Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background in the animal care industry?
My name is Valsi. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Medicine from Brazil and am currently furthering my education in Veterinary Assistance at Bow Valley College here in Calgary. Ever since I was a child, I have always been surrounded by pets. Professionally, I have completed several internships at veterinary clinics, worked as a pet sitter, and served as a grooming assistant for cats. Now, I work as a Pet Concierge at Petfinity. My main goal is to ensure that pets have a fantastic experience during their stay at Petfinity.
What is your favourite breed of dog and why?
Golden Retriever, because it was the most amazing dog I have ever had in my life.
If you were not working with animals, what would you love to do?
If I weren’t working with animals, I would like to be a physiotherapist.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
I always dreamed of becoming a veterinarian, but before graduating, I worked in the railway industry for 10 years as a traffic controller and production analyst.
What do you enjoy most about working at Petfinity?
In addition to seeing a wide variety of dog breeds every day, I love getting to know many different types of animals, such as pigs, ferrets, rabbits, hedgehogs, fish, and guinea pigs. The diversity of animals under our care is incredible.
If you could describe the overnight shift in three words, what would they be?
Responsibility, care, and comfort for the animals.
Do you have a favourite memory of a particular pet you’ve cared for during your shifts?
I have one favourite memory with a particular pet: Luca, a wonderful Golden Retriever. During a Pupflix session, he decided he wanted to watch TV while sitting on my lap. The interesting thing is that I had to keep petting him the entire time because if I stopped, he would complain and squirm in my lap.