Hospital Managers
Shari
Practice Manager
Before moving to the position of Practice Manager in July 2006, Shari began work for Sequoyah Animal Hospital as a Veterinary Assistant. In addition to handling human resources, payroll, and training of our support staff, she is also tasked with operating the Sequoyah K9 Academy located next door.
Shari has developed a love of training, especially her own German Shepherds, which she has competed within multiple venues – obedience, protection and tracking. She has kept busy in this regard, titling several dogs under Service Dogs of America, IPO and AKC
Sarah
Office Manager
Managing Sequoyah Animal Hospital’s bustling office takes someone with an eagerness to regularly learn new things and an ability to assist in different areas of the clinic. Since June 2008, Sarah has done just that. In addition to overseeing our receptionists, maintaining inventory, placing orders, and working on various projects, Sarah even fills in at our sister facility, Sequoyah’s Muddy Buddies Dog Wash, when needed.
“After seven years of working here, the staff has become more like family,” she says. “We spend long hours together and we have a willingness to work as a team. Also, our clients are very loyal and it has been great to form relationships with them and their pets.”
When she’s not at work, Sarah enjoys spending time with her husband, kayaking, and being outdoors. The couple has six dogs and a seven-year-old cat named Callie. The canine bunch includes two Basset Hounds, Clyde and Sissy; two Australian Shepherds/mixes, Stump and Haven; a Lab mix named Sped; and a German Shorthaired Pointer mix named Poncho.
Receptionists
Samantha
Receptionist
Samantha began work at Sequoyah Animal Hospital in December 2021. Previously a stay at home mom, she was looking to get back into the workforce and was excited for the opportunity Sequoyah had to offer for her to give back to the community she lives in. A quick learner, she makes delegating tasks and responsibilities to seamless.
When not at work, most of her time is occupied by her toddler and spending time with her family! She has one dog, Luna, and 2 cats, Forrest and Violet, that she adores.
Breanne
Receptionist
Bre joined our team in the Spring of 2023 as a veterinary receptionist. With no previous experience in veterinary medicine, she jumped right in from day one like she had always been here! A quick learner, with a fast-paced personality, she is a great fit for our team. She is often found answering phones and scheduling appointments, but also enjoys working alongside the veterinary assistants and technicians as needed.
While she doesn’t currently have any pets, she previously had 3 dogs – Chevy, Soco, and Harley, that are missed dearly! Outside of work, she is kept busy by her little boy. They spend a lot of time playing sports, swimming, fishing, cooking and hanging out at the playground.
Alicia
Receptionist
Alicia got her start in the pet care profession as a receptionist and bather at our sister facility, Sequoyah’s Muddy Buddies Dog Wash. She then transferred to our clinic as a receptionist in June 2014.
“I like working at Sequoyah because everyone works as a team,” she says. “It is a team I want to be on and I am proud to be on it. We all pull together to care for each patient and take care of all the daily needs of the clinic efficiently.”
Alicia takes pride in being able to help each client and patient in whatever ways she can. She brings her friendliness and flexibility to the workplace and is responsible for providing top-notch customer service, maintaining our appointment schedule, and checking our patients in and out.
Alicia is a pet parent to a two-year-old Boston Terrier mix named Rigby and a one-year-old cat named Boogie. She also has a toddler son, Carson, who keeps her busy while not in the office.
“Most of my free time is spent being a mother,” she says. “We enjoy being outside and spending time with family and friends.”
Alicia also enjoys drawing, doing hair and makeup for family members when they need her services, and writing to her sister who is in the Navy.
Abby
Receptionist
Abby joined Sequoyah Animal Hospital in 2023 as a receptionist. Her job responsibilities include checking in clients, scheduling appointments, filling medications, answering phones, etc. Abby says her favorite part of her job is meeting all the fur babies. She is very organized, attentive, and works well in the fast paced environment of the clinic. She loves the people she works with and all the patients. Abby loves the energetic pace at Sequoyah Animal Hospital and all the learning opportunities that she experiences.
