After earning an Associate's Degree at Chaminade University in Honolulu, Hawaii, Elena spent several years serving in the United States Armed Forces before moving to Las Vegas with her family.  Elena joined the Rainbow Animal Hospital health care team in 2001 and is our senior animal care provider.  She is the mother of a beautiful daughter Hope, who was in the National Junior Honor Society for three years in high school and is now attending college.

Over the years, Elena has been known to stay up around the clock nursing abandoned kittens back to health and finding homes for any stray fuzz balls that come her way.  She has had more than her fair share of "special needs" pets of her own – including a dog who had both eyes removed and a cat who had to receive fluids every week to combat kidney failure.  Any animal residing in Elena’s home is a lucky one indeed; the dedication she has to care for her pets is phenomenal.  Her current menagerie consists of both feathers and fur, with two cats, two cockatiels, two parakeets, and Shih Tzus George, and Gracie (all rescues!) ruling the roost.  Ever the animal lover – in her free time, Elena enjoys anything that can be done with her pets and her daughter at her side.