Meet Our Team

“Stop chewing that!” It’s a common phrase at my house, and when you meet my pack of loveable but unruly rescues, you’ll understand why. Living with these troublemakers, I’m no stranger to torn up sofas and backyard holes. I know first hand that vet visits and surgery can be expensive, and believe no one should have to make health and treatment decisions based on cost. That’s why I have spent the last 15 years working to provide affordable, compassionate care for Colorado’s cats and dogs.

Since graduating from CSU’s vet program, I have found my calling as a high volume spay/neuter surgeon. I know getting animals fixed leads to a healthier pet, better bonds with their owners, fewer fights between other animals, and calmer pets in general. At Animal Works, I will proudly continue to bring a little peace and hopefully fewer ER visits to the people of Fort Collins and the surrounding areas! In addition to routine surgeries, I have helped bring comfort to pets and their families through thousands of mass removals, bladder and intestine surgeries, wound repairs, and many other soft tissue surgeries.

When I’m not out being walked by my pack of high energy dogs, you can find me enjoying good food, good music, and the outdoors with family and friends.

Favorite Quote: “Dogs got personality. Personality goes a long way.” – Quentin Tarantino

I’m a big veterinary science nerd! After thousands of hours of surgery, I’m still excited about new cases and new challenges. More important than new techniques and fun tools though, is the animal underneath the drape and the bond they share with their people. During my time at the Royal Veterinary College in London, I realized cost is a huge barrier to receiving care.

My first six years in practice were with a high-volume, low-cost clinic where I became acquainted with high-volume techniques for spay and neuter surgeries. These techniques help keep time and expense down, but are transferable to other types of surgeries as well. Having done over 10,000 spay/neuter surgeries, I started to learn orthopedic procedures. With hundreds of knee and hip surgeries under my belt, I am now continuing the mission by starting a new practice to help even more pet parents and their fur babies.

In addition to all things science and surgery, I love the outdoors.

I enjoy taking my family including our black lab mix hiking and snowshoeing.

Favorite Quote: “An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language” – Martin Buber

Controlled chaos. That’s how most practice managers would describe what they do—from barking dogs and ringing phones to managing inventory and greeting clients.

I know chaos well. I spent five years running the front desk and handling office duties at one of Denver’s busiest clinics. Apparently, that wasn’t enough, because I decided to take it to a whole new level by opening Animal Works.

Now, four years in, the chaos has settled a bit—but the passion and energy haven’t. I still love every moment of this rewarding, ever-changing work.

I thrive on the constant buzz of activity in the clinic: connecting with clients, hearing the cats meow, seeing wagging tails (especially the little ones), and sharing our story on social media.

When you walk into our lobby, I hope you feel like part of the Animal Works family and sense the compassion and connection with animals that my team and I share.

Just like my four fur babies, this life might be a little crazy—but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Favorite Quote: “My dogs are my children. I don’t care what anyone says. They just don’t talk back, and they don’t need college tuition” – Oprah Winfrey

I’m a creative and quirky licensed vet tech that has been caring for pets since 2010. I started my vet journey with a passion for helping animals in need, especially cats! I have worked in all the major sectors of veterinary medicine, including shelters, overnight ERs, general practice, and many specialty practices experiencing the different aspects of care required in different settings. These days, I’m mainly interested in dentistry and surgery, and I’ve found a home away from home in Animal Works. I’m able to maintain my skills, engage in my favorite projects, and help support rescue organizations all while working at a clinic with a close knit, family feel. When I’m not loving my personal fur baby Phoebe or nerding out on veterinary science, I like to travel with my husband, craft, and spend time outside in nature.

Quote: “Having any sort of animal in your life is an irreplaceable piece of therapy” – Jackson Galaxy.

Hi I’m Dani, a graduate student studying veterinary public health with a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. My passion in veterinary medicine includes disease control/prevention, clinical neurology, and orthopedic surgery! I have experience with most facets of the veterinary world including large/farm animals, veterinary research, emergency practice, critical care, and both general specialty surgery.  In addition to the animal side, I also have worked on social media management, finance, and accounting.  At Animal Works, I’m using a blend of skills to support the vets and pets here during routine surgeries, dentals, and emergency procedures.  During my time off, I enjoy going to the gym, am a wrestler (~10 years) and competitive judoka (~15 years) and recently obtained my Shodan (black belt)! I have been in Fort Collins for two years and adopted a Staffy/Husky mix (Shabu) and a GSD mix (Takoyaki). I actually met Tako through Animal Works, as he was being fixed for Running Dog Rescue. Lil guy came in for a neuter but ended up meeting his adoptive crazy dog mom! Special shoutout to my animals at home in Hawaii: three dogs (Black lab terrier: Pocky, Shihtzu: Bogo, Malt/shih: Astro) and four Hawaiian geese (Binky, Biscuit, Stinky, Blinky), thanks for being my practice models while I was in school 🙂 

Favorite quote:“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole” -Roger Caras 

I joined the Animal Works team in the spring of 2025 as a Veterinary Assistant, and I feel so lucky to be part of a clinic that makes veterinary care accessible for everyone. I especially love that we’re able to provide affordable spay and neuter services, which has the dual benefit of helping pets and their families while also making a big difference in our community. I’ve been working in veterinary medicine for 5 years now, gaining hands-on experience with surgery, anesthesia, radiographs, lab work, and patient care. While I like most aspects of my job, what I enjoy most is being there for pets in their time of need and supporting their families through the process.

Along with my veterinary work, I’m also an animal behavioral consultant and trainer, I love helping owners understand and solve complex behavioral problems. Beyond fixing behavioral problems, I love guiding owners as they teach their pets everything from scent work to service dog public access. After I finish my schooling, I plan to receive credentials as an applied animal behaviorist. Outside of work, I’m a big plant nerd! My home is full of greenery, and I love learning about and caring for all kinds of plants. When I’m not tending to my collection, you can usually find me outdoors or spending time with my own pets, which include a large green iguana.

I’m so excited to grow with Animal Works and to continue helping pets live healthier, happier lives.