The Chamber, The “Q,” and You on WQBQ is a free on-air opportunity for Chamber members to share insights, highlight their services, and connect directly with the community.

For many families, pets are part of the household. They are part of the morning routine, the evening walk, the family photos, and the decisions people make every day.

That was the heart of a recent conversation on WQBQ’s The Chamber, The “Q,” and You, where Jessica Fuentes, practice manager at Mount Dora Veterinary Hospital, joined the show alongside Dr. Kristine Bentkowski, DVM, ER Medical Director, to discuss pet care, emergency access, and the people behind one of Mount Dora’s long-standing veterinary hospitals.

Mount Dora Veterinary Hospital is located at 6877 Old Highway 441 S. in Mount Dora, off 441 near St. Patrick Catholic Church. The hospital can be reached at 352-383-6700, and more information is available at MountDoraVet.com.

A Local Veterinary Hospital With Expanded Emergency Care

One of the most important updates shared during the WQBQ conversation was Mount Dora Veterinary Hospital’s expanded access for urgent and emergency care.

The hospital offers general practice care during the week, while also giving pet owners a place to turn when something happens after traditional office hours. Its website notes expanded emergency care beginning Friday at 5:00 PM through Monday at 5:00 PM, with 24-hour weekend emergency care available. The hospital also lists regular weekday hours for routine and preventive care.

For pet owners, that matters. Emergencies do not always happen during convenient hours. A sudden illness, injury, accident, or concerning change in behavior can happen at night, on the weekend, or at the exact moment when many offices are closed.

During the interview, the team explained that Mount Dora Veterinary Hospital has urgent care available from 5:00 PM to midnight Monday through Friday and 24-hour emergency care on weekends. They also encouraged pet owners to call ahead when possible so the hospital can prepare and provide guidance before arrival.

Caring for Dogs, Cats, and More

While dogs and cats make up much of the hospital’s patient base, Mount Dora Veterinary Hospital also sees some exotic and “pocket pet” patients.

During the interview, the team shared that the hospital primarily cares for cats and dogs, but some doctors also see birds, rabbits, hamsters, ferrets, and similar small pets. They also discussed the importance of specialized care for animals like birds, noting that not every veterinary practice is equipped to see every type of pet.

For families with more than one kind of animal at home, that range of care can be especially valuable. Whether it is a dog, a cat, a rabbit, a ferret, or a bird, having a local team that can help guide the next step gives pet owners one more resource close to home.

The team also shared that the hospital routinely provides spay and neuter services during the week, along with care for pets who have been injured, including dogs or cats who have been hit by a car.

The Human Side of Veterinary Medicine

A major theme of the conversation was the emotional side of veterinary care.

When asked what they enjoy most about their work, the Mount Dora Veterinary Hospital team talked about helping animals, but also helping the people who love them. Dr. Bentkowski shared that one of the most rewarding parts of the job is being able to help pets while also supporting clients through both joyful moments and difficult ones.

For many people, pets are family. That means veterinary care is often about more than a diagnosis or a procedure. It is about helping a worried owner understand what is happening, what options are available, and what comes next.

Fuentes also spoke about the importance of connection — learning clients’ stories, helping the team communicate, and making sure things run smoothly behind the scenes. As practice manager, she helps support both the medical team and the families who call, visit, and trust the hospital with their pets.

That kind of work is not always visible from the exam room, but it is central to the experience. Veterinary care often begins with a phone call from someone who is worried, unsure, or trying to understand whether something is serious. Having a team that can listen, ask the right questions, and help guide the next step is part of what makes local care so important.

A Calling That Started Early

Dr. Bentkowski’s path to veterinary medicine started long before she arrived in Mount Dora.

Originally from the Mid-Hudson Valley in New York, Dr. Bentkowski has long had a passion for animals and science. She earned her Bachelor of Science from King’s College in Pennsylvania in 2017, followed by a Master of Science in 2019 from East Stroudsburg University, where her studies focused on tick-borne diseases. She later graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in January 2023, completing her clinical year at Lincoln Memorial University.

During the WQBQ interview, she shared that becoming a veterinarian had been a childhood goal. She even recalled that, in fifth grade, when asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, her answer was veterinarian.

Her path also included persistence. She spoke candidly about not getting into veterinary school the first time she applied, then continuing forward, earning her master’s degree, reapplying, and ultimately completing her veterinary training.

After moving to Florida to be closer to family, Dr. Bentkowski now brings that training and passion to Mount Dora Veterinary Hospital as ER Medical Director. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, running, scuba diving, and movies, and is the proud owner of three cats — Blakely, Bean, and Pumpkin — who came with her from St. Kitts.

A Team Built Around Care and Communication

Fuentes has also built a career around animal care. During the interview, she shared that she has been with Mount Dora Veterinary Hospital for eight years and has worked in the veterinary field for about 14 years. She also clarified her role directly: she is not a veterinarian, but the hospital’s practice manager.

That role touches many parts of the hospital experience. From supporting doctors and staff to helping clients navigate care, Fuentes helps keep daily operations moving and helps create the kind of welcoming environment that pet owners rely on.

Mount Dora Veterinary Hospital’s team page describes Jess as a practice manager who has worked in veterinary medicine since 2012, with experience in small animals, exotics, zoo animals, and emergency medicine. It also notes that she relocated from Miami to Central Florida and joined the Mount Dora Vet team in October 2018.

That combination of medical expertise, operational support, and client communication is especially important in veterinary medicine, where every visit involves both an animal and the person who loves them.

A Resource for Mount Dora Pet Owners

For Mount Dora families, the takeaway from the WQBQ conversation was simple: know where to turn before you need to turn there.

Whether it is time for a routine visit, a wellness check, a spay or neuter appointment, care for a small pet, or help during an unexpected emergency, Mount Dora Veterinary Hospital is working to provide local access to compassionate veterinary care.

Mount Dora Veterinary Hospital is located at 6877 Old Highway 441 S. in Mount Dora. To reach the hospital, call 352-383-6700 or visit MountDoraVet.com.