Jess, Veterinary Assistant

Hello! My name is Jess! At a young age I had a passion for animals, especially the exotics. You could find me watching the crocodile hunter and asking my parents for a pet snake, which always got turned down. However, I did manage to have my own little "zoo" that consisted of guinea pigs, rabbits, cats, dogs, fish, and a hamster. I knew really early on that I wanted to be a Veterinary Technician.

One of my friend's parents was a Veterinary Technician and I got to visit her clinic in Galena, IL around the age of 7. I also got a tour of the University of Madison, WI. Life happened and in 2014 I moved to Cedar Rapids and found myself at an office job. Working with animals felt like an unattainable dream until I adopted my first snake in January 2018, a Ball Python I named Piper. Piper reignited that passion and drive again.

In December 2018, I rescued my first snake, a Colombian Rainbow Boa named Udon. He was not taken care of properly and it was a journey getting him to good health, but it was so rewarding. After this, I knew I had to go back to school. In the Summer of 2020, I started in the Veterinary Technician Program at Kirkwood Community College. I worked at an emergency clinic before landing at VCA Edgewood Animal Hospital in December 2021, where I really feel part of a great team of passionate people! 

During my free time, I enjoy playing video games, watching anime, and doing many different types of crafts.