Valeria Luera

Meet Valeria, one of our Veterinary Assistants at God's Dogs Rescue Veterinary Clinic! Whether she's helping care for patients, assisting with procedures, comforting nervous animals, or lending a hand wherever she's needed, Valeria brings enthusiasm, compassion, and a willingness to learn to everything she does.

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Valeria's journey into veterinary medicine began when she volunteered at San Antonio Animal Care Services (ACS). That experience helped turn her lifelong love of animals into a desire to make a real difference in their lives. She later gained hands-on experience working at CityVet at Kallison Ranch before deciding to pursue formal training in veterinary assisting.

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After completing her Veterinary Assistant Program and earning her Veterinary Assistant certificate, Valeria continued her journey at GDRVC. And she's not stopping there! She plans to apply to a Veterinary Technician Program to further her education and continue growing in the profession.

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Why Veterinary Medicine? ❤️

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Valeria has always had a soft spot for animals, but what truly inspired her to pursue veterinary medicine was the desire to be able to help an animal in need. She never wanted to be the person who came across a sick or injured animal and didn't know what to do. Instead, she wanted to develop the knowledge and skills to make a difference.

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Valeria especially enjoys the surgical side of veterinary medicine, including foreign body surgeries, laceration repairs, and amputations. She loves learning about anatomy and watching Dr. Knowlton perform procedures, gaining a firsthand understanding of how the body works and how surgery can help restore a patient's health.

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For Valeria, there's nothing quite like watching an animal go from feeling miserable and barely wanting to move to being healthy, happy, and ready to play again!

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Why God's Dogs Rescue Veterinary Clinic?

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For Valeria, working at GDRVC is about much more than simply treating animals. "We're not just helping animals—we're giving them a chance at a better life." She loves being part of a team that genuinely cares about both the animals and the families who love them. Every day brings new patients, new challenges, and new opportunities to learn. 

But if you ask Valeria what her favorite part of coming to work is, her answer might surprise you. It's her coworkers! 🫂 She says the people she works with bring her joy and make the clinic feel more like a family than just a workplace. That sense of teamwork and belonging is one of the things she values most about being part of GDRVC.

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Meet Valeria's Crew 🐶🐱

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Valeria shares her life with three furry family members:

Zelig is her beloved German Shepherd, a breed that has always held a special place in her heart. ❤️

Ralphie is her Domestic Shorthair cat, and Snowball is her Domestic Longhair.

Each has a personality of their own, and together they make sure life at home is never boring! 😂

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Valeria also has a particularly big heart for rescue animals, especially those who are frightened, shy, or need a little extra patience and reassurance. She loves helping nervous patients feel safe and showing them that not every new experience has to be scary.

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Outside the Clinic

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If you think Valeria stays busy at the clinic, wait until you hear about her life outside of work! Valeria enjoys running and coaching track, working out, drawing, singing karaoke, gaming, creating TikToks and social media content, and spending time with family and friends.

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Oh, and did we mention she rides motorcycles? 🏍️

She's also quite the adventurer! Valeria has traveled to many places and has even gone skydiving, which she describes as one of the best decisions she's ever made.

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Apparently, jumping out of a perfectly good airplane sounded like a great idea—and she loved every second of it! 😂 If veterinary medicine hadn't captured her heart, Valeria says she'd probably be doing something creative, coaching track, or working in social media.

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Valeria's Advice to Pet Parents 💙

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Valeria wants pet owners to remember that animals can't tell us when something is wrong, so even small changes in their behavior, appetite, or energy level can be important.

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Her biggest advice? Don't be afraid to ask questions! Whether you're unsure about a symptom, concerned about your pet's behavior, or simply don't understand something about their care, Valeria wants you to feel comfortable speaking up.

That's what we're here for!

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She also encourages families not to wait until their pets are extremely sick before seeking veterinary care. Routine examinations and preventative medicine can make a tremendous difference—and sometimes even save a life.

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"The best part of veterinary medicine is…"

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"Being able to see those sick animals go from lying down, tired, to 'Let's go play!'" ❤️

For Valeria, watching a patient recover and get back to enjoying life is what makes all the hard work worthwhile.

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A Little More About Valeria! 😂

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Dogs or cats? Dogs… but she loves cats too! 🐶🐱

Puppies, kittens, or seniors? Puppies and kittens are adorable, but seniors have her whole heart. ❤️

Coffee or energy drinks? Energy drinks! 😂

Favorite animal she doesn't own? Cheetahs! 🐆

Most adventurous thing she's done? Skydiving! 🪂

Most likely to sneak a clinic patient home? Whichever baby gives her those sad little eyes or leans against her for protection. 🥹 She's definitely the person saying, "I'm NOT taking this one home," while already becoming emotionally attached. 🐾❤️