Echo Cartagena grew up on a small family farm in New Hampshire. She spent her undergraduate years at Dartmouth College, where she majored in Biochemistry with a minor in Studio Art. After college, she completed various wildlife externships and then worked as a small animal veterinary technician in Chicago.
Cartagena graduated with highest honors from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 2010. She moved to San Francisco to be closer to two of her brothers and completed a small animal rotating internship at San Francisco Veterinary Specialists prior to joining us here.
She feels very fortunate to be a part of the dedicated and compassionate team at the SF SPCA. Her special interests include critical care, surgery, and shelter medicine. She loves being a veterinarian because there is always opportunity to learn and grow. In her free time she enjoys road trips, wine tasting, vintage shopping, and exploring the California shoreline with her family.
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San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a 501 (c)(3) non profit organization. EIN: 94-0836580
To expedite the adoption process, please complete the cat or dog adoption form and bring a printed copy with you to the SF SPCA Adoption Center (Hours & Location). This helps us better understand what sort of pet you’re looking for so we can guide you every step of the way! Please bring a valid photo ID and verification that you are allowed to have a pet where you currently live.
First, we’ll meet with you to find out more about you and your pet preferences and answer your questions. Our goal is to help you find the pet that best fits your lifestyle and living situation so we want to make sure you have a realistic understanding of the time and resources necessary to provide training, medical treatment, and proper care for your new pet. This can take time so please allow at least one hour for the adoption process.
Once we have a good understanding of your living situation and the type of pet you’re interested in, we’ll make introductions and let you spend some quality time getting to know each other to see if there’s a love connection. It’s important that all household members take part in this important decision so please make sure everyone is present (including any resident dogs if you’re considering adding a new pooch to your pack).
Once love happens, we’ll complete the paperwork, review all the SF SPCA adoption benefits, provide information on any known medical or behavioral issues, and share tips to make the transition a success for both you and your new pet.
We consider you and your new furry friend a part of the SF SPCA family so please reach out with questions ― and be sure to share your adoption stories and pet photos at sfspca.org/stories
Don’t forget to schedule your first free health exam at the SF SPCA Veterinary Hospital within three days of adopting.