As a young girl, Dr. Quinn discovered she was destined to be a veterinarian soon after her family acquired a beagle mix named Peanuts. She determined she wanted to live on a farm and learn to work with livestock as well as dogs and cats after reading the James Herriot series of books, “All Creatures Great and Small.” Attending Purdue University for undergraduate and Veterinary School, she earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree in 1991. She accepted employment at the C. C. Veterinary Hospital in Columbia City, IN in 1992, where she remained until March 2023. Initially practicing both large and small animal medicine, the practice eventually chose to focus on pet animals only. In 2003 Dr. Quinn purchased the practice and remained the owner until 2020.
Early in her career Dr. Quinn recognized her special interest in behavior and began teaching basic training classes, then offering individual behavior consulting at her practice. She began taking special courses and earning certifications in behavior, including a 5-day DOGS! Course offered at Purdue, then a 6-month certification through the Karen Pryor Academy (Karen Pryor was the initial scientist who developed the clicker training methods). She also spent many years helping raise money for and getting the local humane society built and running, including being president of the board. Following that she began to work towards Dr. Sophia Yin’s Low Stress Handling certification as well as the new Fear Free Certifications, of which she has earned Elite status. It was part of her mission to ensure all pets in her care were treated in the least stressful way possible, while also receiving great medical care. A deeper dive into why behavior problems were on the rise everywhere led her to becoming a Licensed Family Dog Mediator, where the focus is really on the “why” behind behaviors that we see. She is now the head of the veterinary division for Family Dog Mediators, hoping to help advocate for and spread the information to others in the veterinary field.
In 2018 Dr. Quinn opened Pet Pals Country Club, a separate boarding, training, daycare facility for dogs in Columbia City. Due to COVID, a rise in caseload at the veterinary clinic, and other factors, she had to downsize that business in 2021. The idea for Quinn Veterinary Clinic and Behavior Center unfolded after it was no longer possible to stay at C.C. Veterinary Hospital, and the realization of how many pets have anxiety, fear, and trauma that is either worsened or even first develops at the veterinary visits. Quinn VCBC is a new type of practice completely dedicated to helping these pets.
Outside of work Dr. Quinn loves to spend time reading, hanging out at the lake (or any body of water actually), or just playing with her critters. She has downsized over the years so her non-human family currently includes 6 dogs, 5 cats, 4 mini horses, a mini donkey, a cockatiel, and a few chickens. Hopefully a few pygmy goats are in her near future! She also loves to spend time with the humans in her family, including her husband, daughter, and grandson, who is the light of her life! Church/God carries the highest value to her, and she tries to always maintain the values of Servant Leadership in her home, community, and business.
