Most of us would think that being a world-class veterinarian would be more than enough to keep a person busy. That’s just not the case for Dr. Maria Badamo from Metro Paws Animal Hospital-Oak Cliff in Dallas, TX. This busy veterinarian is also a National Champion Agility Trainer, and participates in various agility dog sports with her champion Kenobi and two of her other dogs.
“Dogs are my life,” says this Midlothian, TX resident.
Kenobi and Dr. Maria have garnered their own share of celebrity life. At the 2019 Purina ProPlan Incredible Dog Challenge Western Regional, they won the “weave challenge,” after Kenobi was entered last minute to replace another dog who pulled out of the event. The dynamic duo caught the attention of event organizers, who took note that Kenobi was a multiple sport athlete and his human partner was a veterinarian. The two were featured in interviews and photoshoots during the event. Of course, it didn’t hurt that Dr. Badamo has regularly fed her dogs Purina ProPlan Sport 30/20 for more than 10 years!
See the dynamic dog and vet duo in action!
Check out the Purina ProPlan commercial or look for them when they compete in the upcoming 2021 Cynosport Dog Agility World Games to be held in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, October 20-24, 2021. Also be sure to subscribe to Dr. Badamo’s YouTube page to witness the amazing accomplishments that Dr. Badamo and all her competing pups have achieved!
Ever since she was about five years old, Dr. Badamo always knew what she wanted to be when she grew up – a veterinarian. Even when times were rough and this outcome seemed implausible, there was always a force driving her towards this goal. She’s been playing dog agility games since her days at Ohio State University, where she graduated in 2009 with her DVM. Dr. Badamo is originally from Long Island, NY, where she worked at a local animal shelter for three years, prior to starting her college education. She completed her undergraduate degree in Biology at Arcadia University in Philadelphia, PA. In between studies, Dr. Badamo obtained dog training certification in Jacksonville, Florida.
During veterinary school, she traveled to Maryland for an externship at Veterinary Orthopedic Sports Medicine Group. During this externship, Dr. Badamo became very interested in sports medicine and physical rehabilitation. After obtaining her veterinary degree, she completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in New Jersey. She stayed on as a general practitioner for two and a half years before accepting her current position at Metro Paws in Dallas.
Dr. Badamo currently lives with her partner, Patrick, and five dogs (two Pomeranians, “Babaghanoush” and “Luna,” one small terrier mix named “Stuffin,” and two Border Collies, “Kenobi” and “Gromit”).
Dr. Badamo’s interests outside of veterinary medicine include photography (mostly of her dogs), jogging and hiking (mostly with her dogs), and canine agility sports (with her dogs!) Her main goal in life is to follow her heart in life and in love. Her philosophy in veterinary medicine is to treat each patient as she would treat her own pets.