Patti grew up in Madison, WI and had horses, dogs and cats. In 1982 she earned her bachelor of science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She attended the Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine Charter Class in 1983 and graduated in 1987 with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. She joined Hartland Veterinary Clinic and was co-owner until 2003. At present she is employed at Woodstock Veterinary Clinic. She lives in Woodstock with her husband Michael and two boys, Jonathan and Dylan. They have many pets: three dogs, five cats, one horse, one pony, one miniature horse, four goats, one sheep, one alpaca and one llama.