No two journeys to veterinary care are the same, but there is something that all veterinarians have in common: serving animals when they need it most. For Dr. Jeremiah Nelson, a veterinarian at the Juried Family Emancipet Clinic in Killeen, TX his path in veterinary care ultimately led him to Emancipet.

With a mother who is a nurse and a father who is a farmer, Dr. Nelson grew up surrounded by both medical care and animals. It was no surprise when he decided to work as a veterinary assistant while studying wildlife management in college. His path eventually evolved into applying to veterinary school and, later, serving as a veterinarian for the U.S. Military.

After retiring from the military in 2025 following 20 years of service, he felt a strong drive to continue serving and return to clinical medicine.

Now, Dr. Nelson is able to continue serving through his work at our Emancipet clinic in Killeen, home to Fort Hood, one of the world’s largest military installations.

“For many owners we serve, this is their only stop at a veterinary clinic. It may be the pet’s only stop ever,” he shares. “It’s spay/neuter, flea/deworm treatment and vaccinations (maybe microchip). If we can give that to a pet: easier life because they are spayed or neutered, and received a round of vaccines and parasite prevention medication, then, the Emancipet team played like champions today.”

He continues to find value in each day at the clinic, especially in the impact of spay and neuter services, which help prevent larger health concerns and support positive behavior in pets.

“We know neutered animals stay in a family disproportionately more than pets that are intact. Matting behavior, straying, aggression, urine marking are a few reasons–and the reality is it helps decrease the number of unplanned litters and potential flow of pets into shelters, benefitting the community all around.”

Dr. Jeremiah Nelson has found his calling at Emancipet, serving pet families and helping keep them healthy and together.

“Since I got my start working for shelters and nonprofit wildlife shelters, I wanted to pay it back.

The other part is getting back into “in the trenches” of veterinary medicine. Emancipet is all about being “in the trenches”, serving as close to the community as you can get.”

Why Emancipet Is a Great Place to Work

At Emancipet, veterinarians join a community of professionals driven by compassion, teamwork, and the shared belief that every pet deserves care. Our clinics offer:

  • Meaningful work — Every day, our teams make veterinary care possible for pets and families who might otherwise go without care.
  • Supportive culture — Collaboration, respect, and empathy are at the heart of how we care for pets, their people — and each other.
  • Professional growth — From hands-on surgical training to leadership development, we invest in our veterinarians’ ongoing growth.
  • Work-life balance — With predictable schedules, reasonable hours, and no after-hours emergencies, Emancipet vets can focus on what matters most — both inside and outside the clinic.
  • Great Benefits— Paid time off, generous healthcare coverage, PSLF eligibility, and more– we prove that nonprofit work can take care of you while you care for others.

Work with Us

If you’re a veterinarian looking for a workplace where you can make a difference in your community and serve pet families and you were inspired by Dr. Nelson and his journey to Emancipet, you can learn more about careers at: emancipet.org/careers.