Marena

Marena went to Modesto Junior College and received her Certificate of Achievement for the study of Veterinary Technician and has been in the veterinary field for 8 years. She will have been with us since March 2022.

What is your favorite part about your job?
My favorite part about my job is being able to help animals and their family.

If you could be an animal for a day, what animal would you choose to be and why?
The animal I would be for a day would be a bird (not sure of the kind) but a bird because I would like to fly everywhere as much as possible and see the world from above.

You can only eat one dish for every meal (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) for a whole month; what meal are you choosing?
I honestly don’t think I could eat one meal straight for a whole month, I already get sick of eating leftovers haha.

Who would you say is the best dressed employee when you're not all wearing scrubs? (Yes, you can vote yourself!)
I would say the best dressed employee is either Trent or Alisa- Fashionistas.

Favorite dog breed and why?
My favorite dog breed is a standard poodle. I have always loved poodles, their fluffiness, cuteness, and energy have always been a favorite of mine.
 

Favorite cat breed and why?
My favorite cat breed, even though this isn’t a breed, is any CHONKY cat. The reasoning behind that is fairly simple, CHONKY cats are cute. 🙃

You're stranded on an island for a month; what 4 things are you bringing with you?
The 4 things I am bringing on an island is, my dogs, matches, sunscreen, and red wine.

If you had to take one coworker from OVG with you, who would you take and why?
The person I would take with me is Sarah. As we know, Sarah has a good heart, a good sense of humor, and is good at teaching/ helping you with something you need.
 

What is your favorite season of the year and why?
My favorite season is Summer. 
There are many reasons why I love summer, lakes, concerts, camping, wine tasting, and many more.

What is your favorite responsibility/task/procedure to perform at work?
My favorite responsibility at work is taking care of the animals in inpatient.

What is your number one tip you have for pet owners? It can be anything from care tips, treat/food recommendations, tips before vet visits, etc.
GET Pet Insurance!

What's your go to Starbucks drink?
A Salted Carmel Cream Cold Foam Cold Brew.

What made you go into the veterinary medicine field for your career?
I chose to go into the Veterinary Medicine Field at a young age. I was always passionate about helping animals. If it was a lost dog, a bird that fell out of a tree, or helping rescue animals that needed homes. Growing up, I would watch the show Animal Cops, and during that show, they would take sick animals to the Hospital, and those episodes really helped pinpoint what I wanted to do in life, help save animals.

What pets do you have at home? (breed & name)
The pets I have at home are a German Shepherd named Mia and an Australian Shepherd named Maverick.


Which OVG core value do you most embody and why? (Passionate, genuine, collaborative, fun, respectful)
The core value I embody most is Passionate. I would say that I am very passionate about the job I have chosen, helping animals has always been a lifetime dream of mine.

What are you most looking forward to in the new hospital?
I’m looking forward to the change in the new hospital.

If you could travel to anywhere in the world where would you go and why?
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I would travel to Italy. 
The food, wine, and culture is something worth traveling for.

Who would you consider your biggest mentor/inspiration in your career? Why?
The biggest mentor/ inspiration in my career is tough to answer. I feel as if I have multiple answers, but I think my biggest one would be my first dog I euthanized last December. I rescued him from my very first job, and he was with me every second since then. He got sick last year in December, I had him hospitalized for multiple days, and he just wasn’t getting any better. I did multiple diagnostics like bw, radiographs, and ultrasound, he even had an NG tube in because he continuously kept regurging. The next step would have been to do a CT or a sedated ultrasound and do biopsy’s. Since he was a rescue, we were unsure of his exact age, so he was approximately 13-15 years. I couldn’t stand to see him suffer anymore, and I just couldn’t put him through it, so I decided to make the hardest decision ever, which was to euthanize. The reason I’m picking this as my inspiration is because I have been on the other side as an owner, and being on that side makes me work harder each day to help not only the patients we see but also understand what owners are going through when their animals are sick.