Dr. Jolie Pope grew up in the small town of Blair, Nebraska. She graduated high school at Blair High in 1978. In the summer of 1985, Jolie began studying her pre-veterinary undergraduate courses at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. In May 1989, she graduated from U.N.O. with high honors with an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, Chemistry and Animal Sciences. Dr. Pope received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree from Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine in May 1993.
Dr. Pope accepted a position as an associate veterinarian in the spring of 1993 working for Dr. Marty Becker at All Pet Complex in Sandy, Utah. There she practiced general medicine, surgery, dermatology, and emergency/critical care. In 1998 Dr. Pope accepted a position with PETSMART Corporation (later became Banfield, The Pet Hospital) where she was the "Senior Chief of Staff" for five veterinary hospitals in the state of Utah. In February 2001, Dr. Pope joined the staff of Jordan River Animal Hospital where she continued to provide patients with high quality internal and general medicine, emergency/critical care, dermatology and surgery.
In October 2002 Dr. Pope started American Paws Mobile Veterinary Clinic where she provided veterinary house call services for clients in the Salt Lake County area. Dr. Pope was actively in search of a special property to establish a freestanding veterinary clinic with a "home-like" feel. In the summer of 2004, Dr. Pope found the wonderful property where American Paws Veterinary Hospital is currently located. The beautiful historic cottage was built in 1936 by the Proctor family. The property was purchased by the King family in 1978 and was owned by this family until Dr. Pope purchased it in 2004. This property still has most of the original trees and landscaping and the home was converted into a warm and welcoming, high quality veterinary hospital.