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Meet The Veterinarians & Veterinary Staff
Leslie Angus, DVM
Dr. Angus was born and raised in New Mexico. She attended New Mexico State University where she played and eventually helped coach the women’s softball team. Dr. Angus obtained her veterinary degree from Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine and upon graduation she promptly left 8 months of snow for the year-round sun of Los Angeles, California. She joined a 24-hour hospital in L.A. and worked the emergency shift for 7 years before returning to New Mexico to manage the emergency clinic in Albuquerque. She then returned to California to join PetCare Veterinary Hospital, where she has been practicing emergency medicine and critical care.
Kristy Bowles, DVM
Dr. Bowles grew up in Mt. Shasta, CA. She earned a BS in biology from Sonoma State University and her DVM from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Bowles started working as a veterinary technician at 16 years of age in a mixed animal practice. Prior to earning her veterinary degree at UC Davis, Dr. Bowles worked at PetCare as a nurse. She enjoys spending time with her boyfriend and their dog, Jilly Bean and cat, Thomas. Dr. Bowles professional interests include emergency medicine, small animal surgery and ophthalmology. Her hobbies include hiking, horseback riding, wakeboarding, camping, snowboarding, skiing, golfing and basically anything outdoors.
Roger A. Bradley, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM
Dr. Bradley grew up on a ranch in Kansas and worked at his father’s veterinary hospital in the nearby town. He graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor of science and a doctor of veterinary medicine degree. After an internship in New York City at the prestigious Animal Medical Center, he moved to Davis, California, where he completed a residency in internal medicine at UC Davis. Dr. Bradley is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. He practiced in Santa Cruz, Los Gatos, and San Jose before co-founding PetCare Veterinary Hospital.
Dr. Bradley has two children, two big dogs, one calico cat, and two hamsters. He enjoys golf, soccer, mountain biking, and fly fishing,
Kristin Conover, DVM
Dr. Conover grew up in Sebastopol, CA. She earned her BS in Animal Science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Dr. Conover earned her DVM from Western University of Health Sciences School of Veterinary Medicine. She was very involved in the Animal Science program at Cal Poly where she managed the entire Cal Poly equine breeding operation. During vet school, Dr. Conover volunteered her services on veterinary mission trips spaying, neutering, and vaccinating pets of the Havasupai tribe in the Grand Canyon.
Dr. Conover enjoys ophthalmology, internal medicine and general practice. She enjoys traveling, hiking, boating, and relaxing with her friends and family. She lives in Sebastopol with her two rescue dogs, a dachshund mix named Frankie and a springer spaniel mix named Charlie.
Grace Davainis, DVM
Dr. Davainis was born in Tennessee and was raised in Petaluma, California. She received a bachelor’s degree with departmental honors from Oklahoma State University and graduated Magna Cum Laude from The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Davainis completed an internship at North Carolina State University and was voted Intern of the Year. Dr. Davainis has authored and published several articles and has a special interest in cardiology and critical care.
Dr. Davainis lives with her husband, Nicholas (another PetCare doctor), their three children, one cat, and two black Labs. She enjoys hiking, biking, skiing, and sailing.
Nicholas Davainis, DVM
Dr. Davainis grew up in Corte Madera, California. He received his bachelor’s degree from UC Davis and his veterinary degree with honors from Oklahoma State University. Dr. Davainis was staff emergency clinician for 4 years at MedVet in Ohio (the largest emergency and specialty care hospital in the Midwest), and then practiced general medicine at a 24-hour practice in North Carolina prior to joining PetCare. Dr. Davainis has a special interest in surgery.
Dr. Davainis lives with his wife, Grace (another PetCare doctor), their three children, one cat, and two black Labs. He enjoys many outdoor activities (biking, hiking, skiing, and sailing) and is especially passionate about windsurfing.
Autumn Davidson, DVM, MS, Diplomate DACVIM
Dr. Davidson obtained her BS and MS at the University of California, Berkeley, with an emphasis in wildlife ecology and management. She is a graduate of the School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis. She completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Texas A&M University and a residency in small animal internal medicine at UC Davis. She became board certified in internal medicine in 1992. Dr. Davidson is a clinical professor at the School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis in the department of medicine and epidemiology. She specializes in small animal theriogenology (reproduction), teaching veterinary students in their senior year. Additionally, Dr. Davidson now practices at PetCare, where she receives both internal medicine and reproduction cases. Dr. Davidson works with the Smithsonian National Zoo on projects involving cheetahs, pandas, and lemurs. She owns three Labrador retrievers and a border collie. Her hobbies include retriever trials, herding trials, Latin dance, and photography.
