Jessica Nelson
Where did you grow up?
I was born outside of Seattle, WA and have lived in Vancouver, WA, Naperville, IL, Champaign, IL, Little Rock, AR and Portland, OR before moving to Salt Lake City.
Where did you go to school?
I earned my undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and my doctorate from the Oregon State University.
How did you develop a passion for the healing power of animals?
I have had the privilege of sharing my entire life with animals. I must thank my parents for allowing me to grow up with an assortment of pets. I’ve seen the smile that just a picture of a pet can put on someone’s face, let alone a purring or tail-wagging real life animal. I am devoted to ensuring those animals under human care have the best possible lives.
What do you do for Utah Pet Partners?
I am here to help ensure that all handlers and therapy animals have everything they need to do their job and to increase the spread Utah Pet Partners’ message and the work they do.
What’s your day job?
I am currently a veterinarian for Best Friends Animal Society in Salt Lake City and Orem, UT. I spend my time ensuring the pets in Best Friends care get all the medical attention they need as well as providing spay and neuter services to the community.
Tell briefly about your family and hobbies.
My husband, Mike, and I enjoy food, hiking, paddleboarding, skiing, snowshoeing and pretty much anything else that gets us outside. We share our adventures with our two “children”, Oliver and Reuben (a pair of scruffy terrier mixes).
I was born outside of Seattle, WA and have lived in Vancouver, WA, Naperville, IL, Champaign, IL, Little Rock, AR and Portland, OR before moving to Salt Lake City.
Where did you go to school?
I earned my undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and my doctorate from the Oregon State University.
How did you develop a passion for the healing power of animals?
I have had the privilege of sharing my entire life with animals. I must thank my parents for allowing me to grow up with an assortment of pets. I’ve seen the smile that just a picture of a pet can put on someone’s face, let alone a purring or tail-wagging real life animal. I am devoted to ensuring those animals under human care have the best possible lives.
What do you do for Utah Pet Partners?
I am here to help ensure that all handlers and therapy animals have everything they need to do their job and to increase the spread Utah Pet Partners’ message and the work they do.
What’s your day job?
I am currently a veterinarian for Best Friends Animal Society in Salt Lake City and Orem, UT. I spend my time ensuring the pets in Best Friends care get all the medical attention they need as well as providing spay and neuter services to the community.
Tell briefly about your family and hobbies.
My husband, Mike, and I enjoy food, hiking, paddleboarding, skiing, snowshoeing and pretty much anything else that gets us outside. We share our adventures with our two “children”, Oliver and Reuben (a pair of scruffy terrier mixes).
