Community Affairs

What do you do?

“The majority of my job involves wellness visits for vaccinations, annual exams, that sort of thing. I also see emergencies in sick animals. I do surgery, too, mostly spay and neuter and soft tissue work.”

How did you get into this field?

“What really started me was when my grandfather donated 275 acres of his dairy farm to Heifer International. They have a livestock learning program on that land. I was a volunteer for many years doing chores, milking goats and milking cows. I was very active while I was in high school. I thought then that I’d like to be a veterinarian. I wasn’t sure because I really liked art as well. I’d heard how hard it was to be a veterinarian. So I went to Worcester State College for occupational therapy so I could combine my interest in art and psychology. I started working here as an assistant when I was a senior in high school. I was a receptionist, pulling charts and talking to people on the phone. I did that all the way through college. I had to leave when I had to do an internship for occupational therapy, and I realized I really missed being with animals. I finished occupational therapy and went back to school for biology and chemistry and then applied to veterinary schools. I was worried I wouldn’t get in. I ended up at Colorado State University. It was a very rigorous program.”

Did you know you wanted to work in a small animal practice?

“I thought I wanted international veterinary medicine, which is mostly large animals. Thinking about the clinical experience here, I really enjoy seeing people’s pets. I decided to go with small animals. I interviewed here, and it was so great because I already knew a lot of the staff and the clients.”

What’s the best part of your job?

“I really enjoy the challenges. Because animals can’t talk, you really have to be a detective to uncover what might be wrong. And it sounds like a cliché to say that I like being around animals, but I really do.”

What’s the worst part of your job?

“Discussing end-of-life issues with clients. It’s very emotional. I can see that the animal is sick and why I’m doing it. It’s the people and empathizing with them. It’s such a hard loss.”

What have you learned from this job?

“That I can’t know about every disease, but I have the resources to find out what I need to know. It’s been great working with my boss, Dr. (Danielle) Friend. I wanted a mentor and she’s a wonderful mentor. Practicing veterinary medicine is a constant process of learning. School’s not over.”

What’s your favorite type of pet?

“I’m a cat person.”

Do you and your husband have pets?

“We have four cats, a rabbit and a chinchilla. We have plenty of room. We live in the same house I grew up in. I inherited it from my parents when they passed away. It’s a great setting. We have 14 acres surrounded by woodland.”

Compiled by: Reporter Pamela H. Sacks

To be featured in or to suggest a job profile, send information to Dave Greenslit, Telegram & Gazette, Box 15012, Worcester, MA 01615-0012, or send an e-mail to dgreenslit@telegram.com.

HOLDEN — During last month’s crippling ice storm, the Holden Veterinary Clinic provided a safe and warm environment for animals whose owners had to move to shelters because of the prolonged power failure in the area.

“We had seven cats and three dogs during the power outage,” said Jackie Mercurio, the hospital manager, who added that the services were provided at no cost to the owners.

Dr. Danielle Friend, owner of the clinic, and Rebecca Evanoff of the town’s emergency response team, worked together to arrange shelter for the animals.

“We’re all part of the community. We wanted to help people who didn’t want to leave their pets behind when they had to leave their homes,” said Dr. Friend. “We had the opportunity to do something, so we did.”

Dr. Friend added that the clinic received several donations from pet owners, and the money, about $500, will go toward buying equipment to help in future emergency situations.

Because the Holden Veterinary Clinic was without power for only 48 hours, it was able to help once it was up and running again.

Said Ms. Mercurio, “We had dogs and cats that needed medication, and we were able to provide those services on schedule. We also had the owners give us emergency numbers and special dietary requests. The animals were allowed to stay with us as long as the owners were without power. The dogs and cats were all very well-behaved when they were here.”

The boarding animals during the power outage were welcomed by Thelma, the popular American shorthair cat who lives at the Holden Veterinary Clinic and made it through the power failure on her own.

Thelma is the resident star at the clinic, the queen bee, as Dr. Friend likes to call her. But it wasn’t always so. Her current status reflects the quality care she has received over the years.

“Thelma was having behavioral issues with her owners,” Ms. Mercurio, “and Dr. Friend adopted her, and she’s been so happy here — walking around and often greeting clients when she’s in a good mood. She’s the queen of the place now.”

Added Ms. Mercurio with a smile, “With our boarders during the ice storm, Thelma was a little taken aback, looking at the cats and dogs invading her space, but after a while she was fine.”

The Holden Veterinary Clinic was founded in 1969 by Dr. Daniel H. Rice III. The clinic, with full-time veterinarians Dr. Friend and Dr. Jennifer Downes on staff, offers emergency veterinary services in addition to standard medical, surgical and dental veterinary care. It has an in-house pharmacy, lab, radiology facilities and intensive care unit, creating a one-stop pet medical care facility at 11 Industrial Drive.

As the new year unfolds with the requisite weight-loss resolutions, the Holden Veterinary Clinic has introduced a weight-loss program targeted toward feline and canine patients.

“There are a lot of overweight pets who have problems. It’s much harder for an animal to lose weight than a human,” said Ms. Mercurio. “It has to be done gradually and with a diet and exercise program that’s right for the pet.”

After the pet is checked by a veterinarian to be sure the weight gain is not caused by any underlying medical condition, a veterinarian technician meets with owners to set up a customized weight-loss program.

“We will work closely with owners to ensure their pets have safe and healthy weight loss programs until they reach their goal weight,” said Ms. Mercurio.

She also reported that the queen bee is setting a good example: “Thelma is currently on a diet.”