Jenny Bennett

Whether she was at work in her veterinary hospital or spending time with friends and family, Jenny Bennett could always command the room. She made her presence felt with her bright smile, joyous laugh, and quick (and sometimes risqué) wit. Her clients loved her not only for her compassion and commitment to good medicine, but also for her quirky outfits and colorful shoes. She held a deep belief in the power of the bond between humans and animals which led her to work extensively in animal rescue and to create her own kind of veterinary practice to focus on supporting both pets and their people. Jenny died suddenly on February 28th, 2026, at the age of 47, and the world has lost a bright ray of light.

Jennifer Renee Conner was born on June 20, 1978, in St. Louis, Missouri. She spent her childhood splashing in creeks, playing with frogs, and petting as many dogs as she could find. At 14, her family moved to Georgia where she attended high school and met many of the people who are still close friends today. Jenny excelled at most things during her high school years, including debate and journalism, but she knew she that science was her calling. She also met a very young chemistry teacher who she thought was cute.

After graduating from high school, Jenny enrolled at the University of Georgia with the idea that she would become a biologist. That chemistry teacher, Lee Bennett, found his way to Athens for graduate school at the same time, and their friendship became a romance that both instantly knew would be forever. It was during her third year at UGA that her one of her best friends finally said, “You know, you should be a veterinarian.” It turns out she was right.

Jenny and Lee moved to North Carolina in 1999 and were married on May 27, 2000. She worked as a veterinary assistant and went to school part time, graduating from North Carolina State University with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences in 2003. On the day in March of 2004 that Jenny received her acceptance letter for veterinary school in California, she looked at Lee over a couple of margaritas and asked, “Should we really go?” His answer was an unequivocal yes, and the two of them headed off later that year on an adventure that began with her driving a large RV filled with 12 cats and 2 dogs across the country to their new home.

After four years of hard work, with many new friends and experiences gained along the way, Jenny graduated from Western University of Health Sciences with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in May of 2008. She and Lee then returned to North Carolina where they made their home in Durham. They hosted locally legendary parties, explored all of the cultural offerings in the area, and met the two other couples that would become known (at least to the six of them) as the Sitcom Friends. In 2015, son Dakota and daughter Morgan joined the Bennetts' chosen family. Together with friends and children, they explored Durham, the country, and the world. 

Jenny worked in several animal hospitals across the Triangle, but her commitment to her own personal vision of how veterinary medicine should be practiced never wavered. She opened Urban Tails Veterinary Hospital in Durham in 2020 to bring that vision to life, and she was especially proud that the hospital developed connections with the larger community, including partnerships with animal rescues and advocacy groups as well as local artists and other businesses. Her focus on effective communication, compassion, and quality medicine ensured that the hospital developed a loyal following, with clients traveling from all parts of the Triangle to receive care from the veterinarian they fondly called, “Dr. B” even though her usual response was, “It’s just Jenny.”

Outside of her work with animals, Jenny was an avid reader and she filled her life with music wherever she went. One of her favorite places was the backyard at her home, where she created a relaxing outdoor space with gardens and a frog pond. She also loved spending weekends away with Lee and their dogs at the family's cabin in the Virginia mountains. She expressed her creativity by decorating her home (especially for Halloween), crocheting, and playing her ukulele. Above all, Jenny wanted to bring people together, and she and Lee did that regularly by hosting friends and family in their home for holiday celebrations, dinner parties, or just drinks on their porch.

Dr. Jenny Bennett is survived by husband Lee, children Dakota and Morgan, granddaughter Elena, sisters Katherine Lien and Lauren Ingram, father Larry Conner, many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and countless friends. She also leaves behind five canine companions (including the only two puppies she ever raised, Beasley and Jackson) and six cats. Jenny was predeceased by her mother, Janice Fry, and stepfather, Anthony Fry.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, Jenny’s family and colleagues request that donations in her honor be made to the Urban Tails Compassion Fund to support veterinary care for low-income individuals, or to any animal rescue or charity of your choice.