Fineman proving to be cats' and dogs' best friend

SANDPOINT — For Mark Fineman, Sandpoint was an easy choice when selecting the location to start his veterinary career.

After all, no other town in America offered such an ideal confluence of work opportunities, family and recreation. The geography supports his hobbies, his wife’s family is conveniently nearby and Pend Oreille Veterinary Service allows him to practice his occupation in an animal-friendly area.

“My wife and I just love it here,” Fineman said. “We’re really lucky that Sandpoint offers so much for us.”

A native to the Gem State, Fineman grew up in Idaho Falls. His experiences growing up in the town fostered a lifelong love for Idaho’s mountain landscapes and sprawling forests. It also influenced his eventual choice of occupation.

“You hear a lot of veterinarians who say, ‘Oh, this is what I’ve wanted to do since I was 5 years old,’ but it wasn’t like that for me,” Fineman said. “I didn’t realize that this is what I wanted to do until I got into high school.”

At that point, Fineman began working with Idaho Falls veterinarians Rhonda Aliah and Liz Young. The two doctors introduced him to the work and gave him pointers on how to pursue it in college. Fineman said that they had a major influence on his decision to study veterinary medicine.

“I think my parents are blaming them for my career choice,” Fineman said.

Fineman enrolled at Washington State University, a school boasting a nationally-famous veterinary program. Fineman said the sophisticated technology and the skilled instructors offered hands-on training in all aspects of the field.

“I honestly do think that the school helped me greatly,” he said. “I certainly feel that I was well-prepared to step into the professional world.”

Before his graduation in May 2010, Fineman worked summers at Pend Oreille Veterinary Service as an assistant. The business owners were happy to offer him his first post-grad job, a position he began in June.

According to Fineman, every day at the clinic is a little different. But typically, he begins the morning by making rounds to the currently admitted animals. Later in the day, he performs surgeries and makes his appointments. The experienced veterinarians at clinic are always on hand to provide him with any advice he might need.

“As a new vet, it can get a little scary, so it’s great to be working with such experienced and skilled people,” he said.

Beyond work, Fineman spends most of his time with his wife and 18-month-old daughter, Callie. He spends free time enjoying the powder up at Schweitzer or wakeboarding on the lake. Given his interests in behavioral medicine and the potentiality to specialize further, Fineman isn’t sure whether or not his future will remain in Sandpoint. But he intends to make the most of his time here.

“It’s been a rewarding and sometimes heat-breaking time,” he said. “I’ve had lots of experiences that will shape me as a vet and as a person.”