Meet Our Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals Veterinary Team!
Our Featured Team Member:
Renée Shipley
Gentle Doctor Animal Hospital has THE BEST clients and patients in the world! This is true across every one of our three locations in Omaha and our Grooming Salon. As you also know, we have a very kind, compassionate and knowledgeable veterinary team. What you may not know is that the kindness and compassion and expertise of YOUR veterinary team are just as prominent at all three Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals locations and the Grooming Salon! Since you may not have gotten to meet our entire veterinary team, we would like to introduce them to you over the next several months.
We started our team member interviews with the team member who first comes to mind when we think of the positive attitude that is so important at Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals and that she so naturally expresses in everything she does. Please meet the first of many of our wonderful team members, Renée Shipley!
Name: Renée Shipley
Position: Animal care attendant at the 89th and Grant Gentle Doctor location
When did you join the Gentle Doctor team? March 2011
Tell us about the people and pets in your family.
I have been married to my wonderful husband Adrian since 2005. I have two four-legged kids, a Dachshund-Chihuahua mix named Dixie Mae who lives here with us, and a Shar-Pei mix named Cujo Muffin who lives with my mom because my apartment is too small for him. :)
What do you like to do when you are not restoring and maintaining the health of pets?
I like to drive up to my Mom’s house, play video games and hang out with my online friends.
What do you like most about your career?
Well, my job is mostly taking care of the boarding dogs and cats at the clinic, and I love it because I get to love on all these awesome dogs and cats, and it's like having grandkids or nieces and nephews, and they come over to your house and you get to love them and spoil them lots. and then they go home to their Mom and Dad. LOL! I also like that I am training to be a veterinary assistant, so I get to also help sick and injured animals and recovering animals. :)
What is one of the more difficult aspects of your career?
I would say the most difficult aspect of my career is when a sick or injured pet has to be put to sleep. The pain of the loss that the owners go through is really heartbreaking, and it's sad to see a loved one go. You get attached to some of these kids that you work with.
As an expert in your field, what advice would you give people about maintaining the health of their pets?
I would say definitely keep your pet on Heartgard and Frontline. These are good preventatives against heartworm disease and diseases that can be carried by fleas and ticks.
It's really important to maintain good dental health. Dogs and cats that aren't on any good dental cleaning products should be. For example, owners should be brushing their pets’ teeth or using products such as OraVet. There is even food that you can get to help keep their teeth clean. It's really important to the health of your dog or cat to maintain good dental hygiene.
What advice would you give someone looking into a career in veterinary medicine?
Be passionate about animals! Be passionate about teaching people to use preventatives and dental products to keep their pets healthy.
Tell us about one of your favorite patients.
That would take too long! I have more than one! LOL!
