Adopted: November 2009
Number of pets: 2
Animal care specialist Pam Willard has been caring for boarding and hospitalized PVH pets since November 2009. A stay at home mom for 18 years, Pam was eager to return to work after her daughter Elizabeth graduated from home school. Although she holds an associates degree in graphic design from Bradley Academy, she was pleased to have the opportunity to work in the veterinary field.
“That was always my dream job, to become a veterinarian,” she remembers. “I always liked the idea of taking care of animals.”
Luckily for Pam, taking care of animals is the most important part of her responsibilities at PVH. She and her team members are in charge of the day to day care of pets that are staying at the hospital, whether for surgical procedures or for an extended stay in the boarding kennels. Pam genuinely enjoys making each of them feel safe in her care.
In addition to being popular with the pets, Pam also became an immediate hero to the PVH staff within her first few months of employment. During frequent and ghastly winter storms that season, she was one of the few people on staff who lived near enough to make it to work without the benefit of a car! She proved herself to be a valuable and reliable friend to the PVH pets.
“I like giving them love when their people are away,” she says. When a dog or cat checks in to board at PVH, they might remain there just for the day, or even for a period of several weeks while their owners travel. Pam has come to recognize that initial look of “Where did everybody go?” and is quick to offer a tender touch.
“When they’re sad and scared, I like to go in and sit with them,” says Pam, who normally gains the animals’ trust within the first few hours. “Sometimes they’ll end up sitting on top of me!”