Dr. Avelar graduated from Cornell University with a doctorate in veterinary medicine. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and has a USDA APHIS accreditation. Her special interests include animal behavior, preventative medicine, palliative care and fostering the human-animal bond. She loves spending time outdoors with her family, which includes her husband, twin boys, daughter, and two mutts. In her very rare free time, she can be found running, playing tennis, knitting, and baking.