VMC Spotlight: Ashley Stephens

Position
Veterinary technician assistant on the float team. “I work here full time during the week and then work at WaggingTails Pet Resort, a doggy daycare in Eagan, on the weekend,” Ashley says. She especially loves working in the VMC’s rehabilitation service.

Joined the VMC
September 2023

Why was she interested in working at the VMC?
Ashley wanted to gain experience and thought that a teaching hospital would be a great place to do it.

Education
Ashley is currently in tech school through Penn Foster. “I really like it because it allows me to work full-time and still go to school.”

Born and raised
Ashley was born in Burnsville and grew up in Rosemount.

First paying job
Babysitting for family friends and neighbors

Current home
Faribault, Minnesota, about an hour’s drive from the VMC. “I don’t mind it, though, because I can listen to my books or music.”

Family
Ashley lives with her fiancé, Anthony. “We got engaged in May 2024, and have been together for about three years.”

Pets

• 

  Frannie, a 3-year-old lilac lynx point Siamese mix. “She is a very goofy kitty, will get the zoomies, and loved to play with her dog sister Lulu,” Ashley says. “Sadly, she can’t live with us anymore. She lives with my dad because the family on my fiance’s side is extremely allergic to cats.”

• Lulu, a 2-year-old Great Pyrnees-boxer mix. “We got her DNA-tested, and she looks nothing like a Great Prynees or boxer,” Ashley says. “She is very independent and awkward, as she likes to get pets from the farthest point away from you so you can only pet her with your fingertips. But she does love her people and loves to protect her family.”

• Lupin, a 1-year-old black lab. “He is named after Professor Lupin from Harry Potter,” Ashley says. “He is your typical lab that loves to eat everything, and he is very sneaky about it. He has eaten 70 grams of clay, luckily the non-salted kind, which we made him throw up, and he is fine. I would not be surprised if ER and surgery sees him some day. He is the biggest lover boy to his mama and dad, but sadly not to new people, because he is fear-aggressive. He is slowly getting better.”

Hobbies and interests
Ashlee loves listening to books on Audible and playing video games. “I love fantasy books, specifically with dragons. I also love to play fantasy games or role-playing games, like Dragon Age: Inquisition and Hogwarts Legacy. I am also into homesteading, so I like to garden, can food, and make things from scratch.”

Favorite movies
Ashley’s favorite movie of all time is The Goonies. “It is just a classic fun adventure movie,” she says. “I used to always want to be an archeologist, and this movie really made me like treasure hunting. I also love the Indiana Jones movies.”

Favorite books
Ashley’s favorite book series, which made her get into reading, is Slayers, by C.J Hill. “It’s about dragons in the modern times, and these teenagers,” she says. “Some of the teenagers are dragon-riders and some are dragonslayers. But now I listen to Audible, and it’s the best thing ever. I feel like it’s more immersive, and you feel like you are a part of whatever world is in the book.”

Favorite foods
Ashley loves all types of food and is not a picky eater. “But I always love to go back to classic chicken nuggets,” she says. “They are so good, especially with ketchup and honey to dip in.”

Favorite part of her job
Being able to see the progress of patients, especially when she works in rehab. “It is very rewarding being able to see how my help has improved a patient’s quality of life.” VMC value she most connects with Learning. “Since I am in a tech program, the learning aspect of working at the hospital has been very helpful for me in my studies.”

Most memorable case
Max Lunde, a mixed-breed dog who’s a patient in rehabilitation and oncology. After surgery for cervical extraskeletal osteosa coma, he was tetraparetic (suffering from weakness of the muscles in all four limbs) and went to see Kim in rehab to regain his mobility and muscle mass. “When he came for his assessment, he was able to stand with some support if his limbs were placed properly and could walk, but needed a ton of support with a Help-Em- Up Harness,” Ashley recalls. “After only about three weeks of rehab twice a week, he was able to get up on his own and could walk on his own in his yard. He still needs his
harness and some support, but he has improved so much and it is just amazing to be able to be a part of that.”

If she won the lottery. . .
Ashley would buy land, create a homestead, raise ducks and goats, and own a senior and special-needs cat and dog rescue or daycare and boarding facility.

Looking forward to
Getting married this year in September

On her bucket list
Traveling more, especially outside the country. She would love to visit Venice, Ireland, or Germany.

Most people don’t know . . .
Ashley loves the animated sitcom Bob’s Burgers. “I have seen every episode over 10 times,” she says. “I would watch it 24/7 if I could.”

What advice would she give her younger self?
“Just keep swimming.” -Dory

Contact Ashley
Email [email protected]