Nicole and Harley, Photo by Arnold Clark Photography
Meet another of our great team members, Nicole Dawson!
Nicole with Dr. Finch's Noodle the Poodle
Name: Nicole Dawson
Position: Veterinary Assistant
When did you join the Gentle Doctor team? July 2012
Nicole with Dr. Stokes's Minerva - She is Grateful for the Bath Deep, Deep Inside!
Tell us about the people and pets in your family.
I have a cat, Roxy. She thinks she is a dog. I also have 2 dogs, a 2 year old Great Dane, Harley and a 3 year old Puggle, Chloe, both of which have separation anxiety, but we are working on getting better.
Harley the Great Dane and Chloe the Puggle
What do you like to do when you are not restoring and maintaining the health of pets?
I love to be outside, only if it's at least 70 degrees though. I spend a lot of my free time reading and spending time with friends and family and of course my fur - babies.
What do you like most about your career?
What I love most about working at Gentle Doctor is the clients and patients. They essentially become a part of your family. You build a relationship with them, and when they come in excited to see us, it's a positive experience for all of us.
What is one of the more difficult aspects of your career?
When it is time to say goodbye, whether I am really close with the patient/client or not, it is extremely difficult, and I struggle with that.
As an expert in your field, what advice would you give people about maintaining the health of their pets?
Preventative health care. Use the supplements your veterinarian recommends, and bring them in for their annual visits. It will help your pet in the long run.
Nicole with Receptionist Jacquie's Lenny
What advice would you give someone looking into a career in veterinary medicine?
Job shadow at a clinic! Before you even go to school, you want to be sure this is a field you want to work in the rest of your life. It's not all sunshine and rainbows all the time, and while you do get to see puppies and kittens, you see a lot of hard things too.
Tell us about one of your favorite patients.
Nicole and Kelly with Great Dane Sloan
One of my favorite patients is Sloan, a Great Dane that comes into the 120th and Blondo location. She was one of the first patients I cared for at this location, and is the perfect example of a "gentle giant." She's always so happy to come in and is just a mellow girl. :]
Sloan Says Giants Can Be Princesses Too!
Chloe and Nicole
Nicole and Roxy