The Klingenstein Veterinary Clinic at Lollypop Farm helps thousands of pets every year. Veterinary staff and volunteers help pets coming through Lollypop Farm with exams, surgeries, and other procedures and community pets through our S.N.I.P. and community cat programs. Dr. B, as she is often called, has already made a big impact on the clinic team, and we are happy to have her here at Lollypop Farm! To get to know her a little bit better, we did a quick Q&A session.
How did you get involved with animals? What made you become a veterinarian?
I always loved animals since I was a kid – and I said I wanted to become a veterinarian but I didn’t really know how or think I could, so I pursued what came naturally to me, which was the arts and acting! I loved animals my entire life but it wasn’t until I got a job running the adoption department at the Austin Humane Society that I realized working in the shelter environment was my calling. I loved it so much and planned to stay there forever, but my husband got accepted to a PhD program in Pennsylvania. So we had to move away. I had to think really hard about what to do with my life at that point, given that we were uprooting ourselves and going to an entirely new place! It was at that time that I decided to take the plunge and try to go back to school to make my dream of becoming a vet come true. Thankfully, it ended up working out!
Where did you go to school, and how long have you been a veterinarian?
I went to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagin for BOTH my Bachelors and my DVM. However, I got my bachelors in fine arts in 2001, and my DVM in 2021, so a bit of a span between times! I was an acting major when I was young, then I changed course and went back to school for my DVM at age 37! I’ve been a veterinarian for 3 years.
How many animals do you currently have?
I have 3 cats currently, Bob (15 years, orange), George (11 mos., orange), and Greg (10 mos., grey) – in age order. I will send you pictures because they are too cute not to see. Feel free to include them or not!
What excites you about working at Lollypop Farm?
I have worked at and externed at several shelters around the country including Austin Humane Society, Kansas Humane Society, Nebraska Humane Society, and Rochester Animal Services. I loved working at all of these places, and I feel that Lollypop Farm brings the best of all of these places together in one. It is so amazing to work in a place where everyone is so passionate about the mission and where the work is taken seriously. Also, I have amazing colleagues in the clinic who have been so helpful in getting me oriented these first three weeks. It is so inspiring to work alongside such an incredible team. This organization does so much for the citizens and pets of Rochester and Monroe County – I’m just so proud to be a part of it.
What do you enjoy doing while not at work? What are you passionate about?
I love to run. It’s so good for my body and my mind, more importantly. I’ve done 3 marathons and one half marathon. My goal is to run an ultramarathon someday – that’s any distance beyond a regular marathon which is 26.2 miles. Other than that I love spending time with my husband and my cats. I love visiting my family. I love gardening. We are going to plant a vegetable garden and are trying to transition our front and back yard to be lawn-free with only native plants that birds and bees love! I also love to bird watch.
What is something people might not know about you?
I played banked track roller derby in Austin, Texas with the league who helped revive roller derby back in the 1990s, TXRD, or Texas Roller Derby. My skate name was Chupacabra.
Anything else you would want to add?
(To staff and volunteers) Thank you all for being here and for doing this work. Animals are such an important part of all of our lives and we are so lucky to be able to care for the most vulnerable. Thank you for your dedication and your passion. I look forward to impacting so many more lives, human and animal, alongside you!
