Certified Veterinary Technician
Veterinary Assistant
Veterinary Assistant
Veterinary Assistant
Veterinary Assistant
Veterinary Assistant
Veterinary Assistant
Veterinary Assistant/Inventory Manager
I was born in Portland and grew up in Hillsdale and Sherwood. I attended school at Eastern Oregon State College and following graduation, immediately entered the College of Veterinary Medicine at OSU, where I met my wife, Debbie. I graduated from vet school in 1992. After spending time out of state, Dr. Debbie and I were happy to return to Oregon. We purchased Animal Care Clinic on Halloween of 1997.
For the majority of my career I’ve worked in a small animal practice. I enjoy working with both cats and dogs. The variety of animals and breeds that we see guarantees that there is always something new to learn. I believe strongly in continuing education and pursue this goal for both myself and my staff.
I enjoy all aspects of veterinary medicine but I have a special interest in surgery. All types of soft tissue surgery are interesting to me, as is the challenge of orthopedics. I’m excited that we’re developing laparoscopic surgical technique at the clinic. This allows for far less painful procedures and improved recovery times. Limiting and relieving pain is very important to everyone here at the clinic.
Dr. Debbie and I have three children, Natalie, Heidi and Andrew. Currently we have three unique cats, a budgie and a leopard gecko. In my free time I love to travel and in the winter I am a ski instructor at Mt. Hood Meadows. I love Oregon and I am very glad to be able to live and work in the place that I call home.
I grew up in Beaverton, Oregon and graduated from Oregon State College of Veterinary Medicine in 1993. Dr. Brent and I were married after we both completed school. We moved to Minneapolis for awhile but we were thrilled when we were able to return to Oregon. We love living in this beautiful state, so close to both of our families. We share our life with three kids, one cat and a bird.
In 1997 we purchased Animal Care Clinic and since then we have worked hard to create a clinic where we can practice optimal care for animals. I believe that with great basic care we can increase the quality of life for our family pets. This often means they have longer to spend with us!
As cats and dogs reach their geriatric years, there are several things we can do to help them feel their best. Aging pets often must cope with the pain of arthritis. My passion for easing that pain has been the motivation behind becoming certified in animal rehabilitation. Through rehabilitation, I can help ease the pain that animals are feeling, whether it’s caused by arthritis, an injury, surgery, or a neurological disease. I have been certified since 2012, and applying what I’ve learned to help our patients.
I feel fortunate to work in a community that makes pet healthcare a priority. Our clients and our patients make every day a learning experience – and I find that very rewarding.
I grew up with Siamese cats….and bird dogs that I treated as pets. Veterinary medicine was not something I thought much about in my early adulthood. But when the opportunity to join the field of veterinary medicine came to me at a crossroads in my life, it gave my life more purpose and it took me in a completely different direction, using the skills I already possessed.
As Practice Manager, I treat Animal Care Clinic with the same care that I would if the practice belonged to me. Like everyone at ACC, I am passionate about the work we do as a team for pets and pet parents. One of the realities of my position is having multiple areas of responsibility and focus. This can be challenging, as vet med is a dynamic field. But I enjoy the challenges that come with guaranteed change. Being in the position of problem solving and working with others to find solutions is rewarding to me. I find it very gratifying to provide support for the wonderful team we have at ACC, and ethical and caring owners inspire me to help make the clinic a success.
Outside of work, I love being a grandma (Nana Louise!). I enjoy cooking and baking – I’m always searching for the perfect recipe and I love the response from people when I get it right! I also love creating all sorts of things with desktop publishing software. Learning in general is always fun.:)
I have always loved animals and was always curious about the field of veterinary medicine, but it took me a little bit of time to find my way here. I struggled to find a field/job that I was passionate about. I went from working at a preschool and being sick 24/7 to finding a job at ACC. I fell in love with vet med and now I never want to leave.
So many of many of my personal values are needed in this work, which makes this field particularly rewarding to me. I’m a curious person and there’s always more to learn here! I particularly enjoy learning about dog and cat breeds and pretty much anything that comes my way in regards to medicine. Commitment and focus are also important for many reasons – proper triage, detailed and accurate medical records, case follow-through – especially when a hundred things are happening at once around you.
