Like a lot of veterinarians, Renee grew up crazy for all animals and with a solid crew of pets, foundlings, and fosters; all tolerated by a dog loving mother. At age sixteen, her little girl horse obsession was rewarded with a two year old unbroken Appaloosa with enough talent to become a winning endurance and competitive trail horse.
Renee’s first real job was, of course, vet assistant/poop scooper, which she improved upon by becoming a Licensed Veterinary Technician. After that was was a stint as exercise rider and groom for then master of the Old Dominion Hounds.
She was then off to Virginia Tech for more undergraduate work and a veterinary degree. She graduated from the Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in the “illustrious and acclaimed” class of 1991, along with her new husband John Nolan. Good friends and colleagues Paul Anikis, Pamela Thayer, Joe Davis and Monica Chapman were all in the same class.
Newly a DVM, Renee followed along as John pursued internships in California and Pennsylvania. They returned to Virginia and eventually settled in Markham, where they were happy to “recycle” an old farmhouse, do some part time homesteading, and bring up two excellent sons.
Her mostly part time veterinary career has been fueled by a big time passion for continued education and the enduring love for all things animal.
