Dr. Claudia Juarez grew up as an only child in the small town of Marfa, TX. She was shy and quiet and struggled to make friends at school. On her 6th Birthday her Father gave her a Jack Russell puppy named Dusty.

“I remember he followed me everywhere. To the Bus stop, to the park, around the house. We were inseparable and with no siblings he became my best friend.”

Claudia was 15 when Dusty got sick and stopped eating. She recalls her mother going with her to the vet and how cold and metallic the whole place was. There was nowhere soft, welcoming, or reassuring. The Dr. that looked at Dusty told her simply that he had a kidney infection and there was nothing that could be done. They left the vet without Dusty.

“It was the hardest day of my life.” Dr. Claudia says “But that was the day I decided I was going to be a vet and that I would create a welcoming and comforting place for sick animals and their humans. A place where animals would be respected and treated like the family members and friends that they are.”