Amanda joined SVA in 2019. She graduated from PIMA medical institute with her LVT. Amanda enjoys dogs, in particular, but has a healthy respect for our feline friends. She lives with a three legged dog named Bella who keeps her as busy as any 4 legged dog could.
April joined SVA in 1997 after earning her A.A. in Arts and Sciences and A.A. in Veterinary Technology at Pierce Community College. Outside the office, April makes glycerin soaps, salves, lip balms, and facial masks. She also enjoys gardening – growing Italian herbs, mostly – and spending time with her family.
Constance joined SVA originally in 1995 after graduating from Pierce Community College with an A.A. in Veterinary Technology in 1993. Her veterinary interests include dentistry and complementary therapies. Constance’s great love of animals has led to her owning a practical zoo over the years. She currently cares for, Scooby Duke IV the Great Dane, Lacey the cattle dog cross, Ragnar the German Shepherd, as well as (at least) four kitties named Mickey, Marbelous, Shikon, and Cheezy Puff. She also enjoys spending time with Shazam, her thoroughbred horse, and numerous chickens. As if that’s not enough, Constance also shares her home with Lizabeth the leopard gecko and her human family, too!
Emilie joined SVA in October of 2009 after earning her BA in Fine Arts from Seattle University and Associates degree in Veterinary Technology from Pierce College in 2009. Her Veterinary interests include pharmacology, pain management and Shar Pei specific conditions and maladies. When not at work, Emilie enjoys cooking, reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. Emilie also very much wishes to say: “Go Sounders!” Emilie lives with her rescued Shar Pei named Ling Ling who has a cute wrinkled face.
Julie joined SVA in 2010. She earned her Veterinary Technician License from Fort Steilacoom Community College with a degree in Animal Technology and got her LVT license in 1985. Julie enjoys all areas of Veterinary medicine and has a passion for working with geriatric pets. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, reading, world music, restoring furniture, and volunteering at Northwest Seaport. Julie is managed by two cats: Pippin a brown and white tabby, and Gusie, a smoke colored domestic medium hair. Both cats met her at the shelter and decided she could take them home. Sometimes they even let her sleep in the bed with them.
Lisa joined SVA in 1988. She holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of Michigan and has maintained a Washington LVT license from 1988 to the present. Lisa says veterinary anesthesia is especially interesting and challenging for her. “The options for care are always evolving, so there are a myriad of treatment options to keep abreast of. For each patient’s surgical or dental event, I focus on providing an experience that is as serene, comfortable and safe as possible.”
Since she is admittedly a bit hyperactive, Lisa enjoys working in a profession that requires physical and mental stamina. Outside the office Lisa prefers to be outdoors. Her favorite outdoor activities are cycling, sailing, hiking, skate skiing and skijoring with her sweet pointer mix, Lexie. When she gets some down time she can be found reading or studying a language.
Lisa joined SVA in 2008 as a Veterinary Assistant. Lisa earned her Veterinary Technology degree from Penn Foster University and became a Licensed Veterinary Technician in 2013. Lisa also holds a B.S. degree from Rochester Institute of Technology. In 2017 Lisa was the first SVA staff member to earn her Fear Free Certification is using that training to improve the lives of pets. Lisa is devoted fan of German Shepherd Dogs and currently acts as wrangler for her two amazing GSDs, Ryder and Senta.
Rachel joined SVA in April of 2018 after earning a BS in Biology at Pitzer College and subsequently receiving her Veterinary Technician License in 2017. Rachel’s veterinary interests include surgery and large-exotic-animal medicine. When she’s not at work, Rachel enjoys soccer, running, and anything that involves getting out in the sun. Rachel shares her life with two dogs: Dakota the Australian Shepherd and Bentley the Treeing Walker Coonhound.
Shawn joined SVA in April of 2021. She received her technician license in 2000, choosing to join the veterinary industry because she loves to help sick animals feel better and reassure their families. When she’s not at work she loves camping, traveling, and doing yoga. Shawn shares her home with three cats, Panda who is missing a front leg, Emmett who is missing a back leg, and Tessy, a former stray, who still has all her legs. Shawn is clearly the person to talk to about 3 legged cats!
