Certified Veterinary Technician
Certified Veterinary Technician
Technician Assistant
Technician Assistant
Technician Assistant
Technician Assistant
Technician Assistant
Technician Assistant
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, three cats, one bird and one gecko.
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 was a very shy child and found a lot of comfort in our family cat, Kitty. My father was a nature and science lover and he was always good about introducing new science topics to me. It was my father who recommended that I read James Herriot’s All Creatures Great and Small. Reading that book showed me how my bond with animals and my curiosity about science could fit together as a career. I knew I wanted to be a vet by age 11.
I am passionate about supporting the human-animal bond. This drives my work in veterinary medicine and encompasses so many areas – everything from keeping pets parasite-free to addressing chronic pain that can negatively affect behavior. The end goal is enabling pets and their people to enjoy each other and live a shared high quality of life.Â
I am driven to discover the source of pain or illness in my patients so that I can help to relieve their suffering. Along the same lines, I try to employ fear free tactics during my interactions with my patients to help mitigate any stress they feel from their clinic visits.Â
Outside of work I enjoy gardening (roses and dahlias are favorites), music (I recently restarted viola lessons), and crafting of all types. I share my life outside of the clinic with my husband, two children, two black labs, a tortie-cat named Penelope, and an orange tabby named Jaffacakes.Â
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 fiance, Carver, 2 kitty littermates, Ava and Kya, 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. Everyone at the clinic knows how I love fall and winter and celebrating the holidays. I collect snow globes and 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’ve had a love for animals since I was tiny. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have a pet. As I got older, my mom would tell me that I should find a job working at a vet clinic. I knew that I wanted to be a part of making a difference in people’s lives and I was very interested in the medical profession. My dad has always had a huge impact on my work ethic and views of the world, teaching me to just go for what you want even if you fail. So one day I was driving by Animal Care Clinic and said, “Why not?” I walked in and asked for a position. They weren’t hiring at the time, but I got the job as an assistant. Over time I increased my knowledge and skills and proudly became a Certified Veterinary Technician.
I am passionate about easing the stress of fearful animals when they come to the clinic. I try to make every visit a little better than the last, with the goal of making each experience the best we can offer to every patient and the family that loves them. I am also passionate about the euthanasia experience. It feels like I’m really making a difference for people and their pets when I can help make such a difficult time as peaceful as it can be by going beyond with the little things.
Outside of work, I love the outdoors – in the woods or on the river with my Shih Tzu, Nacho (I also have a grey tabby cat named Peanut). I love pigs, gardening, and going bowling with my family and friends. Cars are also a passion of mine – old cars, car shows, or drag racing all work for me!
I lived on a large property as a child and I remember that we had a lot of cats and wild animals around. From an early age I was interested in animals and thought I might want to become an entomologist. Later I realized that I loved larger creatures and animals became my favorite subject. I started my own pet sitting business at the age of 10 and continued with it until I was 20. Realizing that I wanted to further my education in animal medicine, I attended OSU to receive my degree in Biology. In 2022 I earned my degree in Veterinary Technology and became a Certified Veterinary Technician.
I am very interested in animal behavior. It’s something I would like to specialize in eventually. Behavior and physical health go head-in-hand and that relationship fascinates me. Behavior also has a huge impact on the human-animal bond and I want to help clients and their pets maintain that bond. I take pride in my work because I feel it reflects directly upon me and represents my dedication to improve myself. I want to provide the most positive experience possible for the animals that I care for.
Outside of work I enjoy painting, jewelry-making, and other crafting. I also play viola in my spare time. I feel most at peace in the forest. I have three cats, two girls and a boy, that I enjoy training and I hope to adopt a dog soon.
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 four 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 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 dog, Joey, my cat, Corn, and my bunny, Karen. Outside of work my favorite things to do are to go on walks with Joey, play cards with my grandpa, and just hang out with friends and family.
I also like naps. 😉
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! 🙂
Multiple zoo trips as a child launched my fascination with and love for all animals. I had a passion for marine biology and zoology throughout high school.
Loyalty, integrity, honesty, and kindness are the values that drive me in my personal life and in my work. I am passionate about helping people and their animals. I am always willing to be of service in any way that I can and I enjoy being able to use my customer service skills to assist clients in any way they need. I’m lucky that I also enjoy the challenge of the data and administration portion of my job – as veterinary medicine requires a lot of paperwork.
Outside of work, I enjoy reading and playing video games. I am interested in anthropology, marine biology, zoology, and criminal justice. I share my life with two cats, Gandalf and Luca.
In my childhood I was exposed to animals at a very young age. That and seeing animals in media prompted an instant obsession with the animal world. From a young age I made it my life’s goal to go into vet med and become a veterinarian.
I care so much about the well being and health of all beings. For me, I express this in my work by making sure each animal staying at the clinic gets the very best care I can give them. Animals deserve just as much respect, patience, and consideration as people, and I take pride in providing that in my work as a kennel attendant.
The part of the job that I find most rewarding is the physical care of the animals. I enjoy getting to know each one of our boarders and overnight patients. It is so fulfilling to help make sure they’re comfortable, take care of their physical necessities, and give them the love and reassurance they need while they’re away from their home and family. I’ve dreamt of working in a clinic setting my whole life so being able to work at ACC brings me so much joy.
Outside of work I am an absolute reptile person – but I love my dogs just as much! I have 5 pets: 2 lizards, 2 snakes, and a Mastiff. I am currently working towards vet school. I love snowboarding, scrapbooking, doll collecting, and hanging out with my family.
