Meet the Staff

Dr. Laurie Weiser
Originally I am from the New Jersey/ New York area. I moved to California to pursue my studies in veterinary medicine (while also enjoying the sun and no snow!). I attended San Francisco State University & UC Berkeley for my veterinary prerequisites and then the University of California, Davis for veterinary school. After 11 wonderful years in California I moved to Florida to be closer to my family. Unfortunately I was hit by three major hurricanes in 2 years! The stress of the hurricanes and evacuating my horses became too much and the opportunity to start my own practice right here in Pittsboro too good to pass. Pittsboro offered me a rural lifestyle and ability to own a farm to raise my horses, but at the same time be close to everything the Triangle has to offer. I am currently owned by five rescue dogs...two pugs, Bettie Lou and Cha Cha, a boxer named Olive, a full blooded mutt Loki, a Red-bone hound dog named Bob, two barn cats, Clouseau and Agent 87. Lastly, are my beloved horses...my broodmare Dorfblume (German for "village flower"), her daughter Roseblume, a pony Borealis Blume (BB for short), a two year old gelding Reggie, and my paint mare Leo.

Dr. Jody Katz
Dr. Katz has been with us part time now for a year. One of these days we will get her to write her bio!

Dr. Stacey Kraus
Dr. Kraus is new to North Carolina, having just moved here from Kansas. She will now be doing the surgeries on the Low Cost Spay/ Neuter Mobile Unit. We'll get her to write a bio one of these days as well!

Dr. Chad Aderhold
Pittsboro Animal Hospital is pleased to welcome Dr. Chad Aderhold as a visiting surgeon. He is the former Owner/ Medical Director of Apex Veterinary Hospital and has been practicing veterinary medicine and surgery for over 20 years. He is skilled in performing certain hip and knee surgeries as well as repairing bone fractures.

Kim Cleaver, Hospital Manager
Kim is originally from Long Island, NY but has been quite the world traveler having also lived in Seattle, Las Vegas, Virginia, Scotland, and Corpus Christi. Kim is a licensed groomer and was the manager of a non-profit animal shelter in Washington state. She also has extensive managerial experience having managed a Salon and Spa and other retail outlets throughout her travels. Due to her time at the animal shelter she has a soft spot for the neglected and abandoned animals. Kim has been with us since 2007. Not only is she a great manager but the clients love her sunny personality. Kim lives with her fiance and two young sons in Wake County. They have 3 dogs, Rufus, Mojo, and Daisy and one cat named Arwen. As a family they enjoy going to the movies, attending the boys sporting events, watching hockey, and playing video games.

Amanda Howard
Amanda started here in December 2008 and we couldn't be happier as she is our resident comedian. Amanda is a local native having been raised in Pittsboro and attended Lee Christian School. Sometimes it feels as if she knows everyone that walks through our doors! She attends Rock Springs Baptist Church and enjoys volunteering, camping, and socializing with friends and family. Amanda is planning on attending Veterinary Technician school while continuing to work here. We know she will excel in her training! Amanda has two dogs, Bentley and Lilly, and three cats, Bell, Salem, and Kitty
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Melissa Taylor
Melissa is originally from Pennsylvania but has lived here long enough to almost have a southern twang. She has been with us since 2007 and does everything, a true indispensable part of our family. Melissa is very active in dog rescue as a volunteer with CARE (Chatham Animal and Rescue) and independently. She usually has a "double digit" amount of foster and rescue dogs at her place. We all wonder how she does it all! Melissa tends to have a soft spot for the saddest of cases and somehow rehabs and places them all. Through her rescues we have cared for dogs that were hermaphrodites, broken limbs, rotting and infected mouths, parvo virus puppies, heartworm positive dogs, serious mange cases, such chronic ear infections surgery was required, and starvation. Melissa lives in Siler City with her husband, daughter, and menagerie of rescue dogs .

Mary VonWerne
Mary is with us part time and is the resident horse trainer at Cedar Hill Farm in Pittsboro, NC. She is an avid dressage rider/ trainer and competitor with her gelding Majestic Dream. Mary is currently owned by three dogs Winston, Hustler, and Margo (her new Corgi puppy) and a slew of barn cats.

Alli Ramirez
Alli just started with us spring of 2011. We will get her to write a more complete bio but she is an active rescue for Pit Bull Terrier.

Emily Spence
Emily just joined our team in September 2011. She has years of experience as a veterinary technician in both private practice as well as working at the NC State Veterinary Teaching Hospital. We'll get her to write a bio soon!

Martha McDougald, Groomer
We are excited to announce Martha, groomer extraordinaire, is here full time!! Her grooming experience is too extensive to list ranging from champion show dogs to the neglected rescue. She is a North Carolina native and resides here in Chatham County on a llama farm. She currently lives with her dogs Keeper and Izzy (the terror), as well as her cat Thomas.