Nice to meet you

WE PUT THE ‘CARE’ IN CARETEAM!

We put the patients first!

Practice Administrator

Ed’s childhood dog, Murphy, made a permanent impression on him. He often felt that Murphy was the only one he could talk to, and he never took that for granted. Ed has always known that a career spent giving back to animals would suit him well! Now, he’s proud to serve as the Practice Administrator here at Animal Care Center.

Ed is originally from Fremont, California. He spent many years in retail management, and decided to try his hand in a different field that would still allow him to use his leadership and administrative skills. Veterinary medicine was the perfect fit! Ed knew of Dr. Remsen and the clinic’s excellent reputation in the community, and when the opportunity arose to join the team, he jumped at his chance. The rest is history! Ed has been a member of the hospital family since January of 2021.

Most of Ed’s free time away from work is spent with his family. He and his wife, Dani, have a young daughter named Sophie and also share their home with several pets. They have two beautiful Golden Retrievers, Phineas and Molly, as well as a Lynx Point cat named Sammie and a Maine Coon who goes by Judah.

Ed is an ordained minister and loves to preach and teach in various churches in the area. He’s written two books and is currently working on getting them published. He’s also a sports official and umpires baseball games whenever he gets the chance. He’s umpired all over the country, and was especially honored to officiate two innings behind the plate at Doubleday Field. Ed has even been inducted into the Youth Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York!

April

Licensed Veterinary Technician

When April was growing up, her family had several pets. Looking back, however, she doesn’t really recall ever bringing them to the vet. Back then, animals were treated just like that: animals. Now, as an adult and someone who works in the veterinary field, she finally understands the beauty of the human animal bond, and how these precious souls aren’t just pets – they’re family. Being able to care for them on a daily basis brings April tremendous joy.

Initially, April’s goal was to become a veterinarian. During her final semester of school, however, for a number of reasons, she decided to put that dream on hold. Thanks to her BS in Animal Science, and all the hours of experience she’d amassed in a veterinary hospital, she was able to easily pass the VTNE.

April has been a part of the Animal Care Center team since December of 2008. Professionally, she enjoys performing workups on patients and witnessing the recovery process. There’s nothing like being able to tell an owner that their beloved family member is going to be ok.

At home, April has two cats who are “nuts” – Pecan and Cashew. Pecan is very athletic and will only accept pats if and when she decides she’s ready. Cashew likes to grunt. You can always tell when she’s coming because she’s either meowing loudly or grunting. Both were adopted from the local SPCA within two weeks of one another.

In her spare time, April enjoys reading and watching true crime shows on the Discovery ID channel.

Cecelia

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Although she had enjoyed the company of animals since she was a little girl, Cecelia never considered working in veterinary medicine until she needed a job to support her young daughter. She thought that working in a vet’s office would be fun, so she signed up. Little did she know that it would ignite a life-long adoration for animal care and turn into a passionate and rewarding career!

Originally from Jaffrey, New Hampshire, Cecelia secured her first veterinary job in Reno, Nevada when her family veterinarian took on a business partner and needed extra help. She learned the profession from the ground up before transitioning to a clinic in San Pablo, California to become a surgeon’s assistant. After relocating to Indiana and beginning at another pet hospital there, Cecelia decided to advance her animal-care education and signed up for the veterinary technology program at Columbus Technical Institute (now known as Columbus State Community College).

Cecelia graduated magna cum laude in 1987, then spent the next eight years at a nearby veterinary hospital before getting married and moving to Michigan. After another eight years at a veterinary clinic there, she moved to northern Nevada, where she would spend the next 13 years caring for the area’s pets and developing a special interest in veterinary dentistry.

Cecelia joined the Animal Care Center family in the fall of 2015 after reconnecting with the hospital’s very own April, whom Cecelia had previously mentored during April’s education. Aside from her passion for veterinary dentistry, Cecelia enjoys educating clientele on the best possible care techniques for their pets and serving as an advocate for the all-important bond between humans and animals.

In her time away from work, Cecelia enjoys gardening, making fruit preserves, sewing, and serving as a Girl Scout troop leader. She and her husband, Ray, have three children and share their home with Cecelia’s mother, two dogs named Brooke and Dino, and a pair of recently adopted kittens named Percy and Wolfie.

Shelby

Veterinary Technician in Training

As a young girl growing up in a very small town, Shelby’s animals were always most important to her. At the age of seven, she started her own goat herd alongside her mother. When a baby goat she helped birth was born with a cleft palate, Shelby dedicated herself to researching and discovering ways to make life easier for the little one. It was this sweet goat, aptly named “Funny Face,” that ultimately inspired Shelby to spend her life caring for animals and finding innovative ways to solve their problems.

Shelby’s professional journey began as an intern at another local clinic. After not being able to attend technician classes due to life circumstances, she began to pursue her degree in animal science at the University of Nevada, Reno. Following a short break due to COVID, she returned to school and began looking for employment. Shelby joined the Animal Care Center in March of 2022, and has quickly become an integral member of the team. As a Veterinary Assistant, she gets the chance to do what she loves every single day while simultaneously learning about her future career.

