Our Staff

Joanna, Practice Manager

Joanna began working at Animal Care Center in 2000 as a veterinary technician. She has a special interest in canine and feline behavior and before becoming manager at Best Care Animal Hospital she ran puppy kindergarten classes at Country Oaks Animal Hopsital for 5 years. Joanna also enjoyed teaching humans and pets how to overcome separation anxiety and fear-based behaviors through positive reinforcement and owner education.

These days she enjoys fostering a positive work environment for the team at Best Care Animal Hospital and providing continued education opportunities to all team members.

Joanna is married and has three wonderful children at home and one rescue dog named Coolee.

Laura, Assistant Manager

Laura’s been with us since 2007 and has been working her way up our ranks ever since. With 15 years of working with Animals, she started off as a Receptionist, moved to Lead Receptionist, and then took on the role of Assistant Manager. Laura loves puppies and can’t resist snuggling them, especially when they have puppy breath!

Laura was born and raised in Chicago and moved to Florida in 1994. Her family consists of 4 crazy dogs, 4 adult children, 2 daughters-in-law, and 3 adorable grandkids! Her family means everything to her, and her free time is often spent boating or hanging at the beach with her family.

Beata, Lead Veterinary Technician

Beata came to us from Hungary in 2001. Her four-legged family includes a French bulldog, two cats, two tortoises, and two turtles.

When she’s not at Best Care, tending to your pets, she can be found spending time with her family and relaxing at the beach. Her main professional interest is emergency medicine.

Lacey, Lead Technician

Lacey joined our team as a volunteer in 2014. When she graduated from SPC two years later, she became a technician here, and then, in 2020, having earned her CVT, she was promoted to lead technician.

Her furry family consists of Zeena, Dewey, Lydia, George, and Mikey, and, in her free time, she enjoys gardening. Her professional interests include dentistry and nurturing the human-animal bond.

Brooke, Veterinary Technician/Physical Therapy Technician

Brooke is a physical therapist here at Best Care Animal Hospital, where she’s been since 1999! She has 23 years of experience with animals and loves the bond that builds between her and her patients. Born in Indiana, she lived in the St. Petersburg area since the age of 10. Before her work with animals, Brooke received an MBA with an HR concentration, making her a fantastic people person. She is married with two sons, one stepdaughter, and one grandson, who she loves dearly. Brooke loves reading and hanging by the pool when she can escape from work for some R&R. Her favorite animal? Big, snuggly dogs!

Anna, Veterinary Technician

Anna’s impressive 18-year journey in the field started in the kennel before she became a skilled veterinary technician. She’s passionate about educating and empowering clients to provide the best care for their pets. Originally from Chicago, Anna now calls Florida home, along with her quirky dog Sushi, who she rescued from Best Care. Anna is a proud wife, mother, and grandmother who relishes traveling the world and spending time with her family at the beach—her happy place.

Ryan, Veterinary Technician

Ryan joined our team in 2018 fresh out of high school. He began his work here as a kennel attendant and was soon promoted to kennel lead. He became a vet tech in mid-2019 and has loved every minute of it. He’s returning to school soon to pursue his CVT.

A native Floridian, Ryan’s pets include Roxie and Torti. In his free time, he likes to tend to his aquarium and play guitar and video games.

Daisy

Daisy is a veterinary technician, and she’s been in the field for 24 years! She started working with us in 2016, and Daisy loves when we get to see a pet go home happy and healthy after treatment—it really makes it all worth it. She’s originally from Connecticut, but Daisy moved to Florida in 2006. She has three cats, three dogs, and one husband! If you spot Daisy on her time off, you will likely find her binge-watching true crime shows, attending horror conventions, or doing crafty activities like baking or sewing. If she had to choose a favorite animal, Daisy can’t help but love a wiener dog!

Alex, Veterinary Technician

Alex is a veterinary technician at BCAH—and has been with us for seven years. She joined our team in April 2015 as started as a tech assistant, and has risen the ranks to become a full vet tech. Alex is Florida born and raised and has created a home that has quite a few animal companions. She has 4 dogs and 3 cats, as well as 4 ducks who lay eggs, and 2 silky chickens! It’s a madhouse! When Alex isn’t hard at work, she loves tending to her mini farm.

Felicia, Certified Veterinary Technician

Felicia joined our team in 2019 as a graduate of St. Petersburg College’s Veterinary Technology Center. She has always had a passion for animals and is grateful that her job at Best Care gives her the opportunity to put that passion to good use and expand on her skills. She has a special interest in lab work and works for idexx laboratories. She is trained in parasitology and chemistry, and she loves to further her skills by attending continuing education courses. Her furry family includes Virginia, Maia, Athena, Jade, Tornado, and Charles. In her spare time, Felicia likes to hike, shop, and visit different theme parks.