Angelica joined SVA in March of 2021. She has a Bachelors degree in Wildlife Ecology and Management from Utah State University. She has big plans to continue her career working with animals and says “I love working with any animal, especially ‘exotics.’ I hope to become an LVT and then enter a graduate school program at UW to get a masters in wildlife or marine biology.” Angelica wants to work with wild animals both in academic and veterinary contexts. When she’s not at work she loves to spend time with her family and do outdoor activities, especially hiking. Despite her active lifestyle she also enjoys binge watching TV, listening to podcasts, and has an eclectic taste in music from Linkin Park to BTS. Angelica currently shares her life with three cats, two short hair and one long.
Ariel first joined SVA in 2007 as a client service representative (CSR) at our Ravenna Animal Hospital. At Ravenna Ariel became a very knowledgeable CSR and branched out in to working with the veterinary assistant (VA) team as needed. She moved out of the area and took a job as a veterinary assistant at another hospital before returning to the area and to SVA in 2009. Ariel became a sort of “jack-0f-all-trades” and worked in both the CSR and VA as a valued team member providing coverage at each of our 4 veterinary clinics bringing her great attitude with her. In 2019, she became one of two Call Center Coordinators who help to handle messages and prescriptions for all of our hospitals. Her specific veterinary interests revolve around veterinary imaging and surgical procedures because “being able to see the internal part of the body and then ‘fixing’ the problem is a huge advancement in taking care of peoples’ companions.” Ariel has an associates degree in General Education from Central Oregon Community College which plays into her love for her children and helping them grow up to be the best they can be. The family has two German Shepherd Dogs, Otis and Brodhi, a horse, and a few chickens.
Autumn joined SVA in early 2019. Her history of working in veterinary care and being involved in animal behavior (specifically working with large dogs with behavioral problems) has made her an awesome fit for our veterinary assistant team. When she’s not at work she is a typical Seattleite who enjoys camping, hiking, and just plain being outdoors. She currently shares her home with two very cool cats: Phillip J. Fry and Mugotu, as well as a blue nose pitbull named Monroe.
Bobby joined SVA in 2018 as a client service representative before becoming a veterinary assistant in 2019. Originally from Buffalo, NY, he fell in love with the PNW after visiting a friend and felt it was time for a change. His love of animals stems from a childhood full of many unique pets. He’s interested in veterinary medicine and animal behavior. In his spare time he enjoys hiking, snowboarding, and competitive video gaming. Bobby shares his home with two Border Collie mix dogs named Blue and Teddy, a Maine Coon named Henry, a Holland Lop named Adelade, a Crested Gecko named Bindi and a Ball Python named Asmodeus. It’s definitely a full house.
Emily joined SVA in August of 2019 as a client service representative. She considers herself an expert organizer and boasts “I can fold a fitted sheet REALLY well.” Her two favorite parts of the job are getting to work with animals and getting to learn about infectious diseases. When she’s not at work, she likes to spend time talking to her plants (and possibly rapping Ghetto Cowboy by Bone Thugs N’ Harmony– lyrics she knows by heart). When she was growing up she couldn’t decide whether she wanted to be a mermaid or a race car driver, so veterinary assistant seemed like a reasonable compromise. She shares her apartment with a very substantial cat named Maudie. Emily loves to announce Maudie’s entrance into the room like a WWE announcer welcoming “Maudie the Body” to the ring.
Emma joined SVA in June of 2019 after getting her B.S. in Physiology from Seattle Pacific University. Emma intends to apply to vet school in the near(ish) future. In the meantime, she spends her time away from work hiking, reading, and listening to podcasts. Emma currently shares her home with two kitties adopted from Homeward Pet: Maeve the calico and Smokey the tortoiseshell.