Ravinder S. Dhaliwal, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), DABVP (Canine and Feline)
Dr. Dhaliwal completed his residency and master’s degree training at the University of Illinois and achieved board certification with the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Oncology) in 1998. In 2002, he received diplomat status by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Canine and Feline). Dr. Dhaliwal has authored or coauthored 23 peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts and several book chapters and has lectured at many professional meetings.
Dr. Dhaliwal is an experienced clinician with special oncology interests related to drug resistance in canine lymphoma and improving clinical outcome for patients with oral cancer. He has additional interest in treating endocrine related neoplasia and hematological disorders.
Dr. Dhaliwal was raised with many pets and farm animals. Becoming a veterinarian and helping companion animals and their owners has fulfilled a dream of his grandparents. During his time away from work, he enjoys hiking, skiing, sightseeing, and other outdoor activities.
Brianne Gessen, DVM
Dr. Gessen was born and raised by the beach in the West Los Angeles area. She graduated from UC Davis Veterinary School. Bree was active in the feral cat spay and neuter programs while at school, as well a variety of school clubs. She has since relocated to Santa Rosa with her two brindle mutts, Mugsy and Sandy.
Year round Bree enjoys keeping her dogs busy with a variety of outdoor adventures from hiking to romping on the beach, or simply playing anywhere they can be off leash. During the winter months Bree can be found hitting the slopes on her snowboard in the local mountains. And yes, the brindles also love to play in the snow!
Clare Gregory, DVM, Diplomate ACVS
Dr. Gregory was born in New Berlin, New York, and was raised on a small dairy farm near Cooperstown. He joined PetCare Veterinary Hospital surgical group from UC Davis, where he taught for 24 years, 10 of which he served as chief of small animal surgical services. Dr. Gregory is world renowned for his contribution to veterinary soft tissue surgery, including the pioneering of renal transplantation in dogs and cats. In addition to being a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, he is also a member of the Transplantation Society and the American Society of Transplantation. His surgical interests include cardiothoracic and vascular surgery, hepatobilliary, renal/urogenital, upper airway surgeries, surgical oncology, and correction of cranial cruciate rupture, medial patella luxation, and fracture repair.
During his free time, Dr. Gregory enjoys equine eventing, equine stadium jumping, and bicycle touring.
Hal Hawkins, DVM
Dr. Hawkins was born and raised in Bartow, Florida. He earned his bachelor’s degree in animal science and his degree in veterinary medicine at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Though Dr. Hawkins has special interests in internal medicine, cardiology, and surgery, he most enjoys meeting clients and the opportunity to foster the human–animal bond.
Dr. Hawkins’s hobbies include camping, hiking, vegetable gardening, barbecuing, and spending time outdoors with his wife, Mary. A farmer at heart, he manages several small family-owned citrus groves in his spare time. He and his wife are enjoying their new daughter Maeve, and spending time with their dogs Annie McMuffin and Bruno, and their cat, Rod.
Kim Henry, DVM
Dr. Henry was raised in Delaware and earned her BS in animal science from Cornell University. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania College of Veterinary Medicine in 1992 before moving to Los Angeles, where she worked at McClave Veterinary Hospital, a large 24-hour practice. She joined the team at PetCare in 1997 and has been an integral part of the hospital’s development. She has a special interest in emergency medicine. Dr. Henry lives in Santa Rosa. She enjoys spending time with her family, running, and traveling.
Beth Kenyon, DVM
Dr. Kenyon received her bachelor’s degree from UC Davis and went on to graduate from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Kenyon joined PetCare after completing a 1-year internship at the Veterinary Medical and Surgical Group in Ventura. Dr. Kenyon has a special interest in feline medicine and is very active with community cat rescue. In her free time, she enjoys reading, sewing, and craft projects.
Erica Koski, DVM
Dr. Koski was born and raised in the San Francisco East Bay. At 3 years of age, she began telling everyone that she would be a veterinarian when she grew up. She received a B.S. in Animal Science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and her DVM from UC Davis. Prior to veterinary school, Erica worked full time as a registered veterinary technician in the East Bay. Her professional interests are in general and emergency medicine as well as surgery. Erica enjoys spending her free time with her family and her cat Hunter. Her hobbies include hiking, cycling, reading, and dance.
E. Freya Kruger, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM
Dr. Kruger grew up in the central valley of California and spent much of her youth raising and showing Quarter horses and Holstein replacement heifers. She obtained her bachelor’s degree with honors in animal science from California Polytechnic State University and then went on to obtain a master’s degree with honors from Mississippi State University in veterinary medical sciences, where she was awarded the outstanding graduate student research award. She attended UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 2006.
Dr. Kruger then traveled to Florida where she completed a small animal rotating internship at the University of Florida and followed that with a residency in small animal internal medicine at UC Davis from 2007–2010.
