Dr. Debra Nicholson, Veterinarian

Dr. Debra Nicholson, the newest member of the Best Friends team of vets, is experienced in treating a wide range of species, from macaques to macaws, from iguanas to eagles, and, of course, dogs, cats, horses, bunnies, parrots and all the other animals that Best Friends cares for.

Dr. Deb graduated from Colorado State University, which is where she got a head start working with wildlife, raptors in particular. While in school, she volunteered for the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program in Ft. Collins, handling hawks and eagles in the program's educational department.

After graduating, she returned to her home state to attend veterinarian school at Oklahoma State University, and there got an extensive education in treating not just domestic and common companion animals, but exotics as well, including iguanas, snakes, guinea pigs and parrots.

After a year away working at a small animal clinic in Alaska, Dr. Deb moved back to Oklahoma to do an internship at a horse clinic. Much to Dr. Deb's delight, the vet she worked for also provided care for the animals at a local wildlife rehabilitation center. He allowed Dr. Deb to assist at the center, where she gained extensive experience in repairing fractures in raptors.

After her horse internship, Dr. Deb went to work for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Rescue in Texas, a nonprofit sanctuary to more than 500 animals - including bears, mountain lions and monkeys - rescued or confiscated from failed zoos, research facilities and incompetent owners. She also contributed to the treatment of the 10,000 injured wild animals who passed through the rehabilitation center every year.

It was at the sanctuary, while chasing some macaques who had escaped from their enclosures, that Dr. Deb met one of the sanctuary's directors, Steve Scheurich. The two later married, and moved to Colorado, where Dr. Deb opened and ran her own veterinary practice. At their home in the town of Dolores, she and Steve continued to rescue and rehabilitate wildlife.

In November 2007, the couple came to Best Friends so Steve could apply for a position as animal care outreach coordinator. A veterinarian position also happened to be available, but Dr. Deb initially presumed it wouldn't entail treating the range of species she was accustomed to. When she found out differently, she says, "I got fired up about the job because it would give me the opportunity to work with wildlife and exotics, which are my passion."

By expanding the breadth of expertise of Best Friends vets, Dr. Deb has quickly become an enormous asset to the Best Friends clinic. She says, "It's so nice to be able to work on a case fully, where you don't have clients stopping you from working in the best interest of the animal."