Ga-Wing joined SVA as a veterinary assistant in 2007 after earning a B.S. in Biology from the University of Washington. In 2019, she became one of two Call Center Coordinators who help to handle messages and prescriptions for all of our hospitals. Ga-Wing lives on a farm with at least one cat, and two dogs named Ruckus and Mossy, some chickens, and couple of pasture horses. She enjoys going to the mountains, traveling, playing sports, and spending time with family.
Janelle joined SVA in July of 2020. She is attending UW for a degree in Aquatics and Fisheries Science. One of the things she loves most about working in the veterinary field is just getting a wide range of experience. She intends to get her DVM and to open her own practice and shelter. When she’s not working to fulfill her goals at work she can be found hiking, playing soccer, swimming, jogging, or playing badminton. She currently shares her home with Kiwi the dog, Mochi and Boogie the cats, and numerous fish.
Katt joined SVA in February of 2014 after earning a BS in zoology from WSU, working with everything from capybara and waterbuck to elephants and tigers, but her biggest love is the Great Apes. She worked with chimpanzees and orangutans at a sanctuary in Florida that housed apes retired from acting, apes that had been kept as pets and also those that were discarded from circuses and laboratories. She actively works to educate the public against the use of palm oil (and the importance of obtaining it from sustainable sources) and against the use of great apes in movies and commercials.
Upon returning to the NW from Florida Katt spent a few years grooming dogs but eventually returned to working in the veterinary world with domestic pets and plans on getting her LVT in the next few years. She currently lives with her husband, a sweet three-legged mastiff named Misato (affectionally known as Misa) and her super ninja cat Killyjoy (who looks alarmingly like a black leopard).
In her spare time, of which there is little, Katt practices herbalism and makes several of her own medicinal and beauty products.
Krystal joined SVA in 2019 as a kennel assistant. She quickly proved to be more than up to the task and was promptly promoted to veterinary assistant. Krystal acts as servant and caretaker to a lovely brown and white tabby named Redwood whom she adopted from Seattle Humane.
Nicole joined SVA in 2008 after earning her B.A. in English Literature from St. Norbert College in Wisconsin. At work Nicole enjoys team-building exercises, training new veterinary assistants, and teaching and learning new low stress handling techniques. She also enjoys finding new ways to improve the veterinary experience for everyone from patient to client to coworkers. When she’s not at work she can be found reading, watching movies, cooking and sharing food with friends and family. She also loves to make her mixed breed dog Franks Red Hot (Sauce) go on brisk walks. Franks is more of a mosier who hates walking in the rain. Together they go to the dog park or the lake so Franks can fetch her Frisbee in the water. They also like to day hike around the local mountains or keep it low key and just sniff some butts at Green Lake.
Renick joined SVA in July of 2020. She is a student at SPU working toward a BS in Biology. Renick says she is “working toward becoming a veterinarian.” She grew up on a farm and loves animals so her goal just makes sense! When she’s not at work or school Renick does a lot of running, hiking and backpacking. She shares her home with Fiona a collie dog.
Annie joined SVA in July of 2019 after receiving their BA in Drama from UW. They’re new the veterinary field but has dreams of opening a feline/canine hospice and elderly care business. When they’re not devoting their time to animals at work they enjoy writing and producing music, contemplating conspiracy theories, and traveling. Annie’s companion is a 8 year old cat named Oscar.
Becky joined SVA in 1998 after studying History and English at North Seattle Community College after which she spent nearly 10 years working as a dog groomer where she cultivated and solidified her love of working with pets and their people. Becky’s main veterinary interest is improving the lives of pets by helping clients understand how to treat and prevent flea and parasite infestations. When she’s not helping keep pets healthy Becky can be found watching scary movies while cuddled up with her husband, mixed-breed dog Violet, and two cats who’ve moved in unexpectedly, named Topsy and Jax.
Gail joined SVA in 2018. She received a Bachelor of fine arts and painting. Gail loves interacting with people and meeting their pets. When she’s not at work, she enjoys painting and gardening. She is doting mother to an 8 year old Cairn Terrier named Skyler.