It goes without saying that compassion is a must in this profession. Trust is also a big one – it’s so important to have a relationship built on trust and respect with clients and their pets. Patience helps build those bonds too – especially with the fearful pets, who are close to my heart. I am passionate about helping pets feel safe and cared for in our clinic. I am also passionate about helping their owners feel cared for and heard.
Things that make this job rewarding for me are successfully triaging patients to provide the best care and seeing cats (new acquaintances and old friends) all day and bully breeds on the regular. It’s also rewarding caring for our senior patients to keep them thriving, and seeing the success stories in physical rehabilitation firsthand.
I share my home with my fiancé, Carver, 3 cats – littermates Ava and Kya, and the newest addition, Ida – and a pitbull named Remmy. I play violin and other miscellaneous instruments in my spare time. I’m also a movie enthusiast and love to watch crime shows and animal documentaries. I am a major fan of Star Wars. Everyone at the clinic knows how I love fall and winter and celebrating the holidays. I collect snow globes and nutcrackers, and I have over 40 nutcrackers in my growing collection!
I came to veterinary medicine quite by accident after graduating from Stephens College in Columbia, MO with a BS in Elementary Education. When I returned to the Portland area a measure had passed that gave tenure to existing teachers, bringing the hiring of new teachers to a halt. So I spent some time working in preschool and then nannied for a Hollywood couple before returning to Oregon and answering an ad for a veterinary assistant. As a lifelong pet owner and lover it seemed like it would be an interesting job…and I just never left!
I love the learning that goes hand in hand with vet med. There’s no “routine” procedures or cases. Each patient, client, and situation brings individuality. In addition, I’m grateful for the many opportunities that working at ACC has given me to further my knowledge and share it with others – not to mention working with a dedicated staff who often feel more like family! The bonds I’ve been able to forge with clients and their furbabies only adds to the sense of family at ACC.
My return to Oregon was due to my engagement to my best friend of 10 years (Tim) and in September 1998 we tied the knot at our horse training facility in Ridgefield, WA – where we live to this day. When I’m not at the clinic I’m most likely to be found in the barn! I compete in many equestrian endeavors and have been fortunate to receive honors at the top levels of my disciplines. In addition to our horses, we share our life with our two cats, Cash and Bing.
I came by veterinary medicine accidentally. Growing up we always had one dog at a time, and we never had any cats or pocket pets. In fact, I was allergic to cats. So I don’t have the fairly common back story of growing up around lots of animals and always knowing I wanted to work in vet med. I loved animals, but had more of an affinity for plants. So I went to college and after graduation worked as a landscape designer for years before I wandered into Animal Care Clinic and found out that I had an deep-seated curiosity about anatomy, physiology and the puzzles of animal medicine.
I can credit my first rescue dog with waking my love for animals. Bridey was a pitbull/lab rescue that was the love of my life. I had never loved anything like I loved that dog. I have since loved other cats and dogs (ACC cured me of my cat allergies early on), but working with Bridey to understand her quirky behaviors and unique health issues was the spark that set me up for my second career in veterinary medicine. I walked into ACC as a client, moved on to a volunteer, became a veterinary assistant, and eventually…became the HR Administrator I am today.
I love veterinary medicine for many reasons. It’s a field that really makes a difference in the lives of people and their animals. It’s a field full of people with big hearts. It never gets old – you’re guaranteed to always see something new. You get to meet and hold lots of snuggly furbabies. It’s nice having a deep pet food discount. But for me, these days, I find a lot of satisfaction in making things run smoothly around here, finding ways to improve the ACC experience for our clients and patients, and taking care of our amazing staff.
Ever since I can remember, I’ve had a huge love for animals and the joy they bring into our lives. Growing up, I had many pets that were very special to me and I loved taking care of them. This paved the way for my love of veterinary medicine and learning how important the human-animal bond is. For me, there is nothing more rewarding than helping pets and their owners feel better.
I have a huge passion for dentistry and all the ways dental care can help pets feel better and improve their health. In my free time I love to be outdoors, kayaking, running, and spending time in my garden planting flowers. I have a wonderful family, which includes a couple of chinchillas, a bulldog named Gus, and two kitties named Peanut and Butter.
I was a pet sitter before I suspected I wanted to work in veterinary medicine. I recognized that I enjoyed taking care of animals and I wanted to help them in more ways than just pet sitting. One day I hope to run an animal sanctuary.
I am passionate about surgery and anesthesia. I take my responsibility for the patient very seriously. For me this means being diligent about continuing education. I am a better technician when I have accurate, up-to-date knowledge about treatment options, medications, and medical advancements. I am currently studying to receive my degree in Veterinary Technology and look forward to becoming a Certified Veterinary Technician.
I am also passionate about cat behavior. I feel that if pet owners had a better understanding of cats’ needs we wouldn’t see so many cases of things like urinating outside of the box. When we can recognize the causes of abnormal behavior in cats, we can better communicate their needs to their families. Ultimately this means that more cats are able to stay in their homes, as the human-animal bond stays intact.
I was born in Pittsburgh and moved to Oregon by way of Chicago. I come from a deaf family. I’m hard of hearing myself and this can sometimes make things challenging at work, but I always encourage people to talk to me and not to be scared of interacting. I’m always happy to teach ASL to anyone who shows interest! I have five cats at home in a range of ages. I enjoy reading, exploring the natural beauty of the PNW, and trying new things.
Growing up I wanted every kind of animal I could have and luckily my parents supported me in that endeavor. My sister, brother, and I have owned rabbits, chickens, ducks, snakes, lizards, rats, hamsters, a scorpion, parakeets, a tarantula, and of course dogs and cats. We also fostered baby raccoons and opossums. I knew at a young age that I wanted to help animals in any way that I could.
What resonates most with me (and plays out over and over in our work) is the fact that animals in need cannot help themselves like people can – in most situations. Our pets need us to be there for them and give them the healthiest, happiest life they deserve!
In my work I am passionate about surgery, anesthesia, and the use of Fear Free practices in veterinary medicine. Making the clinical environment the best experience it can be for both our patients and clients is something I work hard to achieve.
Inside and outside of work I am a pitbull lover! I have two pitties myself and I adore them! In my free time I am usually out on an adventure with them – whether it’s hiking, fishing, or camping. My other hobbies include line dancing and painting.
I grew up in rural Florida always chasing/catching all sorts of critters. As a result, I developed a love of animals and I always wanted to help them in some way, even the ones most people find icky (snakes, skunks, etc.)!
Honesty, Integrity, and Compassion for all life are the primary values that drive my passion in Veterinary Medicine. Other aspects of my career that have a special place in my heart are rehabilitation, honoring the human/animal bond, treating fearful patients and helping them feel more comfortable.
I love spending time outdoors, whether it is hiking, camping, or spending time with my family and my pets!
I had a lot of pets growing up so I learned from an early age how important it was to care for them properly and with kindness. Being around all types of animals as I grew up and while on the job as a kennel supervisor has given me the passion to go to school to be a Veterinary Technician.
I try to demonstrate kindness and respect for every living thing. This job also requires an abundance of patience and empathy. It helps to just treat all of the patients we see as if they were my own pet! I enjoy helping pets and their humans feel comfortable here at the clinic. It’s always so rewarding to help them feel better when they are sick – and also to know that we are preventing future sickness by being proactive with their wellness care.
I love all of my own animals – my dogs, Juicy and Helen, and my cats, Corn and Frank the Tank, and my bunny, Karen. Outside of work my favorite things to do are to go on walks, play cards with my grandpa, and just hang out with friends and family.
I also like naps. 😉
Growing up in Vermont as an outdoorsy, be-kind-to-nature, love-all-animals kind of kid, I used to bring home any animal I found alone or injured to “fix it” and set it free. This included mice, birds, snakes, lizards, a baby deer, and even a coyote kit! Oops!
Nowadays, I live on a horse ranch and work with and ride American Drum Horses. I’m an active member of the IDHA (International Drum Horse Association). I also spend a lot of time with Maine Coon kitten litters.
For me, integrity is the value that drives me in my work and I always try to do the right thing – whether or not anybody else is watching. After about 20 years of working in veterinary medicine, cats and kittens are still my favorites!
Pets are the most selfless creatures, and all they know how to do is love. After 20 years as an Assistant, I have never had a day where I didn’t get to help a pet. I’ve always wanted to make sure pets live long, healthy lives and I credit that to growing up with pets that became part of my family.
