Biology major Danielle Delp ’18 says she has always wanted to work with animals. After completing veterinary school this year at the University of Pennsylvania, she began her career at Dairyside Veterinary Service, a practice in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania, that caters to large animals such as cattle, goats, sheep and pigs.
During a gap year after graduation, she worked at two dairy farms, including Dairyside, where she shadowed throughout her four years in veterinary school. She now works there full time.
“It comes down to trusting in the Lord’s timing,” she said. “It will be perfect, and things will happen when they’re meant to happen.”
She says no two days are the same—and that’s what she likes about the job.
“Take yesterday, for instance. I had scheduled a herd check, where we go out into the field and check the cattle for pregnancy and injuries, as well as general herd health. After that, we had emergencies. We were visiting a farm setting up a vet-client relationship, and emergencies arose, and we had to sit and decide whose schedule was getting changed,” she said. “After that, there were several emergencies. My colleagues and I had to sit down and decide how our remaining schedules could be altered to accommodate those calls.”
Since she grew up on a dairy farm in Williamsburg, Pennsylvania, she’s used to adapting to animals’ needs and emergencies.
“My parents point out to me that it’s funny that I chose a career that’s the same lifestyle as when I was a kid,” she said.
In her undergraduate college search, Delp says she wanted a place that would give her a strong science background while also incorporating Christian faith.
“Some of my peers in veterinary school had attended larger state programs with more animal-specific coursework. My time at Messiah gave me a strong foundation in science. I also did research with Drs. Mylin and Harms, which helped me a lot,” she said.
Her passion for caring for animals is deeply connected to her faith.
“I view the animals as God’s creation. He instilled in us the calling to care for and be stewards of them as best we can. Part of that is giving the animal the best life possible while they’re on this earth,” she said.
She has a heart for people, too.
“People ask me, ‘Why veterinary medicine?’ As I got through high school and shadowed at clinics, I found that I loved interacting with people through their animals. We both love and care for this animal, and we can connect over that. We care for the animal, but we also care for the client.”
— Samantha Neal ’24