VMCVM Staff Spotlight: Jenny Jones

Jenny Jones, LVT

Large animal veterinary technician working closely with the internal medicine team in Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences.

The Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine recently named its 2024 Staff Members of the Year and Jenny Jones was recognized for her dedicated service to the VTH.

When did you join the veterinary college?
I started off at the Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center then arrived at the Blacksburg campus in 2013.

What is your role at the veterinary college?
I am a Licensed Veterinary Technician in the Large Animal Clinic and work closely with the Internal Medicine team.

The best part of being at VMCVM...
One of the best parts is being able to help out patients recover from their illnesses or injury and being able to return them to their family.

Best advice I've gotten...
Work smarter not harder.

How would you capture the essence of your work in a newspaper headline?
Hurry up and wait for the explosion.

My hidden talent...
I think patience might be my hidden talent. When working with the animals that are nervous or scared, it’s important to take a minute or two to try to relax and calm them down.

Can you share a memorable experience or story from your time working with animals?
So many great experiences! I think one of the best would be when a very sick neonatal foal comes in and being involved in its care to recovery is the best feeling.

What do you find most inspiring or fulfilling about working with students and helping them pursue their careers?
Being able to teach something to a student that will stick with them for the rest of their career.

One misconception that all students seem to have is?
We are not scary. I promise.

If I had a superpower, it would be...
I would love to go back in time and see “how the West was won."

If you could magically grant an animal the ability to talk, which one would you choose and what do you think it would say?
I always wondered what a cat had to say. But they probably wouldn’t tell us...

A cause I'm most passionate about...
Being kind and compassionate to animals and preserving nature. Leave no trace.

Favorite way to end the day...
Horse hugs and kitty snuggles.

Top of my bucket list...
To ride out West in every state and national park.

If you could communicate with animals for a day, what would you ask them?
I ask them questions all the time. And the chickens -- why do you intensely stare at me and growl????

How many pets/animals live at home? Can you tell us about them?

• 3 horses. Hazee is a 14 year old quarter horse that is a super trail horse. Weedie and Coco are retired pasture puffs.
• 2 donkeys: Amos and Dinky. Entertainment providers.
• 2 barn cats: Clyde and Stella. They were obtained from the shelter in the spring.
• 1 house cat: Lucy, she’s 20 years young and still sassy.
• 10 chickens.