International Pet Advocate
I am from Medellin, Colombia. I came to America in 1990 as an executive and administrative bilingual secretary for a global glass company, where I also worked as an interpreter and translator. I got transferred to Venezuela where I became a Licensed Veterinary Technician and a fashion designer. I combined both careers to raise money to spay and neuter stray animals and find them forever homes. I also helped establish an animal shelter in Medellin, and the work there rescuing stray pets continues.
I worked as a volunteer as a keeper’s assistant at the Small Mammal House at the Washington DC Zoo–feeding, medicating, cleaning (and playing with) porcupines, golden lion tamarins, sloths, armadillos and more!
I worked for over 10 years for a large animal hospital corporation in Virginia, New York, and Connecticut. I started as a pet nurse to dental and surgery patients, then became the shift lead and was promoted to practice manager before coming to BAH as a technician. My passion and love for healing animals and the happiness I see through their eyes is what motivates me to come to work every day.
I’m very family-oriented; traveling to new places and returning to those I love is very important to me. I have a wide range of interests from music (Madonna to the Oldies) live concerts, playing tennis, bowling, baking, cooking, hiking and photography. I adore experiencing thrills and chills–horror movies/TV shows are my taste, as is riding the world’s best roller coasters wherever they are.
At the top of my bucket list is spending a weekend with an elephant at Riddle’s Elephant Sanctuary in Arkansas and an absolute must is a pilgrimage to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya.
On a surprise day off, you’ll find me doing my nails, visiting family in New York, or enjoying my favorite authors, James Patterson and Stephen King.