Clinically, Shelby particularly enjoys assisting during surgery. Each case presents something different and there is always something to be learned about the procedure and the patient alike. She also has an affinity for working with geriatric patients, as she finds joy in discovering ways to help make their golden years as comfortable and blissful as possible. Most of all, she appreciates the opportunity to help those creatures who can’t speak find comfort and healing.

Outside of work, Shelby has carved out her own little slice of heaven on a small ranch, which she shares with her husband. There, they raise goats and are beginning a herd of beef cattle. The couple also has a multitude of pets, including five dogs and a cat. This ever-growing fur family includes a Border Collie/Great Pyrenees mix named Woodrow, whom Shelby adopted as a teenager; a Pitbull named Copenhagen, who is Woodrow’s best friend; two Australian Cattle dogs named Posie and Quincy; a Great Pyrenees named Scout, who is the primary guardian for the livestock; and a Siamese kitty who loves to lounge in the windowsill and growl at the door when people knock.

In her limited spare time, you can usually find Shelby with her favorite horse, Danny, pushing cows or practicing barrels for the summer rodeo season. Her most memorable rodeo moment was winning a gold buckle at a barrel race in 2020 after spending the majority of the previous year nursing Danny back to health after a sugar imbalance nearly destroyed his hooves and ability to walk.

Alyssa

Veterinary Assistant

The first time Alyssa pulled a lamb and helped it suckle, she knew she wanted to work in the veterinary field. Her interest in medicine, coupled with her deep-rooted desire to help animals made a career as a veterinary assistant the most logical path for her to follow. The rest, as they say, is history!

Alyssa began her hands-on experience working on a sheep and goat dairy and then spent 5-6 years working in veterinary practice. She joined Animal Care Center in August of 2022 and has quickly become an integral part of the team. Professionally, she has a special interest in wound management, because every case is different. She also enjoys working with behavioral cases and takes great pride in building trust with her patients.

At home, Alyssa lives with her husband, Russell, and their dinosaur-loving daughter, Vivian. Their animal family consists of an orange tabby cat named Merlin, who loves people and is leash-trained, as well as a variety of exotic critters, including snakes, chinchillas, ferrets and sugar gliders. In her spare time, Alyssa’s hobbies include playing video games, and mobile butchering.

Cayleigh

Veterinary Assistant

Cayleigh has owned pets ever since she can remember. Animal care has always been a part of life—why not help as many pets as possible, she thought, by working in the veterinary profession? Now Cayleigh is proud to do just that as a part of the Veterinary Assistant team here at Animal Care Center!

Cayleigh is originally from Simi Valley, California and also lived in Loveland, Colorado for a number of years before moving to Fernley. She joined the Animal Care Center family in February of 2021 and hasn’t looked back since. Cayleigh finds that she particularly likes helping out with dental procedures, and her favorite part of the job is getting to see pets leave the hospital happier and healthier than they were when they arrived.

In her spare time, Cayleigh likes gardening, reading, playing video games, tending to her fish tanks, and romping with her dogs. At home, she and her family have three Huskies—Koda, Harley, and Ruby—as well as a Blue Heeler named Kenai, a snake who goes by Kona, and four cats: Kitty, Toothless, Gizmo, and Kiki.

Haley

Veterinary Assistant

Haley used to have a Pit Bull named Bubba. He quickly became her best friend, and it was those experiences with her beloved dog that left her with no doubt: Haley wanted to do everything in her power to help all of the animals that she possibly could. That’s why she decided to join the world of veterinary medicine!

Originally from Santa Rosa, California, Haley first began volunteering here at the Animal Care Center for a few months before coming on as an employee. She’s been a member of the hospital family ever since December of 2019. Her favorite part of every shift is getting to meet and greet a variety of four-legged patients, and she’s also fond of keeping the hospital sparkling through her cleaning efforts.

Away from work, Haley likes softball, volleyball, and skateboarding.

Valene

Assistant Technician

While Valene has always loved animals, it wasn’t until she was working in home health care for humans that she was inspired to make a career out of it. One of her patients, whom Valene became incredibly close with, recognized the desire to work with pets and encouraged Valene to pursue her dreams. After that patient passed, Valene decided to honor her by applying for a job at a nearby vet clinic. After two weeks of persistence, she was hired as a kennel assistant, and the rest is history!

Never one to be complacent, Valene set to work learning as much as she could with the goal of climbing the ladder as quickly as possible. Following her initial role at a clinic in Paradise, CA, she moved on to work at a horse rescue ranch in Oroville. Shortly thereafter, she and her boyfriend relocated to Ashland, OR, where they lived on a cattle farm while Valene worked at a local vet clinic. During this time, she also volunteered at the Oregon Tiger Sanctuary. In late 2022, Valene and her boyfriend moved to Nevada to be closer to friends and family.

