| Jennifer Bennett grew up in rural northern California, where she raised dairy goats, horses and sheep on her family ranch, participated in horse shows and drill teams, and was an All-Star in the 4-H Youth Program. She attended Seattle Pacific University, where she obtained a BS in Psychology and Women’s Studies in 1999, and the University of Washington-Seattle, where she graduated with an MS in Behavioral Neuroscience in 2002, after conducting research on sex hormones and behavior. She spent several years working and publishing in neuroscience research at Yale University before continuing her education to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. Dr. Bennett graduated with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2008. During veterinary school she served as President of the Student Chapter of the AVMA at UW-Madison. After graduation she returned to her home state of California and practiced for 5 years at Mendocino Animal Hospital in Ukiah, California, an AAHA small animal hospital, which included emergency practice. She also served as a Delegate to the California VMA for 3 years, representing Lake County. Dr. Bennett started a mobile veterinary service for large and farm animal species which she maintained on the side for 6 years, serving local livestock fairs, rodeos, and 4-H programs. In 2013, she became the Medical Director at Lake County Animal Care and Control, where she helped develop a community surgery service and a shelter medicine program. She returned to Washington state in 2015 and began working with local shelter and rescue groups including the NOAH Foundation, Pasado’s Safe Haven, the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Emerald City Pet Rescue, Purrfect Pals Cat Sanctuary, the City of Everett Animal Shelter, and the Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Program as a HQHVSN surgeon and relief veterinarian. In 2017, she was hired as the Medical Director for the Seattle Animal Shelter, where she was tasked with forming a new Veterinary Services team, combining the long-standing public spay/neuter clinic with the newer shelter medicine program. Dr. Bennett’s newest project has been forming SAVeSS (Seattle Area Veterinarians in Shelter Services), which brings together local shelter veterinarians to share, support and collaborate. Shelter medicine and soft tissue surgery are her passions and she is committed to providing the best care to those most in need, strengthening the human-animal bond in society and making a difference, one animal at a time. |
