Dr. DuPrez hails from Glendora and took animal-care classes in high school, gaining hands-on experience outside of the classroom at a small-animal clinic nearby. She’s been in the veterinary field since she was 15 years old! Dr. DuPrez attended the University of California-Davis for veterinary school, and started working for her mentor at a hospital in Rancho Cordova during her third year. She would remain there after graduating, then moved back to her hometown in Southern California and signed on at a local clinic there.

In 2009, after eight years as a veterinarian, Dr. DuPrez decided to take the next step and achieve her dream of practice ownership. She purchased Valley Animal Hospital from the previous owner, Dr. Kenneth Cox, and she’s been caring for the pets and animal parents of the area ever since. Dr. DuPrez’s favorite parts of her job are the puzzle-solving that she gets to do every day and the fact that no two shifts are ever quite the same. Above all, she loves witnessing firsthand the incredible bonds between pets and their loving owners.

When she has spare time away from work, Dr. DuPrez enjoys playing tennis, and she plays regularly with friends and in local leagues. In addition, she’s an avid violinist and even played in volunteer orchestras for 10 years. Dr. DuPrez also likes spending time at home with her own pets. She and her partner—an architect who is responsible for Valley Animal Hospital’s beautiful new building!—have three dogs and two cats. The canine portion of the family includes Summer, who can often be seen greeting people here at the clinic; a senior Pit Bull named Melody; and Banjo, who may be the happiest dog Dr. DuPrez has ever met. Two black and white cats, Guiness and Batman, round out the family.