Joanna, Certified Veterinary Technician

Jo has been with us since 2016 and has been in the industry for 7 years. She started as a tech assistant and worked her way up to vet tech. In addition to her veterinary experience, Jo is a Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) and graduated from St. Petersburg College’s Veterinary Technology Center.

Her furry family consists of two loving pitties named Jasmine and Nova. She is married with three kids and loves spending time with her family, playing with her pets, and going to the beach.

Chelsie, Veterinary Technician

Chelsie is one of our talented vet techs at BCAH, and has been working in the field (and with us) since 2017. She started as a kennel tech, but soon moved into the vet tech role. Chelsie’s favorite part of this work is getting the chance to make a difference and potentially save a life. Chelsie was born in Kansas and moved to Florida in 2017 to be closer to her mother. At home, her animal family consists of 4 cats and one lizard, who are all very spoiled!

Lilly, Veterinary Technician

Lilly joined our team as an animal care attendant in 2019. She then asked to be promoted to Veterinary Technician Assistant so that she would be able to expand on her passions of pet care and client education. Her main professional interest is preventative care.

Lilly loves spending time with her furry family, which includes Zack, Sam, Bruiser, and Diesel. In her free time, you can find her horseback riding and hanging out with her pets.

Gary, Veterinary Technician

We are so happy to have Gary as a member of our team! He began working with us in 2020 as a kennel attendant and worked his way up to Vet Tech. Gary’s favorite thing about working here is that there is always something new to learn. Gary was born and raised in Tampa, Florida, and has two cats and a dog of his own. In his spare time, he enjoys golfing and getting outside with his dog.

Megan, Veterinary Technician

Megan is a vet tech at Best Care Animal Hospital and has been working with us since 2014. She started off in the kennel and has worked her way to vet tech. Megan’s passion for patient care is what keeps her going day after day. She has three dogs—Mason, Scrappy, and Luna. She also has two chameleons and a bearded dragon. Megan loves reptiles of all sorts! When not working, Megan loves spending time outdoors with her family or 4-wheeling with friends.

Sandra, Veterinary Technician

Sandra originally hails from Virginia and moved to Florida in 2018. She works at BCAH as a vet tech and has worked in the veterinary field for 9 years! She came to BCAH in 2018, and her favorite part of her job is helping her patients feel better so they can get back home. In her spare time, Sandra loves exploring the outdoors and kayaking, or cozying up inside and bingeing shows or playing video games. She has 2 kitties, but has a sweet spot for Dophins because they are incredibly intelligent creatures who are also playful and friendly.

Mikayla, Veterinary Technician

Mikayla has been a dedicated veterinary technician at Best Care since 2015 and is currently pursuing her CVT. She thrives on the continuous growth and learning opportunities the field offers. A lifelong Floridian, Mikayla shares her life with her fiancé, partner of 8 years, and their rambunctious 2-year-old son Grayson. Her home is also filled with a menagerie of loving rescue pets. In her spare time, she captures life’s moments through lifestyle and portrait photography. As head of our adoption program, Mikayla delights in finding the perfect forever homes for our furry friends.

Katie, Veterinary Technician Assistant

Katie came to Best Care May of 2017. She started as our client care coordinator, she showed a special interest in the medical aspect and is also going to school to be a veterinary technician so she was moved into the technician area. Katie helps with our adoption program and is in charge of making sure all our kitties go onto our Petfinder account. Katie has a strong interest in our adoption program and has helped adopt out many kitties to their furever homes.

Kaitlyn, Veterinary Technician Assistant

Kaitlyn is our vet tech assistant, and has been working with us since the fall of 2021. She’s a Florida girl through and through, having grown up here her whole life. When she isn’t working, Kaitlyn spends her time studying for her veterinary technician degree that she is working on at Saint Peters College. Kaitlyn is thrilled to have found a career that combines her love for animals with her passion for tech. She is close with her family, and is loving being a new Aunt to baby Aurora. Her animals are her children, so she cries when she has to leave them for work! But she loves what she does here at Best Care because it means she gets to be with animals every day!

Amber, Veterinary Technician Assistant

Amber is a tech assistant with six months of experience working in the veterinary field. She began her career with us in 2022, and is currently working on earning her CVT license and is enrolled in the St. Petersburg College Vet Tech program. She loves animals, so it’s no surprise that she decided to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. Born in New York, Amber moved to Florida in 2002. She has two cats, Melvin and Sully, who are both orange tabbies. Sully was a foster failure, and is now VERY loved! Her other interests include reading, jigsaw puzzles, and listening to music. In addition to working at a vet office, Amber also works at an animal shelter where she fosters kittens.

Ariya, Veterinary Technician Assistant

Ariya is one of our Technician Assistants. She joined the Best Care team in
May 2022, and has been working in the vet field for four years. Originally from Florida, she moved out of state briefly, but couldn’t stay away for long. Ariya is currently pursuing her degree, has a huge loving family, and loves to paint in her spare time!

