Meet Antonia Tribuzzo of Columbus, Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Antonia Tribuzzo.

Hi Antonia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My childhood cat, Jane, had come to stay with me in Columbus while I was in college at Ohio State University. I was working at a veterinary clinic at the time and she had become very ill. The same week that I moved her to Columbus, I started coming across stray kittens in desperate need of help. I would take them to the vet clinic and get them homes through the people I knew there. Jane was a little “fixer upper” project herself, and after several weeks, she was feeling like a whole new cat. She thrived and was an inspiration for me to help other animals heal and find their forever homes. Eventually it became clear that Columbus had a significant cat overpopulation problem and that there would always be cats needing help, especially kittens and feral cat colonies. There is always a link between kittens needing help and feral cat colonies in need of population control measures, such as Trap-Neuter-Release.

I had a background in caring for neonatal animals in wildlife rehabilitation and was able to use my knowledge and skills to start caring for orphaned kittens as well. Neonates are a difficult group of animals to care for because they require around the clock care, frequent medical attention, and very specific conditions to thrive. I quickly discovered that I had a passion for what I call “teeny beans.” They were my absolute favorite category of animals to rescue and work with. There was also a huge need in our community for more resources for neonates. Clearly I was going to continue to rescue animals and decided to start For the Love of Jane officially. Of course the rescue was named after my sweet kitty Jane who was the very reason I continued to rescue and adopt out animals in need. Jane passed away in 2018, but she continues to inspire me to rescue animals at every stage of my life.

I finished my undergraduate degree and went on to attend veterinary school at Ohio State as well. One of my classmates, Tricia Elwood, also had a passion for rescue and we worked together to actually form an administrative board, attain 501(c)3 non-profit status, and grow the rescue into what it is today. Throughout veterinary school we were the ultimate dream team for neonatal rescue. We developed a team of foster homes trained in bottle feeding and neonatal care, we sought out community involvement through Trap-Neuter-Release efforts for feral cat colonies, and we supported each other and our fellow colleagues involved in the rescue through the grueling years of school.

I have since become a veterinarian and I work full time at Lifetime Pet Wellness Center as well as running FTLOJ. They are incredibly supportive of my passion for rescue and neonates. Many of the staff routinely volunteer and foster animals. Even more of them have adopted from the rescue at some point!

We now have an administrative board of 5 people who are dedicated to continuing to grow FTLOJ and make a difference in our Columbus community for neonatal rescue.

Throughout the years, FTLOJ has grown and developed as a mirror image of my own life. It has been amazing to be able to be a veterinarian as well as work in rescue.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest struggle with rescue is finding balance in your life. There are always animals in need and there are no standard hours of operation. It is essential to find a way to both care for yourself properly and then care for others.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an associate veterinarian at Lifetime Pet Wellness Center and the founder, president, and medical director of For the Love of Jane. Both of my careers allow me to work with my passions for veterinary medicine, rescue, and neonatal care.

At Lifetime Pet Wellness Center (LPWC) I see cat and dog patients for a variety of reasons: preventative wellness care, illness care, surgery, urgent care, and veterinary medical manipulation (similar to a chiropractic adjustment for a dog or a cat). We practice integrative medicine so every day is different and we are able to provide a treatment plan for just about any need or preference!

At For the Love of Jane (FTLOJ) I oversee the medical care and general operations of the rescue. It is my responsibility to ensure all animals adopted out from us are healthy and ready for adoption. I coordinate all of their veterinary care and treat any issues that arise. I manage the rescue’s databases and ensure everything is running smoothly.

What matters most to you? Why?
Happiness is what matters most to me. It weaves together all of the good things in my life. It guides my choices because ultimately what really matters is if you are happy with the life you lead! I work in veterinary medicine and rescue because these fields make me happy. I love seeing my clients and patients leave the clinic happy and well cared for. I love seeing fosters be happy when they meet their new foster kitten or seeing adopters be happy when they take home their new furry family member. A lot can be said for someone who chooses to be happy and to prioritize their own happiness. It spreads to everyone around them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fortheloveofjanerescue.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fortheloveofjanerescue/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortheloveofjanerescue/