Goodbye to Dr. Jane Davis: A Legacy of Compassion and Change at Kane County Animal Control
After two decades of service, Dr. Jane Davis is retiring from her role as Kane County Animal Control's (KCAC) staff veterinarian.
“I love animals, I love science, and I love to solve problems," Dr. Davis explained when asked about her choice to become a veterinarian. After graduating from the University of Illinois, she began her career in private veterinary practice. She later turned to teaching at Aurora University before joining Kane County to help guide what would become some of the County's most transformational years in animal welfare.
At the time of her hire, Kane County Animal Control didn't have a building. One of Dr. Davis's early responsibilities was to help refine the design for what would become a stand-alone shelter and clinic on Keslinger Road in Geneva, where KCAC is located today.
Dr. Davis has seen the work at KCAC make a lasting difference by combining clinical care with education and community outreach. Thanks to the support of the Kane County Board, KCAC now offers rabies and microchip clinics, promotes spaying and neutering to reduce overpopulation, works to reunite lost pets with their families, and prepares unwanted animals for a new life through its adoption program.
“There are animals up for adoption, and you just never know if they're going to find their person," she said. “And sometimes you recognize it, that they were just waiting for the right person. I also think animals pick too. They can sense who their people are."
She added that the shift in animal welfare has become more compassionate over the course of her career, and she hopes that mindset spreads beyond Illinois. “I hope some of the progress we've made, especially around spay and neuter programs, reaches other states too."
That progress has followed another cultural shift Dr. Davis is pleased to see. “When I was first in practice, it was very prestigious to have a purebred dog," she said. “Now, that has really switched. It's prestigious to say, 'I rescued that dog.' I hope that continues."
Being the on-call veterinarian for Animal Control also came with challenges. “You realize intellectually that you can't save everything," she said, “but everything in my care was cared for to the best of my ability."
That includes animals left behind, abused, abandoned, or surrendered when families could no longer afford care. Her empathy extended to the humans behind those cases too, many of whom were struggling with mental or physical illness. “It's not an easy job," she said. “There are bad cases. But while I love animals, I also really love people." She added, “Ultimately, helping animals also involves assisting humans. It builds a better community for both."
One particularly painful case involved a hoarding situation where over a dozen dogs had been left without food and had turned on one another. “Some were already gone, others barely hanging on," she recalled. “We took them in in May. By Christmas, the survivors were ready for adoption—thanks to the compassion and dedication of the KCAC staff. Everyone works together to give those animals the best experience possible."
Reflecting on her years at KCAC, Dr. Davis expressed deep appreciation for the people she's worked alongside, highlighting the dedication and compassion of the KCAC staff and Executive Director Brett Youngsteadt. “It's been very satisfying," she said. “It's been a pleasure to work with the people I've worked with. It's amazing the lengths people will go to make sure animals and pets have better outcomes."
While she's stepping away from her clinical duties, she's not leaving entirely. Dr. Davis plans to return as a volunteer to offering comfort and companionship from the other side of the exam table. “I'm looking forward to the animals liking me," she said with a laugh, “instead of coming at them with a shot."
“Dr. Davis's compassion, expertise, and unwavering dedication have shaped not only our facility but the way we approach animal care in Kane County. We're incredibly grateful for her service and even more grateful she's not going far," said KCAC Director Brett Youngsteadt.
As she hangs up her stethoscope, it's clear through our conversation that her work was never just a job, it was a calling. One built on heart, healing, and the view that every animal, and every person who loves one, deserves compassion.