Ashley, Lead Receptionist

Ashley has worked in the vet field for 8 years and has been helping our clients since 2015. She loves helping our clients and their beloved fur babies! She has a 13 year old chocolate lab, and a daughter who is 8 years old. She enjoys attending Lightning games in her spare time, going to the beach, and spending time with her family.

Anthony, Lead receptionist

Anthony became our receptionist extraordinaire in 2012. He has a dog named Chance and a cat named Theo at home, as well as a beautiful family that gives him joy and purpose.

His favorite part of his job is working with a team of fellow animal lovers. When he’s not at Best Care interacting with clients and patients, he loves listening to music, cooking, and spending time outdoors.

Kathy, Receptionist

Kathy is the receptionist at Best Care Animal Hospital and has worked in the veterinary field for over 35 years! We are so lucky to have her, and she has been a valued member of our team since 2019. Before she was greeting our clients with a smiling face at the front desk, her previous career was as a certified vet tech! She’s lived all over: before moving to Florida, she lived in Massachusetts and Virginia. Kathy’s beloved pets are Minnie and Cooper, her Chihuahua mix, and Jack Russel Terrier mix. They’re quite the pair! Her other furry family member is Chessie, their long haired cat. Whenever she can, you will find Kathy riding her horse Lily, who has come out on top after a long stint in the hospital.

Mark, Receptionist

Mark is our receptionist, and he’s been with us since April 2022. He loves working with animals and moved to Florida just over a year ago after living in Pittsburg his whole life. He has 2 tarantulas, a turtle, a tortoise, and 5 snakes as pets, but his free time hobbies are gaming, snorkeling, gardening, and breeding snakes. He also enjoys roller skating!

Victor, Receptionist

With 4 months of experience in the animal care field, Victor came onboard in 2022. Victor is a born animal lover. He was born in Kentucky and moved to Florida at age 8, and has been around animals his whole life. His furry best friend is a pitty named Whiskey. Whiskey is just as sweet as can be, and loves to snuggle. Victor is one of four children, and a first generation American! In his free time Victor enjoys roller skating and listening to music.

Millie, Pet Stylist

Millie is Best Care Animal Hospital’s Pet Stylist and has been for the past 19 years! Millie works in every aspect of veterinary medicine, she works as a receptionist and animal care attendant.

Millie has been called the “shear whisperer” by some of her clients because their dogs and cats look so beautiful when they go home. Millie is one of the few groomers that will style cats. Cats can be difficult to groom, but Millie has a way with her cat clients, a calming effect. Her “spa” guests go home feeling refreshed and clean.

In her free time, Millie enjoys cooking very much and has made some amazing dishes for company functions.

Melissa, Pet Stylist Assistant

With nearly two years of experience, Melissa began her journey as a kennel attendant and is currently enrolled in grooming school. Her favorite aspect of the role is keeping our furry friends healthy and well-groomed. A Florida resident since the age of 10, Melissa shares her home with a lovable Australian Shepherd and a sweet rescue mix adopted from our hospital. On her days off, she enjoys sleeping in, watching TV, and expressing her creativity through painting.

Alisha, Animal Care Attendant

Alisha joined the Best Care team in 2022 after completing an online vet assistant program and earning a BA in Biology. She finds joy in offering pets a second chance at life. Alisha shares her home with Thad, her 8-year-old dog, while her dad in Alaska takes care of her two ferrets and a leopard gecko. When she’s not busy caring for animals, Alisha loves indulging in arts and crafts, staying active, and spending quality time with Thad.

Gabby, Animal Care Attendant

Gabby has always called Florida home, and her love for animals led her to join our practice in 2022. She is committed to giving animals a fresh start at a healthy, happy life. Gabby’s family includes two cats, one dog, and her loving parents and sister. A self-proclaimed sloth enthusiast, Gabby enjoys playing Uno, listening to music, and immersing herself in video games during her free time.

– In Memory Of – Highway

Highway was our “house cat.” He lived at Best Care for 10 years. He has made his home in Joanna’s office and was affectionately called the assistant manager. Highway had a disability but you would never have known. A car accident left him with only two front legs. Even though he only had two legs, he “ran” around Best Care as if he owned the place, which in his mind he did! The Best Care Family lost Highway June of 2018 to an illness. It broke everyone’s heart but we were so glad to have had him in our lives.

Tibby

Tibby is our fiesty little house cat. Tibby has lived at Best Care since she was 8 weeks old. She can to us as a stray and had visible deformities in both of her rear legs. She still had limited use of her rear legs but was unable to walk normally. She has come so far since the first day she came to Best Care! Dr. Channell and Dr. Parenton diagnosed Tibby with Tibial agenesis. This disorder is when the bones in an animal rear legs do not form or do not grow properly. In Tibby’s case her Tibia bones did not develop at all. But that does not stop her from jumping and racing around the hospital. She lives in Joanna’s office and has her own stroller that she sits in and is able to go and be with the technicians in the treatment area.