Dr. Nicole Zuniga grew up in Southern California on avocado and flower ranches along the coast. She attended U.C. Davis to complete her undergraduate education, focusing on animal behavior and agricultural animal management. She was a zookeeper and animal trainer for several years, as well as an emergency veterinary technician, before attending veterinary school at Washington State University. She completed a rotating small animal emergency and exotics rotating internship at a busy specialty practice. She enjoys practicing emergency medicine and working part-time with exotic/zoo animals. Her interests include exploring the great outdoors -mountain biking/paddling/snowboarding, spending time with family, traveling, animal training, and gardening. 

Fun Fact: She has a pet that could live 90 years! (Hint...he's still working on "coming out of his shell.") 

Quote: "Over the years I've come to appreciate how animals enter our lives prepared to teach and far from being burdened by an inability to speak, they have many different ways to communicate. It is up to us to listen."