In April, we announced the appointment of Dr. Sarah Rivera as Chief Medical Officer at the ARL. We sat with her and talked about her background, inspiration, vision for ARL medical services and more.

What is your academic background?

I went to Gettysburg College for undergrad and majored in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. I went to veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania. 

What inspired you to pursue veterinary medicine, and how did your journey lead you to the Animal Rescue League?

I wanted to be a vet for as long as I could remember. The first time I knew I definitely wanted to pursue veterinary medicine was when I was in 8th grade. I was volunteering at a rescue farm, and one of the sheep was very sick, so the vet was called to look at her. The vet determined it was time to euthanize her, and the vet allowed me to help hold her and explained everything to me. Even though the euthanasia was sad, I was inspired to be just like that vet – he was so kind and caring even up to the last moments. I started to shadow that vet throughout college, and he continued to be a huge source of support and mentor to me as my career progressed. When I started vet school, I was unsure what kind of vet I wanted to be, but shortly after learning and experiencing the different facets of veterinary medicine, I knew shelter medicine was my passion. I decided to start my career in private practice to grow my skills in a stable environment with strong mentorship. After several years in private practice, I decided it was time to pursue my passion, and that’s how I ended up at the ARL. 

What are your top priorities in your first few months as Chief Medical Officer?

My top priority is to expand our current public services – public spay/neuter, wellness clinic, and vaccine clinics. My goal is to provide affordable care to our community so that all the pets in our community can live long, happy, and healthy lives.

What do you see as the biggest medical challenges in shelter medicine, and how do you plan to address them here?

One of the biggest challenges of working in an animal shelter is that we have to work with limited resources. We have a population of animals to care for, and we need to make sure that each and every animal gets the best care we can give with the resources we have. In order to do that, we have a strong team taking care of and monitoring every animal on a day-to-day basis and a veterinary team to address any concerns. Our team does a great job making sure that every animal has a comfortable environment, enrichment, food, and any necessary medicine to be comfortable in the shelter. 

Do you have any pets of your own? Tell us about them!

I have a seven-year-old black cat named Roo and a four-year-old dog named Tai. Roo has been with me since veterinary school, and she is the best girl; she’s always next to me on my good and bad days. Tai is a refined gentleman who enjoys nothing more than treats, scratches, and going for walks. I also have a senior horse named Georgie who is retired to pasture.

If you could be any animal for a day, which one would you choose and why?

If I could be an animal for a day, I would definitely be a house cat. I have always wondered what it would be like to not have a care in the world and nap like a cat all day. 

What’s something most people might be surprised to learn about you?

I studied abroad in England for a semester in college and enjoyed traveling through the UK and Europe during my time abroad. My time abroad was the start to my passion for traveling. 

What’s your favorite way to unwind after a long day of caring for animals?

In the summer, my favorite way to unwind is to sit by the pool and read a book. I also enjoy hiking and cooking.