Dr. Maria’s Calling to be a Vet

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a veterinarian! That might be why so many of the clients I see call me a “natural”.

Helping animals around me has always felt instinctual. When I see an animal, I see a creature who deserves my respect and love. And I love to give love! Supporting an animal with a loving touch is one of my favorite experiences every day. You likely feel the same way if you have a pet. To me, having a pet is one of the most sacred relationships a person can have.

Growing up, my family always had pets. My dogs and cats were some of my best friends, and they still are to this day. As pet owners know, our furry loved ones offer us a reliability that sometimes we cannot find with other humans. Our pets are there for us, and we must always be there for them.

My passionate love for animals was deeply strengthened when I got and rode my first horse named “Tough Enough”. His nickname was Tuffy. He was a mixed breed horse, half quarter horse and half Arabian. He and I developed incredible trust, and he taught me a lot of life lessons that I carry with me to this day.

Some of my best childhood memories are the times I spent riding horses through Tucson’s eastside washes, as well as when I competed in hunter/jumper horse shows in Southern Arizona. I passed on my love of horse riding to my daughter who became a highly ranked equestrian hunter/jumper competitor in the Southwest and West Coast.

In high school, I knew that aside from my heart being in the right place, I had to be tough enough to make it into veterinary school. Few people know that it is as hard to get into veterinary school as it is to be accepted into a human medicine MD program. So, as a teenager, I volunteered in many local veterinary clinics around Tucson, helping with basic care, cleaning, and feeding.

I have personally owned over 30 pets, involving an equal mixture of cats and dogs. I have passed on my love of animals to my husband and my children. Our house is always full of furry loved ones. It would be hard for my husband and I to go to bed without a furry loved one joining us!

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"I can’t begin to say enough nice things about Dr. Miller, her demeanor and her professionalism. My beloved cat Van was in the final stages of debilitating malignant thyroid tumors that left him unable to eat and drink in his final days. Dr. Miller’s service of coming to the house to help Van peacefully pass was a relief. Dr. Miller’s comforting actions with Van and her reassurances to me helped make what was already a horrific experience as bearable as possible under the circumstances."

Norris A.

"Dear Dr. Miller, Robbie and I want to thank you for all you kind and gentle care of Chessie, even though you didn’t know her. We feel like you were a special angel sent to make this time a little easier. I wish we had known you longer. Thank you again and God Bless you."

Robbie and Judy G.

"Dear Dr. Miller, Thank you so much for your responsiveness, follow-up and great care of the pooches. We all appreciate your efforts and are lucky to have found you! Its so convenient to have you come to the house and it’s a big stress reliever for the dogs too. Thanks again!!"

Lauri and Peter F.

"Dear Dr. Miller Words cannot express how I feel towards the work that you do. I cannot begin to thank you for helping me through such a trying time. Your love and support made it easier to accept the loss of my dog. You truly are a wonderful and caring person. Thank you for making me feel like a friend."

Nancy M.

"Dr. Maria Miller, a most gentle and caring Veterinarian, provided us with the strength needed when we had to put our Dalmatian, Domino to sleep. He had reached the fullness of his time. His age coupled with his ailments certainly needed a peaceful relief and a quiet rest. Thank you Dr. Miller."

Jim Smith

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