Her professional interests include immune-mediated disease, liver and gastrointestinal disease, urinary tract diseases, and interventional radiology.
Dr. Kruger usually spends her free time with her two small, active dogs. She enjoys hiking, cycling, and golfing in the summer and snowboarding in the winter. She also enjoys traveling and has an extensive list of new places she would like to visit.
Vanessa Lanzetti, DVM
Dr. Lanzetti was born and raised by the beach in Brick, NJ. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science at the University of Delaware and her veterinary degree at Cornell University. Her professional interests include surgery and general medicine. She currently lives in Santa Rosa with her cat Marley and is enjoying exploring Sonoma County. In her free time, Dr. Lanzetti enjoys running, hiking, yoga, traveling, and cooking.
Matt Owens, DVM
Dr. Owens was raised in southern California and worked as veterinary assistant throughout all of his high school and college years.
He attended UC Davis and acquired a bachelor's degree in animal science. During his time at Davis, he worked as an emergency nurse at a Mueller Pet Medical Center (a 24-hour veterinary hospital) and gained extensive experience in emergency veterinary medicine.
Dr. Owens received his DVM from UC Davis and was recently honored with the American College of Veterinary Radiology Excellence in Clinical Radiology award. In addition to emergency medicine, Dr Owens’ professional interests also include surgery and general practice.
Dr. Owens lives in Forestville with his two cats (Sprite and Toast). In his free time, he enjoys watching The Office, exploring northern California, pursuing his interests in information technology, working on cars, and playing golf.
Lisa Pesch, DVM
Dr. Pesch received her DVM with Thesis degree in 1996 from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. She has been certified by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society since 1997 and worked with and studied under Cheryl Schwartz, DVM. She completed the Options for Animals course in Animal Chiropractic in 2001. She completed Dr. Richard Pitcairn’s Professional Course in Veterinary Homeopathy in 2000 and his advanced course in 2004. She is currently an instructor for his professional course. She has studied psychomotor therapy since 1999.
Dr. Pesch is currently an instructor for the Santa Rosa Junior College’s Registered Veterinary Technician Program. She also offers volunteer services for the Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue. Dr. Pesch has been a board member for the Redwood Empire Veterinary Medical Association since 2009, and is currently also a member of the Board of Governors for the California Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Pesch enjoys hiking, tap dancing, painting, singing and playing cello during her non-veterinary hours.
G.G. Comet Riggs, DVM
Dr. Comet Riggs grew up in Roseburg, Oregon. There she raised and showed rabbits, guinea pigs, pigeons, and poultry with her local 4-H club for 9 years. She earned a BS in Animal Science from the University of California Davis and her DVM from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Prior to earning her veterinary degree, Dr. Riggs has worked with the elderly as a certified nurse assistant in Oregon and worked as a veterinary technician in Texas. Dr. Riggs’s professional interests include exotic animal medicine, surgery, small animal medicine, and dentistry. She enjoys hiking with her boyfriend and her dog Jake. Her two cats, Mishka and Hobbs, have been taught to sit and shake for their meals and her rabbit comes when called. Dr. Riggs enjoys singing and has even won a beauty pageant and tried out for American Idol. In her free time she enjoys the outdoors and spending time with family.
Cathy Robello, DVM
Dr. Robello grew up in the Los Angeles area. She received her bachelor’s degree from the Occidental College in L.A., and received her master’s and veterinary degrees from UC Davis. Dr. Robello completed a non-traditional internship at Oak Meadow Veterinary Hospital in Los Gatos and was a resident in intensive care, anesthesia, and critical care at Georgia State University’s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Dr. Robello has a special interest in feline medicine, trauma, and critical care.
Dr. Robello lives in Santa Rosa with her husband, Gil (a founder of PetCare and one of our veterinary surgeons), their three children, three cats, and three dogs. Dr. Robello enjoys raising her children and has an interest in photography.
Gil Robello, DVM, Diplomate ACVS, MS
Dr. Robello was born and raised in San Pedro, California. He received his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from UC Davis and then completed an internship at the Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital. After working in private practice in the San Jose area, Dr. Robello continued his training by completing a surgical residency at the University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, where he graduated with honors and also earned a masters of science degree in anatomy and radiology. He is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Dr. Robello lives in Santa Rosa with his wife, Cathy (another PetCare veterinarian), and is a co-founder of PetCare Veterinary Hospital. The Robellos have two sons and a daughter, as well as three dogs and three cats. Dr. Robello is an avid golfer and also enjoys fly fishing.
