McAfee Animal Hospital is full of friendly faces who strive to give your pets the best care possible. Lois Thomas-Rhodes, a technician at McAfee, is one of those friendly faces. Constantly pushing herself to grow and learn, Thomas-Rhodes’ drive to help animals in need is truly incredible.
Thomas-Rhodes grew up in La Crosse, Ind., and graduated from La Crosse High School. After high school, she went to Purdue University Northwest with a plan to go into nursing, but after a couple of years, she decided it wasn’t for her. She left school and set out to find her passion.
Animals have always been a huge part of Thomas-Rhodes' life, so she decided to start working for a vet, Dr. Carol Bloom, in Westville. There, her love for veterinary practice blossomed.
“She just really made me fall in love with it. She gave me an opportunity, and it just took off from there,” said Thomas-Rhodes.
After studying under Bloom for a while, Thomas-Rhodes decided to work at the Westville emergency center. She spent a summer there before realizing the fast-paced environment wasn’t for her. She wanted to go back to general practice.
It didn’t take long for her to become a technician at McAfee and fall in love with the atmosphere. Now, she’s been there for a year and a half and couldn’t be more content.
“It's such a great opportunity to be there because they really allow you to expand on your technical skills and continually learn stuff,” said Thomas-Rhodes. “Also, it's such a great staff we have working with us right now. We’re like the Brady Bunch–one big, happy, dysfunctional family. It’s just so nice that we all get along and get the work done.”
Being a technician is incredibly meaningful to Thomas-Rhodes. Nothing’s more rewarding than helping a pet owner keep their furry friend happy and healthy.
“It's just nice to be able to do something kind and beneficial for the animals who can't advocate for themselves,” said Thomas-Rhodes.
However, the thing Thomas-Rhodes loves about her job, even more than the animals, is how much the job challenges and pushes her. No two days are ever the same, and sometimes things can be a bit daunting, but that extra challenge allows her to help even more animals.
“Every day, you have to go in with that mindset that you can always do better and you can always learn more and that there's something more to do every day. It's kind of hard, but you've got to keep pushing yourself and learning so you can be even better at your job. It can be draining sometimes, but it's definitely worth it,” said Thomas-Rhodes.
In the future, Thomas-Rhodes wants to keep pushing herself and continue to grow in her field.
“I just want to continue growing, continue learning. I don't see myself ever leaving McAfee. I feel really fortunate to have gotten this job, and I would love to take some different courses or classes to help further my education in this field,” said Thomas-Rhodes.
Thomas-Rhodes is grateful to her parents for always encouraging her to do her best.
“My parents have always been crazy hard workers, and they raised me to be that way. I think that's definitely benefited me in the long run. I look up to them and their drive,” said Thomas-Rhodes.
She’s also thankful to all of the people who have helped her grow in her career and challenged her professionally.
“I’m so thankful to Dr. Bloom for getting me started in this field. She really made me fall in love with it. None of this would be possible without her. I’m also thankful to McAfee for giving me a chance and helping me continue to grow,” said Thomas-Rhodes.
When she’s not helping out your furry friends, you can find Thomas-Rhodes doing anything outdoors. Camping, fishing, horseback riding, you name it. She also likes to show her horses in different competitions.
To learn more about McAfee Animal Hospital and its kind staff, visit mcafeeah.com.