FurWork was created by Jennifer Klaus, DVM, DACVECC who wanted to create an employment website solely for veterinary professionals. Having to post on numerous job boards to fill hospital vacancies while she was an ER department director, followed by the challenges she faced with identifying locum criticalist work inspired her to create a new type of veterinary employment website.
Jennifer grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. By the age of six, her poster board presentation finally convinced her parents to allow her a cat. Muffin was the first fur-baby in the household, but far from the last, as three cats and three dogs currently share her home. Muffin was, however where her love affair with animals and veterinary medicine began.
On her journey to becoming a veterinarian, Jennifer got her hands on every animal-related job she could. You name it, she likely has had some encounter with it! Pet store employee, veterinary clinic receptionist, humane society volunteer, petsitter, equine veterinary hospital assistant, wildlife rehabilitation center worker and professional pet stylist (she took the course during High School summers!) made the list.
After completing her DVM degree in 2004 at the WCVM in Canada, Dr. Klaus trucked across borders (with her iguana in tow!) to attend an internship and residency at Lakeshore Veterinary Specialists, formerly Animal Emergency Center, in WI, USA. She was board certified in Emergency and Critical Care in 2009.
Dr. Klaus moved to Tucson, Arizona where she held a full time position as criticalist and ER department director at an Emergency and Specialty Veterinary Practice. Truth be told, she unexpectedly lost her job after 7 years at the same practice and a period of self-reflection ensued. To her surprise, she discovered the best fit for her current lifestyle with the arrival of her second son was locum work. Luckily, this also allowed her the time to launch FurWork! Dr. Klaus owes much credit to her tech-savy husband who has helped with the FurWork website.
When not working at the clinic, dabbling with WordPress or grooming her own fur-children, Dr. Klaus can typically be found fifth-wheeling with her family and enjoying the great outdoors, often en-route to a winery or BBQ joint.
Through FurWork, Dr. Klaus aspires to streamline the job hunt and lives of veterinary professionals. Because ours is the best profession in the world.. everyone knows the best things in life are furry!
Jessica Beymer, DVM, DACVECC is FurWork’s main blog contributor and social media guru. She is a short Aquarian with a love of all things sarcastic. When not working Emergency and Critical Care in a busy Bay Area small animal specialty practice, she enjoys driving from the gym to the local coffee shop, wine and whisky, and referring to herself as “Mother of Dachshunds”. Her true joy in life is putting people together with information that either makes them happy, makes them feel understood and appreciated or makes them think differently about something.
