Dr. Cantamessa a Northern New Jersey native currently resides in Essex County with her husband, daughter, their dog Meadow, and cat Kenya. She graduated in 1997 from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor’s Degree in English.

Dr. Cantamessa spent the first ten years of her career working as an associate veterinarian in Rutherford, New Jersey. In addition to caring for her many patients she was the shelter veterinarian for the Passaic Animal Shelter, and also provided care for the local Petco and PetSmart branches.