Our Staff

You may not realize how many individuals are involved and the different roles each plays in the care of a patient at Towne & Country Veterinary Hospital.  The staff is comprised of veterinarians, veterinary technicians and assistants, kennel and facility supervisors, scheduling coordinators (a.k.a. receptionists), an office manager, and practice manager. Many of these individuals have been with us since our early days as Lewis Veterinary Hospital and each fills an important role in the care of your pet. Regardless of how long they have been with our staff, every person has chosen to work in this profession because of their love of animals, desire to alleviate animal suffering, and dedication to the human animal bond.

THE VETERINARIANS
The DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) degree starts with 3-4 years of undergraduate college.  With these credentials behind him or her, an applicant must then be accepted into a veterinary college for an additional 4 years of schooling and pass the licensing exams.  Board certification and PhD titles are granted to those individuals who pursue further training and thesis work.   To meet the needs of our patients our office staffs four to five of these very dedicated individuals.  Each doctor, though schooled to treat all animals, has chosen small animal medicine and surgery. Even then individual doctors have chosen certain aspects of medicine of particular interest to them.

Ann M. Freer Cary, DVM Cornell University DVM degree 1982 TCVH staff veterinarian since 1982                                                Interests: Cardiology, Surgery, Orthopedics	Ryane Englar, DVM Cornell University DVM degree 2008 TCVH staff veterinarian since 2009                                     Interests: Feline Medicine
Michael F. Cary, DVM Cornell University DVM degree 1982 TCVH staff veterinarian since 1983                                     Interests: Exotics, Reproduction, Acupuncture & Alternative Medicine	Michelle Warren, DVM The Ohio State University DVM degree 1999 TCVH staff veterinarian since 2003                                                 Interests: Preventative Medicine, Behavior
Sara Childs-Sanford, DVM, MS, DACZM Cornell University DVM degree 1999 Cornell University Zoology residency 2002-2005                      Board Certified American College of Zoological Medicine 2006      TCVH staff veterinarian since 2009                                                Interests:  Exclusive exotics (birds, small mammals, reptiles...)	Tracy Young, DVM University of Davis, California DVM degree 2007 TCVH staff veterinarian since 2009                                                 Interests:  Preventative and Internal Medicine

THE TECHNICIANS
Veterinary technicians attend at least two years of education in an accredited  veterinary technician program and take state licensing exams to earn the LVT (licensed veterinary technician) suffix after their names.  The additional knowledge and skills obtained to become an LVT  allow them to assist the veterinarians with providing the best care possible for your pet.  An LVT is a combination anaesthesiologist, phlebotomist, radiography technician, operating room nurse, laboratory technician, dental hygienist, and RN.  With the aid of veterinary assistants, they perform the majority of diagnostic tests and treatments (no surgery) requested by the veterinarians for our furred, feathered, and scaled friends.

Rhoda Lewis, LVT                                        Harcum College Veterinary Technology                      TCVH staff LVT since 1983	Crystal Payne, LVT                                           Delhi  State University Veterinary Technology             TCVH staff LVT since 2004
Cindy Cassetta, LVT                                            Delhi State University Veterinary Technology              TCVH staff LVT since 2008	Cheri Erwin, LVT                                             Alfred State University Veterinary Technology             TCVH staff LVT since 2009

THE ANIMAL CARETAKERS

  These are the people who insure your pet has a clean blanket, a fresh bowl of water, and promises your pet that they will get something special from the "kitchen" once their doctor says it's okay.  They also provide a fresh litterbox, a visit to that special tree outside when the need arises, and clean up when accidents occur.  Sweep and mop and scrub and restock; if you are impressed by the clean, odor-free hospital your pet visits, these are the people to praise.

ADMINISTRATION

Finally there's those unsung heroes who pay the bills, order the supplies, see the sales reps, balance the check book, call the repair man, file the paperwork (where it can be retrieved if needed), pay the staff, keep the records for the taxman, labor department, licensing bureaus, ...