After being a client of Westbank Animal Care Hospital with her family pets since 2001, and then her own pets starting in 2019, Marilee was inspired to apply to the Center for Arts and Technology’s veterinary assistant program. The relationship she had built with the entire team at this clinic is what made Marilee pursue a career in veterinary medicine with the end goal of working at this clinic. Marilee received her Veterinary Hospital Assistant Diploma from the Center for Arts and Technology in 2021, and has since grown at the clinic in becoming one of the main surgical assistants and the assistant lead. Marilee finds every aspect of the job fulfilling, especially the challenging tasks in being a surgical assistant as she has a natural ability for it. Inside the clinic she loves the teamwork between all her coworkers and most importantly being the voice for animals, in their care and needs. Outside of work Marilee started fostering in 2021, which gives great purpose to her life because she desires to help all the dogs who’ve never had a chance at finding a home they love. The Doberman breed is by far her favorite for their intelligence as a working breed, and she has worked with her own dogs through guarding training. When you come into the clinic you may not see Marilee’s face as she works in the back end, but you can be certain that she is making sure your pets are cared for as if they are her own, with love and compassion.