Berkeridge achieved that goal in March 2019 when she opened Summit Bridge Veterinary Hospital in Bear, Delaware. The practice, which sees cats, dogs and pocket pets, started with 12 employees. Today, there are close to 60 employees and three veterinarians, including Berkeridge.

“The kennel offers boarding, grooming and daycare,” Berkeridge said. “In the hospital, we see appointments, do surgeries and dentals, and take emergencies during the day. The rescue does adoptions out of the hospital.”

The rescue sets Berkeridge apart. The 100 percent volunteer-run, no-kill rescue finds homes for an average of 300 cats and 50 dogs a year and attracts like-minded veterinarians looking to do shelter work.

“We started out taking whatever came to us from the local community,” Berkeridge said of the strays and unwanted pets that show up at her door. “Now we take animals from local kill shelters, reducing their kill rates.”

Berkeridge’s success and kindness are inspiring. She got her start in high school FFA, raising pigs and showing them at the Delaware State Fair. At the UD College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR), Berkeridge majored in animal science with a concentration in pre-veterinary medicine (CANR now offers a pre-veterinary medicine major). She attributes her acceptance into veterinary school to the experiences she gained on CANR’s 350-acre campus, complete with a working farm. 

“Working with the cows, sheep and chickens on the CANR farm and having that diverse background made a big difference in my veterinary school applications,” Berkeridge said. “Many people applying had only worked with dogs and cats.”

While at UD, Berkeridge was a teaching assistant for Robert Dyer, professor emeritus of animal and food sciences. In this role, she gained valuable experience in animal handling.

“Teaching assistants were responsible for preparing the animals and teaching the students the correct way to handle and work with them,” Berkeridge said. “Knowing how to do all those things made a big difference in getting into vet school and getting through it.”

At UD, Berkeridge also completed an undergraduate research project with Thomas Hanson, professor in the School of Marine Science and Policy at the Delaware Biotech Institute.

“To this day, when anybody asks me what they can do to get into veterinary school,” Berkeridge said. “I tell them to get into research because that was something unique about my application for veterinary school, and it helped me get into several schools.” 

Berkeridge chose the University of Georgia to earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, she returned to Delaware to work at Middletown Veterinary Hospital. Berkeridge spent years honing her medicine and learning management techniques before opening Summit Bridge. 

Berkeridge admits to working long hours. To maintain balance, she recommends an unusual form of stress relief: cows. She discovered the calming effect of cows during her time at UD. 

“Anytime I felt upset or worried about finals, I went to talk to the cows,” Berkeridge said.

The farm manager noticed and invited her to help with milking. After one try, Berkeridge was hooked.

“I went every morning,” Berkeridge said. “I’d get up at the crack of dawn, ride my bike to the dairy farm and milk the cows. It was such a calm start to my day. It was good for my mental health.”

Berkeridge is proud of her Blue Hen roots. She offers summer jobs, shadowing and volunteer opportunities for UD students. Recently, Cheyla’s Rescue Foundation participated in University of Delaware Ag Day.

Cheyla, Berkeridge’s pit bull companion, passed away in 2021. Berkeridge continues to provide care for hard-luck cases. Summit Bridge Veterinary Hospital works closely with Cecil County Animal Services to provide medical care for neglect and abuse cases.

One evening, as Berkeridge finished treating one of these dogs, she received a call from animal services. They would not be able to pick the dog up that evening.

“I put her in the kennel so animal services could pick her up in the morning, and she lost her mind,” Berkeridge said.

The dog could not tolerate the kennel.

"Alright, I'll just take you home with me tonight,” Berkeridge recounted, telling the dog. “And I'll bring you back in the morning.” 

That was two years ago. The dog, now named Sky, is rarely more than three feet from Berkeridge’s side.

“I firmly believe that pets are good for everybody,” Berkeridge said. “If you’ve never had one, you should get one; they make wonderful companions.”