Christine Robinson ensures support and communication for all patients and clients of McAfee Animal Hospital

Christine Robinson just joined McAfee Animal Hospital in July 2025, but she has quickly become an essential part of the clinic’s front-line team. As a customer care representative, she helps ensure that both patients and clients receive the support and communication they need throughout every visit.

“It’s a family practice, so it’s more of a family atmosphere. Everyone is very close and gets along. There’s great communication for the staff and the clients as well. It just feels like a family,” Robinson said. “They’ve been around a long time, and I love how they truly care about the animals themselves. It’s not just a business; it’s kind of like a way of life.”

In her daily role, Robinson serves as one of the first points of contact for clients walking into the clinic. Her responsibilities include greeting clients, checking in surgeries in the early morning, answering phone calls, scheduling appointments, and assisting with prescriptions and preventatives. She also helps coordinate communication between doctors, technicians, and pet owners.

“We’re kind of like the go-between,” she explained. “We’ve got the doctors and the techs in the back and our clients in front. We are the go-to people to get things done. We’re all a team.”

Robinson believes what stands out most about McAfee Animal Hospital is the strong sense of teamwork and support among staff.

“I enjoy the camaraderie that we have, that we do work together as a team,” she said. “Everybody’s there to help each other out and make sure that everything goes smoothly day by day. When I first started, everybody was so helpful. Any question I had, they were right there to help me figure things out.”

Her path back into veterinary care came after time away from the field. Having previously worked at an animal hospital in Illinois, Robinson eventually found her way back to the profession she always enjoyed.

“As I got older, I realized I really would love to go back to doing what I did before,” she said. “A few opportunities popped up, I interviewed, and it just felt like a great fit. It felt like home.”

One of the most rewarding parts of the job for Robinson is seeing animals recover and improve after treatment.

“It’s not all just puppies and vaccines; it’s a lot of really sick animals that need care, surgeries, or treatments,” she said. “It’s nice to see that we can be there for them and for the clients, and then see the animal come out doing so much better than when it came in. That’s really rewarding.”

At the same time, she acknowledges the emotional challenges that come with veterinary care, especially when families face end-of-life decisions for their pets.

“Pets are part of the family and going through that process really tears at your heart. I’ve been through it myself, so I know what they’re going through. We just try to be as empathetic as possible and help them through that stage,” she said.

She also notes that many people don’t realize how fast-paced and demanding veterinary clinic work can be.

“People might not realize how stressful it can be,” she said. “It’s a very busy clinic, and you’re dealing with clients and coworkers. Communication is key. It’s important to make sure everyone is getting the correct information and treatment. There’s a lot more intricacy than people think.”

Despite the challenges, Robinson can identify many moments that make the work meaningful.

“I enjoy seeing all the new puppies and kittens. That’s the best part of the job,” she said.

Outside of work, Robinson enjoys spending time with her family on their property in Hebron, where they have trails, woods, and plenty of space for outdoor activities.

“We’re very much homebodies,” she said. “We love being outside, cooking out, and spending time together. We’ve got kids and dogs, so it’s always lively.”

That lively household recently grew with a special addition from her workplace — a rescued puppy she adopted through the clinic.

“My favorite experience so far was getting my own puppy from there,” Robinson said. “I wasn’t planning on it, but I saw him and just couldn’t resist.”

Her puppy, a beagle-chihuahua mix named Presley, has settled right into family life.

Looking ahead, Robinson is focused on continuing to grow in her role and contribute as much as she can to the team.

“I look forward to learning as much as I can,” she said. “There’s just so much to learn. I want to be the best employee that I can, be there for the clients, and continue to be a great team member.”