Dr. Alexandra “Ali” Moore’s life was all planned out. She was set to go to dental school and take over her dad’s practice. But the day before the entrance exam, she had an epiphany—she wasn’t meant to be a dentist. She was destined to be a veterinarian.
“From an early age, I was that kid who sought out stray animals and tried to keep them,” Dr. Moore says. “I’ve always loved them. Though I don’t remember saying it, my family tells me I used to say that I wanted to be a veterinarian, so it wasn’t too surprising to them when I followed my dream.”
Dr. Moore followed her passion, attending veterinary school in Washington before returning home to Nevada. An animal lover to her core, she became a skilled veterinarian and opened her own practice — Monte Vista Animal Hospital in West Reno.
Growing up amongst the sagebrush, her family has always had pets. Her heart dog, Oreo, was with her from the time she was born until she was about 18. “She’d let me dress her up and she’d pose with stuffed animals,” Dr. Moore recalls.
Her childhood is full of animal memories. As a kid, she helped hatch a bantam chicken named Lucky, who perched on family shoulders by day and cuddled in her room at night.
Today, Dr. Moore, her husband Adam, and their three children practically have a menagerie of their own.
“The kids all have aquariums in their rooms. We have two dogs, a bearded dragon, ten chickens, koi in our pond outside, and a bunny named Ananeihm,” she says. “The chickens make me laugh the most. They have the biggest personalities! Tawanda is a bully, and Higgy, a speckled Swedish flower hen, behaves the most like a dog.”
Though the bunny is delightful, she added, it requires the most care — fresh hay daily and constant litter box cleaning.
Dr. Moore loves her life as a veterinarian. “Veterinary medicine is really a people business,” she says. “I spend the majority of my day chatting with people. The biggest draw for me is getting to help both people and their pets.”
While she doesn’t treat exotic animals professionally, she offers advice to help keep all pets safe. For rabbit owners: be sure to provide unlimited fresh hay to maintain dental health. And always support a rabbit’s back feet when holding them—kicking too hard can cause serious injury.
She also warns pet owners to steer clear of foxtails, a common and dangerous weed in the region. “The weeds that look like wheat are everywhere, but they’re incredibly hazardous. We’ve found them in dogs’ ears, lungs, and paws. Avoid them if possible!”
Whether the animals belong to her or someone else, Dr. Moore’s mission remains the same: to love them, care for them, and help keep them safe.
And as a third generation Nevadan, doing it all in her home state makes work even better. “I love it here and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else!” she says.
Dr. Alexandra Moore I Monte Vista Animal Hospital
Dr. Alexandra Moore is the founder and medical director of Monte Vista Animal Hospital. She is a proud graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno and Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Moore holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology with distinction, a minor in psychology, and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, and is a dean’s list and WICHE recipient.