I strive to help families keep their pets as happy as possible, and this has defined my journey in Veterinary Medicine. In my free time (which is minimal with 2 toddlers and a teenager; all girls!), I love to go hiking and travel, spending the most time with my family that I can. My four-legged family members are a dorky Boxer named Wyatt and a feisty orange tabby name Philburt. There’s never a quiet moment and my home is filled with love and chaos.
When I started having children I became an avid volunteer at their schools and like many parents, community became very important to me. Eventually, after years of being a stay-at-home-mom and volunteer, I decided to go to work part time. I would only want to work in a community that I loved. I found a job in Wilsonville and here I am still at ACC!
I am passionate about problem solving. These days I’m only here one day a week, so I don’t get to do as much problem-solving as I used to. But I still enjoy it and vet med offers lots of opportunity for both problem-solving and for continuous learning. The knowledge that I’ve gained over the years at ACC about pet health is irreplaceable and an indelible part of who I am.
I would say the values that drive me are loyalty, compassion, and kindness. I’ve been at ACC for over 20 years so I think it’s pretty clear I believe in the clinic and its mission! Compassion and kindness are non-negotiable in this field as any day you could be helping care for a pet and their parents who may be having one of the worst days of their lives! It’s not easy, but it is rewarding when you can do your part to help them get through that kind of day.
Mostly, everyone who knows me knows that what you see is what you get. But over the years Dr. Brent has taught me to be nicer at work! 🙂
I’ve lived in Oregon my whole life, and I love to go hiking with my partner. I have always known that I wanted to work with animals. I got my first dog at 13, a tripod greyhound named Trey who came from a rescue for former racing dogs. As a result, I began to volunteer at the rescue and really found my passion advocating for animal rights. I have had cats and birds throughout my life, but right now my bearded dragon Sterling rules my home.
I adore plants and have owned several rare species. I love to roller-skate and read books. I am passionate about several areas in Veterinary Medicine; Allergies, Nutrition, and Behavior. I adore detail-oriented and administrative work. I value honesty, respect, teamwork and dedication in both work and life.
My family dog, Moose, became ill with Parvovirus when I was in middle school. Happily, he survived, but it made me realize how helping and loving him in any way that I could was so important on his road to recovery. So when I am able to do that for anyone else, I will. Being able to love and care for all of the boarding animals that come through ACC brings me a lot of joy!
I would like to go to veterinary school in the future. I think setting goals and being focused on achieving those goals is important. It pushes me to stay positive and motivated. In work and outside of work I really value kindness, patience and honesty. I feel patience is particularly important in a job working with animals.
Animals are my safe space. At home I have a Border Collie/Husky mix, 3 Chihuahua/terrier mixes (as well as the mom of those three littles), a terrier, two orange cats and some reptiles. Its a full house full of love and chaos, but I wouldn’t have it any other way as my dream in life is to own a doggie daycare on acreage some day!
I’ve always had an interest in medicine and a love for animals, but what really brought me to Animal Care Clinic was specifically the ability to care for animals that can’t advocate for themselves. Empathy is the primary value that drives my work and I take a lot of pride in ensuring that the pets we care for are getting their specific needs met. Empathy also helps me to keep a friendly and positive relationship with my co-workers. A healthy work environment is important for everyone!
Although the position of kennel attendant has many different responsibilities, I’m most passionate about animal care. I try to go above and beyond just meeting the basic needs of the animals to ensure their time in the clinic is as happy and stress-free as possible.
Outside of work I’m mostly a big nerd. I play video games, board games, Dungeons & Dragons, and Magic: The Gathering. I’m also very passionate about music and writing as a creative outlet.
I grew up on my family’s little farm in Boring, Oregon, where we raised pigs, chickens, goats and ducks. Being so involved with animals as a child lead to a passion for veterinary medicine and animal care.
As the ACC Kennel Supervisor I am dedicated to the well being of the animals that are taken care of by our kennel team. I am focused everyday on creating and maintaining a clean and comfortable environment for our boarding pets. I prioritize compassion, responsibility and paying attention to detail and these values are demonstrated through my devoted care for all of the animals that pass through the ACC boarding and treatment facilities.
Out of all the animals I have worked with, I have found cats and dogs are my favorites. I plan to attend college to become a Veterinary Technician in small animal medicine and I am beyond lucky to have the best teachers and supporters here at ACC. <3
