Meet Dr. Cinda Rajkovic.

Dr. Cinda is well known in our community as a truly caring Veterinarian… Her love of animals is evident and obvious from her commitment to them.

Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career?

A: I am a Veterinarian. During my childhood, we moved 16 times. The only constant in my life was our German Shepherds. As they got older and had health problems, I wanted to pay it forward. Throughout my life, these animals were my cherished friends and family. During college, I majored in Microbiology and minored in Chemistry. At that time, I had many things going on, but I fully intended to go back to school to become a Veterinarian. My Adviser said, “If you don’t go now, you probably won’t,” and wished me good luck. I worked for the Chemical Warfare division of the military in Utah as a chemist. Afterward, I applied to Vet school and got in – seven years after I graduated college.

Q: Is there one thing that you wished you learned earlier in life?

A: I am such a perfectionist, but I’m not God. I have an exceptional track record with my Veterinary work. But I need to be more forgiving of myself when things don’t go as planned. I realize that I can’t control everything. It’s essential to do the best you can with the tools you have. Sometimes you have to leave it at that. You can’t be so hard on yourself and expecting to be perfect because none of us is perfect.

Q: How long have you lived or worked in Sedona?

A: We live in the Verde Valley but have worked in Sedona since 2014.

Q: What is one piece of advice that most changed your life?

A: “Cry later and fix it now.”

Q: Who is the most exciting person you’ve met here in  Sedona or the Verde Valley?

A: The most interesting person would be Nadia. She had a very colorful life.

Q: What age would you be again, and why?

A: Probably 36 because I was at my peak in everything. It was the end of Vet school, surrounded by professionals in my field – it was such a fantastic time. I went straight into emergency medicine, and my first surgery was putting a dog’s eye back in.

Q: How would your closest friends describe you?

A: Probably, intense, ha-ha.

Q: What would you consider your greatest accomplishment?

A: Becoming a Veterinarian is my greatest accomplishment because of the things that I can do for these animals. We’re doing stem cell therapy now.

Q: Choosing anyone with whom would you love to have lunch? Why?

A: David Attenborough because he has been an advocate for the environment and animals for the last 50+ years.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?

A: I’d like to see the wild animals – big cats, giraffes and the rhinos at Paragoda, Africa. Also, Alaska is on my bucket list because I want to see the bears and the big melting ice.

Q:  Tell us about the Golden Bone Rescue and Rehab.

A: The Rescue is full of animals that people couldn’t afford to take care of, or they may be injured or relinquished because of abuse or neglect. We have a full-time job here in Sedona and at home as well. We have about 50 animals – horses, llamas, alpacas, birds, dogs, and wild hybrid wolves.

Q: What advice would you like to share?

A: Please be kind to the animals, whether they are wild or domestic. Some believe they are better than animals, but in reality, we’re all linked together. It’s not just a human world; it’s their world too! Without animals, our world would be such a sad place.

From the interview with Jonelle Klein