This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
07/05/2017 07:00 AMDr. Alexandra Quarti had grown used to seeing the birds ever since she first spotted them two years ago. “I very much appreciated their presence,” Alex says. “They’re really prevalent in our neighborhood.”
After she first noticed the birds, Alex pointed them out to a friend who took a photo of them and showed it to the Audubon society who was able to identify the birds as yellow crowned night herons.
The herons, which Alex refers to simply as “beautiful birds”, are popular on the Connecticut shoreline during the summer months, and multiple birds have chosen to build four to six nests in a pair of trees on a property currently undergoing construction at the corner of Neck Road and Maplewood Drive in Clinton.
Out of curiosity, Alex asked about the plan for the trees and found out that there’s a possibility the trees could be taken down. While Alex concedes that a person should have the right to do what they want with their property, she also is hoping that the birds’ nest is taken into consideration. Alex hopes a compromise could be reached where the trees are left up until the fall and the herons begin their migration south.
“They’re very neat looking birds,” Alex says. For Alex, a love of animals is a trait that has stayed with her entire life.
Alex currently works as the Medical Director for the Banfield Pet Hospital, a hospital founded by veterinarian Warren J. Wegert in Portland, Oregon in 1955. Since then, the hospital has opened over 975 locations in the United States and Puerto Rico. “I oversee hospitals in four states right now,” Alex said. In fact, Alex actually works in 18 separate hospitals across those four states. Alex’s job consists of overseeing the hiring and recruiting of staff members, as well as working with each hospital to make sure they run smoothly. With the responsibility that comes with working with 18 different hospitals, Alex finds herself on the road often.
“I try to be in each hospital at least once a month,” says Alex. “There’s a lot of challenges. There’s a lot of moving parts.” Asked to name her biggest challenge, Alex says it’s maintaining a healthy “travel and work-life balance.”
In addition to her work with Banfield, Alex is also a board member of the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association, representing Middlesex County. She says she enjoys “being able to make a difference in the veterinarian industry” by “improving the pet-human bond.”
As for that bond, Alex herself is a pet owner and says she couldn’t choose between her cats and dog but did not forget her fondness for horses when she was younger. Alex grew up in Windsor where she initially wanted to pursue a career related to the equestrian field.
“I used to be a huge horse person,” Alex says. Alex eventually settled on working in the veterinary field. She studied for three years at Ross University of Veterinary Medicine before finishing school at Cornell University. “I loved it there,” says Alex.
Upon graduating from school Alex worked in private practice before coming to Banfield Pet Hospital. Alex moved to Clinton about 10 years ago. While the nature of her job means she’s often on the road, when she is home Alex has a number of hobbies to keep her busy. She enjoys spending time on a boat and says she “does a little bit of running.” When she can’t be outdoors, Alex does karate with her six year-old daughter. Alex also enjoys traveling and named the island of Saint Kitts as her favorite destination to travel to.
While she may not have followed through with her equestrian plan she had thought when she was younger, it’s clear that Alex has followed her life’s calling.
“I always thought I’d do something with animals,” Alex says.