Dr. Ana Valbuena is a recent graduate and new Chicago resident. She received her Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences from Florida International University and left the sunshine state to pursue her doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

Having been born in Cuba and spending years in Nicaragua before moving to Florida, Dr. Valbuena is no stranger to new environments and change. She understands that veterinary visits can prove to be stressful for not only our furry companions but their human counterparts, as well. Dr. Valbuena is passionate about the human-animal bond and wishes to enhance it through good preventative medicine and comprehensive medical care, working together with pet parents to achieve the best quality of life and least stress for all involved.

In her spare time, Dr. Valbuena enjoys hand embroidering and spending time with her partner, Diego, and their two cats, Ziggy and Weasley.

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La Dra. Ana Valbuena es recién graduada y una nueva residente de Chicago. Recibió su Bachillerato en Ciencias Biológicas atraves de la Universidad Internacional de Florida y dejó el estado de la Florida para continuar su doctorado en Medicina Veterinaria atraves de la Universidad de Illinois en Urbana-Champaign.

Habiendo nacido en Cuba y pasado años en Nicaragua antes de mudarse a la Florida, la Dra. Valbuena no es ajena a los nuevos ambientes y al cambio. Ella entiende que las visitas veterinarias pueden resultar estresantes no solo para nuestras mascotas, sino también para sus padres. La Dra. Valbuena es apasionada por la conexion humana-animal y desea mejorarla a través de medicina preventiva y atención médica integral, trabajando junto con los padres de mascotas para lograr una mejor calidad de vida y menos estrés para todos los involucrados.

En su tiempo libre, la Dra. Valbuena disfruta bordar a mano y pasar tiempo con su pareja, Diego, y sus dos gatos, Ziggy y Weasley.

Prior to moving to Chicago in 2019, Shelby was born and raised in a small town in Minnesota. Her educational background is in Sales and Marketing, while her prior career experience is primarily in human medicine. She entered the veterinary world upon her move to Chicago and fell in love with the relationship to patients and owners alike.

In Shelby’s free time you can find her buying produce for Franklin, her pet turtle, playing with her cat Squeaks, or cooking for her and her partner.

Maya graduated from Fox College as a Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) in 2014 and is an aspiring Veterinarian. She is the Mother of 2- and 4-legged children alike – she has 2 biological children, 8 step-children, plus an American Bully (Vixen) and a Shorty Bull (Bane). Maya is family and goal-oriented and wants to be someone her children can look up to.

Dexter has been in the Veterinary industry for 10 years now and has worked at a cat shelter and a few other clinics. They have a soft spot for working with special needs cats and used to foster/socialize feral kittens. Dexter currently has 4 rescue cats of their own and their roommates have another 4!

In Dexter’s spare time they enjoy running marathons, rock climbing, karaoke, and changing the lyrics of songs to be about cats. Jurassic Park is their favorite movie and they love to go to Disney World! You can expect Dexter’s hair to be a different color each time you see them.

Colleen has called Chicago home since 2004. After completing her BA at Columbia College Chicago, she enrolled in the Veterinary Assistant Program at Animal Behavior College and has been a part of the veterinary industry since 2011. Her work as a kennel assistant, receptionist, and veterinary technician has allowed her to accumulate a well-rounded experience. No matter the position, her favorite aspect of this profession is being a source of support for patients and owners alike.

At home, Colleen spends time with her husband, daughter, and two black cats Gotham and Harvey Grayson. Her spare time is occupied by family and crafts.

Jessie has been in the Veterinary world for almost 2 years and never plans on leaving. She is working towards getting certified as a Veterinary Technician. She has a passion for animals and has volunteered at almost all of the animal shelters in Chicago since she was 18 years old.

Jessie was a nanny for 10 years but always wanted a career working with animals. She has owned all types of pets including reptiles, bunnies, and dogs. She is currently the Mom of 4 furry dogs – a Chihuahua, Frenchie, Pomeranian, and a Yorkie. In her spare time, Jessie loves to travel, and when not in Chicago you can find her in Miami, Florida.

Fiona was born and raised in Evanston but has been happy to call Chicago home for the past 5 years. She’s had a passion for the veterinary industry from a young age, from both a household full of pets and an uncle who is a Veterinarian.

In Fiona’s free time you can find her reading or baking. She and her partner have quite a few critters; Boots the cat, Ramblin’ Rose the turtle, Bosco the ball python, and Tajin the bearded dragon.

Xaviera graduated from the School of the Art Institute-Chicago with a bachelor’s in visual design & illustration and sometimes paints pet portraits for friends.

During her spare time, she loves seeing live music in the city with her husband. In the summertime, she can be found on her porch in Roscoe Village reading musician biographies with her two rescue cats Marge and Fry by her side.

Amy has a BA in psychology with a biology minor from UIC. Her academic background includes research and teaching assistantships in behavioral neuroscience, and she was awarded special honors for independent research in animal behavior. She has completed highly regarded animal training internships at the Animal Behavior Center in New York and the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.

She continues her professional development by regularly attending seminars and workshops to stay up-to-date with current research in the field and by participating in respected professional organizations. Amy provides her clients with effective, practical training and behavior solutions to help them successfully navigate “real life” with their dogs. She uses only scientifically sound, dog-friendly training methods that empower dogs to be active and enthusiastic participants in their own training and care.