Austin O’Connell was born and raised in River Edge, NJ, a suburb of New York City. He graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Animal and Veterinary Sciences.

From 2002 to 2015; Austin worked in northern New Jersey as a veterinary technician focusing on the specialties of Neurology/Neurosurgery, Diagnostic Imaging, Radiation Therapy, and high-risk anesthesia. In late 2015, Austin transitioned from the clinical floor to Purchasing & Inventory for Compassion First Pet Hospitals. In late 2017, Austin was named Hospital Director of Red Bank Veterinary Hospitals Mount Laurel- a multispecialty and emergency practice in Mount Laurel NJ. Austin joined the VRC team as Hospital Director in June of 2021.

Austin lives in New Jersey with his wife, Jenny, their two children, Henry and Whitney, and their cat Marcel. Outside of work, Austin enjoys playing golf, hiking, spending time with family down the shore, and reading about maritime history.