Rhonda Savage, DVM
Dr. Savage was born and raised in North Carolina. She joined the Air Force in order to experience life beyond the confines of the south and explore college options. While traveling, she obtained a degree in business management, learned to speak German, lived in Greece for 3 years, and fell in love with both science and California. Dr. Savage received her BS degree with highest honors in biochemistry from UC Davis. She graduated from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 2000 and went on to perform an internship at Tufts University in Massachusetts in emergency and general medicine. Upon returning to California, she worked as a general practitioner in both Mendocino and Marin counties before joining PetCare in 2008. She loves geriatric patients, preventive medicine, and managing general medicine cases.
Dr. Savage lives in Windsor with her husband, two boys, two cats, a dog, and multiple fish. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, jogging, reading, wine tasting, and good food.
Nealy Shvil, DVM
Dr. Shvil was born and raised in San Diego. She received her undergraduate education in biology from the UC San Diego before attending UC Davis Veterinary School. While in veterinary school, Dr. Shvil enjoyed traveling abroad to participate in free spay, neuter and vaccine clinics. Her professional interests include emergency medicine, internal medicine and the human animal bond. In her spare time she enjoys running, swimming, spending time with her adorable dog, and relaxing by the pool with a good book.
Erin Siek, DVM
Dr. Siek was born and raised in New Jersey. After graduating from Villanova University with a BS in biology, she moved to Seattle and worked as a marine mammal biologist for several years. Dr. Siek earned her DVM from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She has special interests in toxicology, zoonotic diseases, and wildlife/zoo medicine. Dr. Siek lives in Sebastopol with her fiancee, Jason, and her chocolate lab, Riley. In her free time, she loves traveling and enjoying the outdoors.
Kim Soderholm, DVM
Dr. Soderholm grew up in Minnesota and Oregon before moving to Healdsburg as a freshman in high school. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Sonoma State University before attending the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, she completed a 1-year internship in San Diego and has a special interest in emergency medicine and dentistry.
Dr. Soderholm lives in Santa Rosa with her husband, two children, two indoor cats, and a dog. They spend much of their time gardening and home remodeling. She enjoys scuba diving and traveling.
Amberly Sokoloff, DVM
Dr. Sokoloff is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. She completed an internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at the Newark Animal Hospital, and
a residency in Companion Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine and Surgery at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Sokoloff also has a bachelor's degree in
music, piano performance. Dr. Sokoloff has special interest in treating birds, small mammals, and reptiles, but also loves working with cats and dogs. She
shares her home with her cat, Bean, and African Grey parrot, Lela. Dr. Sokoloff plays the violin and piano, and performs with the Solano Community Symphony.
She also enjoys yoga, gardening, and pottery.
Becky Talcott, DVM
Dr. Talcott was born in West Point, New York, and lived all over the United States while growing up. She received her bachelor’s and veterinary degrees from UC Davis. Dr. Talcott has practiced in Los Altos, Davis, and Jacksonville, Florida.
Dr. Talcott lives with her husband, Dr. Kent Talcott (one of PetCare’s surgeons), her two children, one cat, and a golden retriever. While not at the hospital, Dr. Talcott enjoys backpacking, gardening, reading, and photography.
Kent Talcott, DVM, Diplomate ACVS
Dr. Talcott obtained his bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, and his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from UC Davis. After completing an internship at the Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital, he worked in private general practice in Campbell and Los Altos, California, followed by a small animal surgical internship with the Affiliated Veterinary Specialists in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Talcott then completed a residency in small animal surgery at UC Davis and is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. He has authored numerous scientific manuscripts and performed professional presentations and lectures.
Dr. Talcott lives in Sebastopol with his wife, Becky (also a veterinarian at PetCare), and their two children, along with their cat and a golden retriever. In his off time, he enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf.
Benita von Dehn, DVM, Diplomate DACVIM
Dr. von Dehn received her veterinary degree from Colorado State University. She completed her internship training at the Animal Medical Center in New York City and residency training at UC Davis. Dr. von Dehn is a board-certified specialist in the College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Her special interests include theriogenology (reproduction) and endocrinology. Dr. von Dehn has worked as a small animal internist in the San Francisco Bay area in addition to providing internal medicine consultation for veterinarians for one of the largest nationwide veterinary laboratories, Idexx Laboratories. In her spare time, she enjoys running, bicycling, skiing, traveling, and hiking with her black lab.
Julie Wetherell, DVM
Dr. Julie Wetherell was born in Maryland and raised in Pennsylvania until she moved to Santa Rosa in 1996. She worked at PetCare as a veterinary technician while attending high school and college, and afterwhich attended UC Davis Veterinary school where she graduated with honors. Upon graduation, Dr. Wetherell did an internship at Looms Basin Veterinary Hospital, a large 24 hour hospital in the Sacramento region. She has special interests in feline and internal medicine and surgery.
Dr. Wetherell is happy to be back in wine country and enjoys spending time with her cats Baxter and Baci, traveling, and enjoying the outdoors by hiking, swimming, and playing tennis.