Dr. Snyder initially pursued a career as a writer and editor after earning a bachelor’s degree in English from Hollins University in 1998. She discovered her passion for veterinary medicine only after graduating when she rescued a litter of kittens on the campus of her alma mater. In 2008 she earned her doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Missouri. After graduation, she moved to Bloomington, Indiana, where she worked with dogs, cats, and even Indiana wildlife. Over the years, she has spent many hours learning about the care and enrichment of shelter animals through her volunteer work. She served as a volunteer veterinarian at both the Monroe County and the Morgan County municipal shelters, as well as a local wildlife rescue facility. She consulted with a dedicated group of feline advocates to help them start the Morgan County Community Cat/TNR program. She provided spay/neuter and vaccine services for the Morgan County shelter and served on the board of directors of the Monroe County Humane Association, working to begin low-cost vaccine and microchip clinics.
In 2015 Dr. Snyder took a position at the Humane Society of Indianapolis, where she has continued to serve as an advocate for shelter animals. In this role, she has seen the high return rate of declawed cats because of their unique behavior and medical conditions. Through working with other members of the Paw Project, she has been able to provide declawed shelter residents relief by performing paw repair surgery and overseeing medical management of their pain. At the Humane Society of Indianapolis, she enjoys her ability to educate the public about feline enrichment and advocate for the end of declawing in Indianapolis and hopefully the country as a whole.