“I love that the Park Grove Pet Hospital staff goes above and beyond to make our pets healthy. Thanks Dr. John and all the rest of the staff for doing what you do so well!”
— Belinda H
Meet the Veterinary Staff of Park Grove Pet Hospital in Cottage Grove MN
Meet the Park Grove Pet Hospital team and learn about their years of experience in pet care, their interests, and their own pets!
Melanie Knipe, Client Service Specialist Director
- Started at Park Grove: November 1998
- Pets’ Names: Ellie, mini Dachshund mix; Liberty, cat
- Like most about my job: I like interacting with the different pets and helping our impound animals find loving homes.
- Hobbies and interests: I love hanging with friends and family, bonfires, and going to the lake. I have rescued four feline leukemia-positive cats over the past 12 years working at Park Grove.
Jen Nichols, Client Service Specialist
- Started at Park Grove: July 2008
- Pets’ Names: Barron, Shih Tzu; Elvis, leopard gecko
- Like most about my job: I have an extensive customer service background, but this might be the best job! Who doesn’t love puppy and kitten kisses?! I like educating myself about veterinary diets and helping owners with nutritional information. I also enjoy the wonderful Park Grove staff that I get to work with every day.
- Hobbies and interests: I enjoy spending time with my husband Ben, son Ashton, and daughter Jewell. I enjoy reading, volunteering for my children’s school, raising funds for the National Kidney Foundation, and going to the cabin.
Barbara Carrera, Client Service Specialist and Veterinary Technician
- Started at Park Grove: June 2010
- Degrees/Qualifications: AAS Veterinary Technology from Globe University 2010, Member NAVTA, AAHA, AVMA Advisory Board Member for Globe University 2009, Merial VetMed Team Member, IDEXX Certified.
- Pets’ Names: Dharma,Australian Shepard/Chow Mix and Simbah, Golden Retriever Mix
- Like most about my job: What I like most if the part that no one likes to talk about. I have has the honor of sharing in the crossing over to the Rainbow Bridge with some of the most amazing animals. I feel it has been my purpose to be in service to those families that are going through one of the hardest times in their lives. I cannot think of anything better to do than love and support our patients in this very special manner. It is a blessing and a privilege to be allowed into the lives of my clients and their pets. I have also been given the gift to be there when some of our impound animals needed to go "Home". It is an experience that has changed my life.
- Hobbies and interests: I LOVE BEING A WOOBIE! I look for those rare opportunities to make people's lives better. I enjoy cooking for my husband and my daughter, making cakes for friends and co-workers, and any craft project. I am interested in animal behavior and love working with our impounds.
Chrissy Marson, Certified Veterinary Technician and Animal Care Staff Supervisor
- Started at Park Grove: Internship in April 2003, hired in June 2003
- Degrees/Qualifications: Certified Veterinary Technician; Associate’s degree in applied science from Argosy University in 2003; Certified in Immobilization of Wild Animals; member MVMA, NAVTA, and AAHA
- Pets’ Names: Gunner, boxer; Chumly, English bulldog
- Like most about my job: I enjoy helping people and teaching them new ways to help keep their pets healthy. I enjoy cytology and like working with emergencies. I also like working with a group of wonderful people everyday that share the same passions.
Jessica Klein, Certified Veterinary Technician
- Started at Park Grove: Internship in July 2004, hired in October 2004
- Degrees/Qualifications: Certified Veterinary Technician; Associate’s degree from Argosy University in 2004; member MVMA, NAVTA, and AAHA
- Pets’ Names: Rex, husky mix; Pumba, cat
- Like most about my job: The variety—I like that there is always something different going on.
- Hobbies and interests: I enjoy softball, bowling, camping, and fishing.
Jenny Woodley, Certified Veterinary Technician
- Started at Park Grove: October 2007
- Degrees/Qualifications: Certified Veterinary Technician; Associate’s of applied science degree from Globe University in 2007; Radiology Officer; member MVMA, NAVTA, and AAHA
- Pets’ Names: Lady Bird, Jack Russell; ‘Bo’ aka Beaucephus, chocolate Lab; Dixie, cat
- Like most about my job: Every day is different. I like being able to help animals and inform clients about their pets.
- Hobbies and interests: I enjoy taking care of my daughter, going for walks, camping, and riding motorcycles. I love animals and hope to have my own no-kill shelter someday.
Sarah Towner, Certified Veterinary Technician
- Started at Park Grove: November 2007
- Degrees/Qualifications: Certified Veterinary Technician; Associate’s of veterinary science from Argosy University in 2007; member MVMA, NAVTA, and AAHA
- Pets’ Names: Sydney, Springer spaniel mix; Dora, Corgi mix.
- Like most about my job: I enjoy educating clients about the health of their animals. I also enjoy exotic animal medicine.
- Hobbies and interests: I have owned a wide variety of exotic animals from ferrets to snakes and geckos. I enjoy horseback riding, shooting skeet, fishing, Texas Hold ’Em, and learning about reptiles, amphibians, and other exotic animals.
Becky Bergo, Certified Veterinary Technician
- Started at Park Grove: Internship in January 2008, hired in March 2008
- Degrees/Qualifications: Certified Veterinary Technician; Associate’s degree as a veterinary technician from Globe University in 2008; member MVMA, NAVTA, and AAHA; in 2012—2013, I will be working toward my certification to become a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Anesthesia. This involves 4,500 hours of anesthetic work, monitoring patients who are under sedation or general anesthesia, completing 50 to 75 case studies, and passing the board exam. Currently only 122 technicians in the country hold this advanced specialty.
- Pet’s Name: Betty, pit bull (was adopted from Park Grove Pet Hospital)
- Like most about my job: I like that we are a hospital that practices good medicine, we use pain medications when they are needed, and we try to have patients perform dental cleaning routinely before dental disease is too advanced. I am proud of the work we have done to help maintain our AAHA certification. All around, we are good group of people who work well together!
- Hobbies and interests: I enjoy outdoor activities, running, biking, hunting, fishing, and playing catch with my dog Betty. I love spending time with my family, boyfriend Joey, and daughter Brylee, up at the cabin, climbing Barn’s Bluff, and just watching movies together.
Heidi Olivier, Certified Veterinary Technician
- Started at Park Grove: August 2009
- Degrees/Qualifications: Certified Veterinary Technician; Associate’s degree in applied sciences degree from Globe University in 2009; member MVMA, NAVTA, and AAHA
- Pets’ Names: Griffin and Zoe, pugs
- Like most about my job: I enjoy interacting with people and their pets daily and getting to see sick or injured pets leave healthy. I am interested in parasitology, dental health and performing dentistry procedures, emergency medicine, and brachycephalic (flat-nosed) breeds.
- Hobbies and interests: I enjoy camping, boating, and traveling.