Hannah joined SVA in January of 2021. She got a degree in Audio Engineering from Shoreline Community College but when COVID struck there wasn’t a lot of call for audio engineering which gave her a chance to explore her love for working with animals. Hannah says “I have a deep love and connection to a wide variety of animals and strive to give them the best care possible.” We think that makes her fit in here very well. When she’s not working Hannah enjoys music, cooking, and of course snuggling with her 3 year old Pitbull/Mastiff mix dog named Wesley. We can’t help but wonder if he has eyes as blue as a sea after a storm.
Katherin joined SVA in March of 2021. She has an associates degree in Linguistics from North Seattle College. Katherin considers herself “semi-” multi-lingual with Spanish as her first language, English her second, and she “learned enough German in college to actually visit Germany a few years ago!” When she’s not answering client requests, Katherin says she is a movie buff. “I love movie trivia, 3 out of 5 of my tattoos are movie related.” In her free time she enjoys doing arts and crafts such as paint by numbers, perler beads, Lego architecture, and is currently trying her hand at cross-stitching.
Katherin shares her home with Nugget, an aptly named scruffy little min-pin mix who loves naps in the sunshine.
Mandi joined SVA during the eventful year of 2020. She has a BA in theater from Occidental College. Mandi finds her favorite parts of work are getting to bolster the relationship between people and their pets as well as helping people during difficult times. When she’s not at work she enjoys hiking, playwriting, and improve comedy. Her home is currently carefully monitored and controlled by two cats: Franklin and Rosie.
Heike joined SVA in 2020, stepping into her position just in time for the COVID-19 outbreak and all of the huge changes that came with it. She has a long history in veterinary medicine having worked every position in a veterinary clinic except as a doctor. Her amazing sense of humor, knowledge of veterinary medicine, and devotion to customer service has made her a perfect fit to help lead Seattle Veterinary Associates into its next 50 years.
JoAnne rejoined SVA in 2007, after a previous ten-year employment with the company. She earned her BS from the University of Washington, is a Notary Public, and belongs to the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers. She has one cat named Spurgey, who used to enjoy coming to work every day until he met the office dogs, and regularly volunteers for Seattle Area Feline Rescue. JoAnne enjoys spending time with her family and friends, antiquing, and knitting. Her husband will not let her knit anything for him, though. She’s a little miffed at that.
Kelly joined SVA in 2007 as a client service representative at Green Lake Animal Hospital. Kelly started her life surrounded by multiple pets (mostly cats) and remembers helping bathe dogs in her mother’s grooming shop as a child. It seemed only natural for her to continue working with animals as an adult. She loves to learn all the whats and whys of veterinary medicine and find ways to make that information useful and understandable to everyone. She’s also passionate improving the veterinary experience for pets. She’s very interested in visual arts (mainly photography) and finding ways to combine these things with her job. Kelly’s furry family includes Dache the Chihuahua, Cookie the Chihuahua, Millie the Dachshund, Roberto the terrified Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Matcha and Princess Meow Meow Buttercup the Lineolated parakeets, Briggie and Schooner the ducks, and Hildigaard, Gertrude, Doja, Aunt Tilly, and Tarka the chickens. She often finds herself with a lost waif who needs a soft place to land (which is where most of her pets come from) and is currently hoping a sweet Pomeranian will find its way to her door. Kelly occasionally volunteers for MEOW cat rescue in Kirkland mostly helping with their annual Feline and Fine Wines auction and Santa photos.
Summer joined SVA in 2007 after earning her A.A. from South Seattle Community College. When she’s not at work Summer loves gardening, and canning the harvest at the end of the season; spending time in the park with her husband, Bob, and their dog; razor clam digging out at the ocean; and spending time with family and friends. Summer’s home is shared with Bella, a lovely lab mix with pretty amber eyes.
Vicky joined SVA in 2001 after earning her B.A. in English from Washington State University. She enjoys painting, traveling, and seeing all the different animals that call Seattle home. She shares her home and office with Wren. They keep each other occupied and enjoy finding trouble to get into together.