Abby has four pets of her own: two dogs, a German Short Haired Pointer named Goose and a Frenchton named RJ, and two cats, a Tuxedo named Nova and A Maine Coon named Aurora. Abby and her boyfriend enjoy going hunting with her German Short Haired Pointer, Goose, any opportunity that they get.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time on the boat hunting, fishing, or just relaxing. Abby also enjoys spending time in the woods hunting and camping with family and friends.
Veterinary Technicians
Alyssa
Veterinary Technician
Alyssa joined our team in June 2024 after completing a clinical surgery rotation with our practice. In May, she received her associate’s degree in veterinary technology from Chattanooga State Community College. She plans to take the VTNE in August to become a licensed Vet Tech. Some of her job responsibilities include intubating patients and prepping for surgery, monitoring surgeries and patient recovery, sterilizing equipment, and comforting owners. One of her favorite things about Sequoyah Animal Hospital is how the staff and doctors treat their patients and their owners like they are a part of the family, and how they go above and beyond for their patients no matter what the circumstances are.
At home, Alyssa has two dogs, Spike and Ivy, two cats, Kitty and Cheese, and a horse named Bella. She is a member of the Upper Cumberland Walking Horse Association and helps her uncle breed Tennessee Walking Horses. In her free time, she likes to ride horses, crochet, hike, and garden. She is growing her own fruits and vegetables in her home garden now and recently started selling her crocheted items in a store. Alyssa spends most of her free time with her toddler, Nova.
Veterinary Assistants
Rhonda
Surgery
Rhonda joined our team in March 2008. She can work all aspects of the hospital, but typically she is found in surgery.
“I like helping the animals, knowing I can make a difference!” she says. “I enjoy working for a team of doctors who truly care about helping and providing the best possible care to their patients.”
Rhonda previously worked at Pet Inn Kennels in Chattanooga as a boarding and grooming technician. She grew up on a farm and is the person we go to if we need someone to hold a pig or discuss the number of mites found on a chicken feather.
Outside of work, Rhonda likes to spend time with her husband and pets, as well as go hiking, camping, and fishing. She also enjoys reading and drawing. She has an 11-year-old Cattle Dog mix named Kalijah and a three-year-old cat named Thing Two.
Shea
Surgery
Shea joined our team in June 2017 as a veterinary assistant. Her responsibilities include prepping our patients for exams, administering medications, obtaining specimens/samples, prepping patient for surgery and training new team members!
Shea stated, “I really don’t do this for money, I do this to make a difference.” She is always very compassionate and enjoys helping all animals she encounters.
When she is not at work, she is spending time with her husband, children, grandchildren and their family dog, Maverick! She is a huge Disney fan and it is hard for her to decide if she likes Disney or Corgis better!
Chelsea
Veterinary Assistant
Our team welcomed Chelsea in September of 2021 as a veterinary assistant. After spending her summer with us a couple of years ago, she was easily convinced to move back from North Carolina after graduation and join our team full time. She is currently in her second year of college pursuing her veterinary technician degree through Penn Foster.
Chelsea loves all animals with her favorites being her Pitbull, Solo, her rescue kitten, Kahula, and her assortment of small pocket pets and exotics. In her free time Chelsea loves reading, painting, baking, and hanging out with her critters.
Marina
Veterinary Assistant
Marina is a part time veterinary assistant that has been with us since 2022. She is currently a Pre-Veterinary Undergrad at the University of Florida and works with us during her school breaks throughout the year. Marina is always ready to help anytime needed and always ready to learn new things.
She has many pets at home including 4 cats and a dog and takes in our rescues at times. When not in school or working, Marina loves to go hiking, trying new foods, and traveling. She also enjoys playing music including violin, French horn, and keyboard.
Kaylee
Veterinary Assistant
Kaylee joined Sequoyah Animal Hospital at the end of August as a receptionist. She spends most of her day greeting customers, answering phones managing patient records. Her favorite part of the day is interacting with all our adorable patients that come in. Being a cat person herself, she especially loves to see all the kitties come in!
