VMCVM Staff Spotlight: Kirsten Denney
Kirsten Denney
Licensed Veterinary Technician, Large Animal Clinic, Veterinary Teaching Hospital
When did you join the veterinary college?
I moved here in 2022 after 15 years working at Ohio State in the Large Animal ICU.
What is your role at the veterinary college?
Licensed veterinary technician (LVT) in the Large Animal clinic.
The best part of being at VMCVM...
The location (I love living in the mountains) and the teamwork. Teamwork makes the dream work!
Best advice I've gotten...
If an alpaca is a spitter, put a blindfold on it and it won't know where to aim.
My hidden talent...
I participate in medieval reenactments and compete in jousting tournaments and drive a chariot for archery tournaments.
A person who has inspired me...
Ruth Warren, my first mentor as a new LVT. She taught me almost everything I know about working with camelids and small livestock.
Can you share a memorable experience or story from your time working with animals?
I once worked with a mini donkey that was so obese he could no longer walk. We fitted him for a canine wheelchair and developed a weight loss and physical therapy program to get his strength back. He broke his aluminum wheelchair due to his weight and my husband came to the rescue and welded a steel replica that could hold him. We sent him home and he eventually graduated from his wheelchair to live a normal donkey life!
What do you find most inspiring or fulfilling about working with students and helping them pursue their careers?
Watching the light bulb go off when the students learn a new skill and when the small animal students confess they actually wouldn't mind working with horses occasionally if the opportunity presented itself. "Welcome to the dark side!"
One misconception that all students seem to have is?
Small animal students are often nervous around horses until they realize they are just 1000# pushovers when they find their favorite itchy spot.
If you could magically grant an animal the ability to talk, which one would you choose and what do you think it would say?
My own horse, Max, known by many as Max the Wonder Horse because he does it all. If you can think of it, we've probably tried it. He always has strong opinions/feelings about what we are doing and seems practically on the verge of finally speaking his mind. He loves to join in on human "conversation circles." I would love to know what he is actually thinking.
A cause I'm most passionate about...
Veterinary mission projects. Being able to provide services for those who so desperately need it in different parts of the world really opens your eyes. The lovely people and fantastic culture you get to experience is a huge bonus and you are truly doing a service to the community and the animals they depend on, from immediate medical care to teaching better husbandry techniques so the animal can live a better life with new knowledge. It also forces you to think on your feet with the limited resources you may have at your disposal.
Favorite way to end the day...
Spending time in the barn feeding my own horses and listening to them happily munching away.
Top of my bucket list...
To visit Petra in Jordan.
If you could communicate with animals for a day, what would you ask them?
For the love of everything, please tell us where it hurts!
How many pets/animals live at home? Can you tell us about them?
I have a 28-year-old semi-retired Clydesdale/Morgan, Max, who is my heart and soul and I would do anything for him. I also have a Tennessee Walker, PJ, and 2 donkeys, Banjo and Boomer, that I'm training to drive. 2 dogs, a collie and an Aussie mix, barn cats, and the Minions, my mixed flock of ducks ,chickens, and guineas that provide endless entertainment.
Anything else to add?
My husband, Dan, is partly responsible for instigating the move down here and we wouldn't have it any other way. The area is beautiful and the people here have been wonderful!
