Jeff Schmidt was born and raised in Northern California with a gaggle of family pets including cats, dogs, and a horse. During this time, he was inspired by James Herriot's beloved books and developed a deep love and respect for animals. Upon his graduation from high school, he served two years of active duty in the U.S. Army as a tank crewman in West Germany. After an honorable discharge from the service, he graduated with honors with a degree in Biology from San Diego State University. He was accepted into the Veterinary Medical program at the University of California, Davis where he received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1995. Dr. Schmidt went on to open his own veterinary practice in Roseville, California. The practice motto was Service, Quality, and Compassion and it received accolades as one of the top veterinary hospitals in the region. Dr. Schmidt retired in 2022 and currently resides in Kuna, Idaho.