![Stethoscope and lab coat](/magazine/images/ar_dt_Unpacked_AlyssaWhite_item1.jpg)
I have been at City Paws for a year, but I’ve been working with animals professionally since 2010. As a general practitioner, I see 16 to 20 dogs and cats a day.
![Crackers](/magazine/images/ar_dt_Unpacked_AlyssaWhite_item2.jpg)
I often walk in at 6:45 a.m. and don’t leave until 8 p.m., so I keep crackers and apples in my desk drawer.
![Animal figurines](/magazine/images/ar_dt_Unpacked_AlyssaWhite_item3.jpg)
I grew up on a sheep farm in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and it’s a big reason why I love animals. We had Cheviot and Hampshire sheep, llamas, goats, chickens, and dogs.
![Plumb's drug book and calculator](/magazine/images/ar_dt_Unpacked_AlyssaWhite_item4.jpg)
Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook lists all pharmaceutical drugs and baseline dosages for a range of species, including cats, dogs, and exotic animals. Everything’s calculated by body weight.
![Surgical equipment](/magazine/images/ar_dt_Unpacked_AlyssaWhite_item5.jpg)
Every other Monday is a surgery day. My longest was a four-hour double lumpectomy on a dog.
![Dog leashes and collars](/magazine/images/ar_dt_Unpacked_AlyssaWhite_item6.jpg)
Linus is a six-year-old dachshund-beagle mix and Rerun is a six-month-old mini dachshund. They’re a therapeutic part of my life.
![Passport](/magazine/images/ar_dt_Unpacked_AlyssaWhite_item7.jpg)
My husband, William White, SOC/BA ’10, and I love to travel. Our recent adventures include Denmark, Belize, France, and Mexico.
![Dog and feline treats](/magazine/images/ar_dt_Unpacked_AlyssaWhite_item8.jpg)
I’m a Fear Free-certified veterinarian and have learned techniques to reduce animal stress. Using positive reinforcement through treats can help scared animals that revert to fear-based aggression.
![Tubes and needles](/magazine/images/ar_dt_Unpacked_AlyssaWhite_item9.jpg)
Animals can’t tell us what’s going on, so we rely on physical exams and lab work.
![Patriot League championship rings](/magazine/images/ar_dt_Unpacked_AlyssaWhite_item10.jpg)
I was a goalkeeper on AU’s four-time Patriot League championship field hockey team. It instilled in me a strong work ethic and sense of teamwork.
![Measuring cup and canine toothbrush](/magazine/images/ar_dt_Unpacked_AlyssaWhite_item11.jpg)
My PSA: Measuring food can help dogs stay leaner and avoid diseases. Dogs also can get awful dental disease, so I suggest brushing their teeth three or four times a week with poultry-flavored toothpaste.
![Bile lock and helmet](/magazine/images/ar_dt_Unpacked_AlyssaWhite_item12.jpg)
I ride my Cannondale a mile to work. I have lived in Bloomingdale in Northwest DC for nine years.