Sandra Strong, DVM

Dr. Strong is a dedicated veterinarian with a deep commitment to animal health and welfare. A graduate of North Carolina State University, she brings 29 years of extensive veterinary experience to her professional service. Her early training at the Washington State Diagnostic Microbiology Lab equipped her with essential understanding of diagnostic testing.  Following her graduation, she served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps, where she was Chief of Special Pathogens at a Department of Defense lab in Germany, further deepening her commitment to public health and animal welfare on a global scale.

Transitioning to clinical practice, Dr. Strong became a companion animal veterinarian, developing a strong appreciation for the human-animal bond. This led her to focus on shelter medicine, aiming to address the challenges faced by animals in shelter settings. As a staff veterinarian for the City of San Antonio Animal Care Services, she implemented protocols that improved the live release and decreased the length of stay for shelter animals. As Medical Director at the SPAYSA HQHVSN clinic and later at Wake County Animal Center in Raleigh, NC, she championed initiatives for supporting her employee’s well-being, increasing access to pet sterilization, implementing forensic veterinary medicine support for animal cruelty cases, and increasing efficiency of shelter operations.

In 2021, Dr. Strong became the Animal Services Director for Orange County, NC, where she led efforts to improve community animal services and support the human animal bond. She currently serves as a Professional Services Veterinarian for Merck Animal Health, supporting the shelter and animal welfare organizations.