Meet Our Team

Our Awesome Team

Dr. Tonya Amiri, DVM
Born in Pittsburgh, PA, Dr. Amiri attended high school in Wadsworth, OH.  After spending a year abroad in Queensland, Australia, she attended George Mason University and graduated in 1991 with a bachelor of arts in English Literature and Philosophy, with a minor in creative writing.  After working in Washington, D.C. for the Carl Vogel Foundation, and later for the Wilderness Society, she returned to school to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine.  She graduated from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA.  Dr. Amiri's current interests include rescue, ultrasound, oncology, and internal medicine.  Her philosophy in medicine is to have open communication between herself and her clients in order to best protect their pet's health and allow them to make proactive, informed decisions.  Her hobbies outside of work include bike riding, reading and writing, and video games with her 3 kids.

Dr. Ashley Owens, DVM
Born in Richmond, VA, Dr. Owens grew up in Lynchburg, VA.  While an Army MP, she spent three years in Germany.  She returned home with two beautiful German Rottweilers, which she trained and showed in obedience and agility. She worked as a veterinary technician and groomer while studying at Virginia Commonwealth University, and was an instructor in dog obedience. She finished her undergraduate requirements at Lynchburg College and graduated from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.  She began her emergency medicine career in Charleston, WV before moving to the Atlanta area.  Here she has worked at Cobb Emergency Clinic in Marietta and the Animal Emergency Center of North Fulton in Roswell.  She has had a strong interest in behavior since her time as an obedience instructor.  After completing several continuing advanced education courses in behavior, she began seeing behavior cases and opened the Animal Behavior Center as part of Steeplechase Veterinary Hospital.  Her hobbies include Stephen King, scary TV shows, home improvement and carpentry, training her four dogs, and spending time with her family.

Pam and Richard Carlson

Dr. Amiri's parents are very active in the business.  When they aren't traveling, Pam is often found at the front desk handling phone calls; and Richard is our Practice Manager, handling the non-medical side of the business.  During Richard's 37-year career as an executive for an international, energy-services company, they lived in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Augusta, GA, and Tennessee before retiring in Cumming.  They have other daughters in Atlantic City, NJ and Providence, RI and a son in San Francisco, as well as 7 wonderful grandchildren.  

Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVT)

Shannon Collier, RVT

Shannon has been with us since May 2008.  She grew up in Roswell and spends her spare time training, riding, and showing horses.  Shannon is an RVT and  is now starting her studies to become a Veterinary Nutrition Technician as well.  She's a very relaxing person to be around, as she's also a certified massage therapist!  Shannon has  a very strong passion for animal welfare, which is combined in great harmony with very competent medical skills.

Shonda Hannah, RVT

Shonda has been with us since mid-November 2011.  She was born in Ohio but has lived in the Atlanta area for about 25 years.   Her energy and enthusiasm are quite contagious and show how much she loves her career in veterinary medicine.  Shonda got her start by working in a kennel.  Over the years, she "learned by doing;" and in 2008 she met the qualifications for a licensed Veterinary Technician.   When not working,  Shonda loves spending time with her family, outside enjoying the beauty of north Georgia. 

Veterinary Assistants/Receptionists

Penni Hudson

 Penni grew up in Alpharetta and joined our team in August 2007 as our first paid receptionist.  In over 20 years in veterinary medicine she too has done it all - kennels, training, grooming, front office, and assisting the doctor.  Besides loving to do anything with animals, she has an interest in arts and crafts.  Penni has been a keystone in our staff, knowing most of our clients and pets by sight.

Alexi Frey

Alexi was born and raised in New England and moved here from Rhode Island.  She has worked in veterinary hospitals for over 7 years and has fit in wonderfully with our staff since being hired in February 2009.  Alexi loves working with rescues as well as kayaking and travel.  Her upbeat personality and ridiculous work ethic have made her a welcome addition, although we think we need to work out how to bottle her energy and sell it

Brittney Ice

Brittney recently relocated into North Georgia frm New York State where she worked for two years as a veterinary technician assistant.  She got her start in the animal care industry by working in dressage stables and loves riding.  And Brittney has started her studies to become a RVT.  In the short time she has been with us, she has proven to be a great team player with lots of enthusiasm and a great positive attitude.   

Grooming

Casey Kinney

Before moving to the Cumming area, Casey grew up with many pets on a dairy farm in upstate New York where she showed Holstein's for about 10 years as a part of her 4-H activities.  Casey has been grooming for over 9 years after receiving her training at the Manhattan School of Dog Grooming.  When not working, she loves to hang with her husband, daughter and 3 German shepherds.  We are proud to have Casey as our lead groomer working three days per week at this time.

Turtle Jo Amiri-Owens, Master Groomer

Jo grew up in the South and started her veterinary medicine career as a Humane Society volunteer.  Now 21 years later, she has done it all -- worked kennels, obedience-trained and showed her dalmatians, and met the qualifications to  become both a Master Groomer and an RVT.   Jo has a gentle and calm presence that animals immediately sense.  She grooms on a limited schedule by appointment only.

Other Staff

Darby Slye, Kennel Attendant
Darby moved into the area from South Carolina to be near family and began working in our kennels in November 2010.  She has always had a great love for animals and has found her first job working with them to be very rewarding.  You may have noticed her recently assisting our medical staff in the Exam Rooms or retrieving your pet from the kennel area..

Taylor Greer, Kennel Attendant
Taylor is a senior at Forsyth Central High School and aspires to be a veterinary technician if she survives her passion for riding four wheelers.  But her first love is for animals.  She is extremely patient with them and relishes caring for them, traits that are important to her work in our kennels where she has worked since September 2008.

Tracey Carlson, Relief Receptionist
Tracy brings an experienced, calm presence to our front desk when the need arises.  She is a transplant from Connecticut who has worked many years at an Emergency Hospital in Roswell.  Now she spends most of her work days as a creative, professional seamstress.

Jenny Schneider, Training 

 Jenny and her husband own Camp Canine USA and conduct training classes in our Animal Behavior Center.  She teaches only dog-friendly, force-free methods based on positive reinforcement, using food & play as rewards.  Click here to transfer to her web site for more information.

Mary Chatfield, Bookkeeping

Mary was born and raised in Georgia.  After college graduation, she lived in Florida, Delaware, and Vienna, Austria before settling in Cumming.  About 20 years ago, Mary started her own business, At Your Service, which specializes in accounting and legal administrative services.