-rays.
Helping animals isn’t just a job for Erica Choo. It’s a part of who she is. In fact, she once single-handedly rescued her parents’ dog from choking, ultimately saving her life!
Erica’s journey into the veterinary field began in high school, when she volunteered at a local animal shelter. There, she developed a deep passion for working with animals and decided it was something she wanted to do as a career. Upon acceptance into Colorado State University, Erica relocated from California to pursue her dream. She hopes to eventually become a veterinarian.
Megan owns pets herself, so she knows exactly how valuable our beloved animal companions are. For her, getting to help strengthen and nurture those bonds for others is a dream come true. Megan couldn’t be happier to launch her journey in veterinary care right here at Moore Animal Hospital!
Megan is a Fort Collins native and joined the Moore Animal Hospital family in September of 2019. She was referred by her friend and roommate, the clinic’s very own Cecily. Megan serves as a Client Advocate and loves to meet and greet pet owners and their adorable companions at the front desk.
With a mother who’s worked in the veterinary industry for decades, Ariela wanted to follow in her footsteps. Determined to be around animals, Ariela was able to secure a concierge position at Moore Animal Hospital!
Ariela loves her job for two main reasons. First, it gives her the chance to meet and talk to a variety of pet owners. She loves being able to tell them exactly what is going on, and breaking down the doctor’s complex medical jargon in a simplistic way that’s easy for them to understand. Second, Ariela is glad that she gets to meet animals of all personality types to keep her on her toes.
Imagine beginning a career in one field, and then abruptly stopping it to begin a career in another field. This scenario applies to Kayla, who was working as a baker before a change in careers led to her becoming a client advocate at Moore Animal Hospital. Now she gets to spend her days around animals that she loves!
Of course, Kayla’s love of animals is one key factor that eventually led her to Moore Animal Hospital, but it was much more than that. Animals mean absolutely everything to her, to the point to where she admits to being more comfortable with animals than she is with people.
Sometimes the most unlikely things can influence our life’s journey. In Juliana’s case, it was the opportunity to learn how to properly care for her pet hermit crabs that ultimately sparked her passion to learn about animals and how their bodies work. She now gets to pursue that passion every day as a member of the Moore Animal Hospital team!
Juliana started with us in late 2021, having already been a client for several years. In her role as Client Advocate, she enjoys doing concierge work and interacting with our clients and their pets. As this is the beginning of her journey, she’s embracing every opportunity she has to learn and grow.
Bio coming soon!
“One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home.”
– Pam Brown