Dr Jennifer Merlo originated from New Jersey and graduated from the University of Delaware in 2000 with a degree in Animal Sciences and Biology. She attended Ohio State University for veterinary school and graduated in 2004 with a focus on equine medicine. She went on to complete an internship at the Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center and advance training in internal medicine and ultrasonography at North Carolina State University. In 2007 she moved to Charlotte to be closer to family and began her career in small animal general practice. She joined the emergency department at Carolina Veterinary Specialists in 2011, becoming the Director of Emergency Medicine for the Matthews hospital in 2012. She returned to general practice following the birth of her daughter in 2014. Since then, she has become very involved in the Fear Free Veterinary Care Movement – becoming an Elite Certified Fear Free Veterinarian and owning the first Fear Free Certified Practice in NC until 2019. She started her own relief practice following that and brought Fear Free practices to several general practices and emergency hospitals in both North and South Carolina. She was thrilled to join the team at Fear Free, LLC in the fall of 2021.
When she is not at work, Dr Merlo enjoys spending time with her husband, her daughter and two stepsons as well as her 2 dogs and 2 cats. Her hobbies include cooking, hiking, church fellowship, reading and is an active member of her local FiA branch in Lake Wylie, SC.
