Jeff Schmidt was raised in Northern California with a gaggle of family pets including cats, dogs, and a horse. It was during this time he developed his respect and love for animals. Upon his graduation from high school, he served two years of active duty in the U.S. Army as a tank crewman in West Germany. After an honorable discharge from the service, he graduated with honors with a degree in Biology from San Diego State University. He was accepted into the Veterinary Medical program at the University of California, Davis where he received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1995. He did a one-year surgery and medicine internship at a regional referral hospital and worked there for another eight years as a staff veterinarian. Eventually, he opened his own veterinary practice in the city of Roseville. This practice grew to employ six veterinarians and a staff of twenty. The motto of the practice was Service, Quality, and Compassion and it won accolades as one of the top veterinary hospitals in the region. Dr. Schmidt retired in 2022 and currently resides in Kuna, Idaho. His hobbies include competition pistol shooting and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is currently the match director for the Idaho State International Defensive Pistol Association state match. He also enjoys competing in the United States Practical Pistol Association. He is a certified safety officer in both sports He is active in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and currently holds the rank of blue belt. He has a highly active border collie. Lucy demands at least 30 minutes of exercise twice a day.