Lara, a Colorado native, lives with her Husband Kurt and her son, Noah. It’s no coincidence that her son is named after someone else that helped a lot of animals!

A twenty-five year veteran of the animal medical industry, Lara brings a tremendous scope of experience to the Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center.

Her first ten years were spent as an emergency and critical care technician. It was here that Lara learned to cope with virtually anything that came through the hospital doors. Working in Colorado’s unique urban yet rural environment, a day at the “office” could include cases such as a rattlesnake bite and coyote attack to typical diseases and traumas.

In 1995, Lara was recruited by the state SPCA in Denver to build a clinic and develop a comprehensive shelter medicine program. Within a few years, Lara had become the “go to” person in a multi-state area and could often be found conducting training seminars throughout the region. It was also during this period that she began to work with the Veterinarians and researchers at Colorado State University, developing treatment protocols that are still in use today.

Lara became a nation-wide resource for cruelty case medicine. She conducted training seminars for Veterinarians in regard to evidence gathering and documentation in regard to the medical aspects of major cruelty cases. She worked closely with SPCA officers and investigators, achieving a conviction rate of 96%, the highest of any law enforcement agency in the state. Her last case with the SPCA set the national bar for convictions with the guilty party receiving a 10 1/2 year sentence.

Lara has been in high demand within the industry, serving on many boards and committees including the Colorado Department of Health Zoonosis Committee, the Colorado Federation of Animal Welfare Agencies, and is a member of the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association.

In recent years, Lara has been using her talents and resources which she developed in the “trenches” to focus on veterinary and shelter practice management. Managing large staffs and budgets was a natural next step and we are very grateful to have her as part of the VREC family.