Staff

DR. SCOT F. DISKIN

After serving in the army as a medic, Dr. Scot Diskin acquired his undergraduate education in Illinois, and graduated from the University of Illinois’ College of Veterinary Medicine of in 2000. After graduation, he moved to Arizona to accept a position at Northern Animal Hospital . Following four years at Northern A.H. as the Medical Director, Dr. Diskin took a position at Maricopa County Animal Care and Control treated and helped homeless animals find ne w homes and aiding in the prosecution of animal cruelty. Continuing in the tone of Shelter Medicine, Dr. Diskin worked for the Arizona Humane Society’s Public Clinics and assisting in their Second Chance Hospital .

In addition to helping cats and dogs, Dr. Diskin has volunteered with several wildlife groups, and has been a long-time patron of the Phoenix Zoo. He has sponsored Humane Societies and Governmental Animal Care Organizations throughout Arizona. All of the animals in his home (4 dogs, 1 blind cat, and a snake) have been rescued.

During his career, Dr. Diskin has performed more than 30,000 sterilization surgeries. He has joined forces with numerous non-profit animal organizations all over Arizona to provide low cost spays and neuters to underserved areas and communities.

In order to help decrease pet over-population in the valley, Dr. Diskin decided to open a clinic in the north valley with a focus on sterilizations and immunizations at modest prices.

 "When it comes to your animal's health the old saying is so true. 'An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.' "

ANDREA BLESTRUD

 Andrea Blestrud started working as a veterinary technician in 1999 after receiving her certificate in veterinary assisting.  She had a strong desire to work with animals all of her life.  Growing up, she loved being outside with all of her pets; dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, ducks, birds, snakes, tarantulas, rats and a pig.  She spent her teenage years volunteering with the City of Phoenix as a Park Ranger Cadet and with Liberty Wildlife.

Andrea started working with the Arizona Humane Society in 2004 after several years in private practice and specialty hospital settings.  She has worked in all of the public spay/neuter clinics under the Arizona Humane Society, but primarily on the mobile truck.  She has travelled all over the state providing low cost wellness options to communities in need.  These areas range from Window Rock to Sierra Vista as well as the Phoenix metro area.  Seeing the extreme need of wellness services across the state, Andrea wanted to assist Dr. Diskin in his endeavor to create and expand preventative care options available to the community.

 "Lots of people talk to animals.... Not very many listen, though.... That's the problem."

-Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh

DEBI JORGENSEN

Debi spent the first half of her adult life as a legal secretary.  Having always dreamt of working with animals, she then took the leap to working at the Arizona Humane Society prior to joining PAWS.  Debi has always considered animals as family members.  Growing up in Iowa, she spent as much time as possible with her dogs, cats and horses.  After moving to Phoenix from Chicago over a decade ago, she was anxious to adopt adult shelter dogs.  Debi has always shared her home with a constant stream of shelter and/or rescue dogs, in addition to periodically fostering dogs of military personnel through the Family Readiness Program.  Currently she is the proud mama of a 5-year old Rottweiler dog, Rex (a rescue) and a 6-year-old Persian cat, Halle (an adopted stray). 

“Dogs never lie about love.”

            ~Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson

KRISTY STRICKLER

Kristy Strickler began her animal career in 2004 as a veterinarian technician at the Arizona Humane Society’s Second Chance Animal Hospital.  While working for Humane Society, she fostered animals that were sick, injured and too young to be put up for adoption. After two years in the hospital, she transferred to the Humane Society's Public Clinics in order to work more personally with clients and their pets on the prevention and educational side of veterinary medicine.

Kristy has had a variety of animals including horses, cattle, pigs, dogs, cats, ferrets and guinea pigs. When the opportunity came to be able to work at PAWS and expand on client and pet preventative medicine and education she could not wait to start.

"A well-trained dog will make no attempt to share your lunch. He will just make you feel so guilty that you cannot enjoy it."

 - Helen Thomson