In January 2023, Valene joined the Animal Care Center team as an assistant technician. Professionally, she enjoys being around people who share the same interests as her – namely animals. She also loves communicating with clients about their pets’ health and wellbeing. Most of all, Valene appreciates the opportunity she has every day to nurture animals and help keep them in good health. She has now worked in the veterinary industry for 10 years and as a veterinary technician for the past 4 years!

At home, Valene has three fur babies of her own. Jax, the oldest pup of the bunch, loves to run, play ball, and swim. It took Valene all of 10 minutes to teach him how to get soda from the fridge. Jax’s brother Milo isn’t quite as quick on his feet. In fact, his only speed is doofy. Milo prefers to spend his time napping on the couch or watching Jax do marathons in the back yard. Then there’s Oco Loco Ohana Kitty Kitty Meow. (Yes… your read that correctly.) Oco Loco is a bit of a disgruntled teenager but is deeply loved despite her attitude.

James

Kennel Care Technician

Growing up on a farm in Western Pennsylvania, James found himself constantly surrounded by animals, from cattle and horses to pigs and other creatures of the wild. This experience, along with being active in 4H and FFA, fostered his deep respect for animals. It wasn’t until much later in life, however, that James would find himself working with them on a professional basis.

When James initially applied to work in our kennel, he did so to fill a void in his daily schedule. Simply put, he was looking for a part time job that would fit in with his regular volunteer and bowling activities. He quickly discovered, however, that being part of a dedicated team and interacting with animals was far more rewarding than he’d ever imagined.

Professionally, James really enjoys talking to our patients. As crazy as it may sound, he truly believe that animals understand that we are trying to comfort and help them. His biggest influence work-wise is Mouser, who faithfully greets him upon his arrival to the clinic. Of course, being fed is his primary motivation, but James kind of likes being depended upon, and sure doesn’t want to let that sweet kitty down.

Outside of work, James resides with his wife of 44 years, Judy. The couple have three daughters and five grandchildren. Their fur family consists of three cats: Crosby, Tony, and Breanna; and three dogs: Sampson, Riley, and Coco; all of whom were rescued from shelters and get along well with one another.

A retired US Navy Veteran, James’ main interests include bowling and working with animals. He regularly volunteers at a local shelter, walking and socializing dogs. He is also actively involved in several bowling leagues and participates in tournaments whenever he can. He and Judy have been blessed with a great church family that loves to give back to the community.

Chelsea

Client Care Specialist

As a Client Care Specialist, Chelsea loves to be the smiling face in the front office that greets all clients and patients. She cares deeply for the health and well-being of all and feels very compassionately when it comes to animals… she’s often a real “softy” as she refers to animals as family members that speak a different language. She enjoys being able to meet new people and furry friends.

Chelsea grew up in Montana and moved to Nevada in 2005. Although she had many cats in her household growing up, she was always more of a dog person. Chelsea currently has 1 dog named London that she adopted from the SPCA in Reno (who is 4-5 years old) and she has 2 snakes named Lucy and Stark.

Veronica

Client Care Specialist

When Veronica lost her childhood German Shepherd, Ramona, it made a permanent impression. She knew right away that she wanted to enter the world of animal care and help as many pets as she possibly could. Her dream never wavered. Veronica is proud to help pets and animal parents as a part of Animal Care Center’s Client Care Specialist team!

Veronica is originally from Oakland, California and attended Western Career College in San Leandro as a part of the veterinary office manager and technician program. After her schooling, she signed on at a practice in Alameda, California, then began working nights at another emergency hospital to gain crucial experience in critical care. Next, Veronica worked at a clinic in her hometown of Oakland before moving to this area to be closer to family. In November of 2020, she signed on here at Animal Care Center, and the rest is history!

In her spare time, Veronica likes cooking, crafting and making photo albums, and spending quality time with her family. She and her husband, Mark, have two grown sons, Manuel and Marcus, as well as three wonderful grandsons and a fourth grandbaby on the way very soon.

Meowser

Clinic Ambassador Cat

Meowser has always been a browser. His favorite pastime is eating. He is a big fan of chips, but if it’s a healthy snack, it’s a no-go.

Meowser showed up at an employee’s home as an intact, beat-up stray looking for affection and a home.

After fixing him up and vaccinating him, he stayed in the clinic and got his name because he was quite the meowing cat.

Now he roams the clinic with many jobs under his belt. He is the mascot, security, greeter, supervisor and a fearless protector.

He likes to be held like a baby or ride on your hip.

There are many people who want to keep him because he is a very mellow, social, and sweet cat.

We got lucky the day he showed up in 2017. Even though he’s opened and eaten lots of food in the clinic (he’s just testing it to make sure it’s up to standard), we are so happy to call him one of ours.

Meowser is loved by All.

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WE PUT THE ‘CARE’ IN CARETEAM!