She has 2 cats at home – Skunk and Monkey – and they are spoiled rotten! She also has 2 leopard geckos and a crested gecko as well. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her fiancé, watching Grey’s Anatomy on repeat, and loving on her fur (or less than furry) babies. She also enjoys baking and cooking and is always up for trying a new recipe.
Emily
Veterinary Assistant
Emily started as a veterinary assistant in November 2021 after graduating high school. She grew up in avhouse that was always fostering some orphaned animal, so she jumped right in with the heart for the job. She enjoys working with new animals and always being able to learn something new. During her time here Emily adopted a working line German Shepherd with mega-esophagus named Rodeo. While raising him, she realized he was not your typical dog given his genetics and decided to seek the help of K9 Summit training. After having him trained Emily decided to pursue a dog trainer certification from Highland Canine’s School for Dog Trainers. After being with us for almost two years she took six months off to obtain her master dog trainer certification in North Carolina.
She came back after six months to continue assisting part time. Emily loves helping animals in whatever way they need her. Because of her vast range of experience, Emily can usually be found with the more nervous patients. She is thankful to be in an industry where there is always something to learn. When not at SQAH Emily can be found training pet dogs with K9 Summit. She also enjoys taking Rodeo shopping, hiking with her Golden Retriever Ellie, and spending time with her nieces and nephews. Emily is always willing to help you and your pet in any way she can!
Kayla
Veterinary Assistant
During the summer of 2024, Kayla joined Sequoyah Animal Hospital as a veterinary assistant. She is currently enrolled in the veterinary technician program at Penn Foster and plans to become an LVT upon completion of her course and taking the VTNE. Kayla grew up in the Dayton area and worked on a farm with her grandfather tending to the livestock and has always had a passion for caring for animals.
When she is not working, she loves to spend time with her daughter and her boyfriend. They enjoy being on the boat, hiking in the woods, and playing on dirt bikes. Kayla has three dogs, Whiskey, Roxie, and Prince, and two cats, Miss Kitty and Meowgi. She also has a chicken that was rescued from a Food City parking lot.
Ashlee
Kennel Technician / Veterinary Assistant
Ashlee first started working for Sequoyah Animal Hospital as a kennel tech at the age of eighteen while she was attending college to become a Veterinary Technician. After some time off, she has returned to clinic and fills roles as kennel attendant and a veterinary assistant. Ashley loves the fun environment of the job as she feels all her coworkers are enjoyable to work with. She loves getting to see her favorite clients! One of her favorite aspects of the job is that she always can learn new skills and practices.
She grew up in the Soddy Daisy and Dunlap area and is the oldest of three children. In 2018, she graduated from Sequatchie County High School and attended Chattanooga State Community College. She is engaged to her best friend and they have plans to marry in 2025.
At home, Ashlee has four house pets: two domestic short hair cats, Casper and Goose, a mixed breed dog, Miles, and a German Shepherd dog named Tenzo. She is currently training Tenzo so that they can go to trials and earn titles such as Family Obedience. She is also doing bite work training with Tenzo to be her personal protection dog. Besides cats and dogs, she also has three horses: Cody, Jade, and Duck.
In her free time, Ashlee enjoys riding her horses on trails and competing in local horse shows. She also enjoys a day at the lake with her dogs or floating down the Sequatchie River in kayaks. Ashlee loves all outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming, and camping. Cooking is also a favorite pastime, as she loves trying new recipes.
Kennel Techs
Ava
Kennel Attendant
In May 2023, Ava joined our team as a kennel attendant. Her favorite part of her job is taking the dogs on walks and getting to know them better, making their stay feel at home. Ava is currently enrolled in high school and spends her afternoons at the clinic. She loves learning new things and is excited to help when needed.
Ava has 4 dogs, Waffles, Millie, Maggie, and Luna, and 1 cat named Izzy. She loves to spend her free time walking her dogs, reading, swimming, and spending time with family and friends.
Destiny
Kennel Attendant
In April of 2024, Destiny joined Sequoyah Animal Hospital as a kennel attendant. She is a recent graduate of Sequatchie County High School and plans to attend college to pursue a career in veterinary technology. Her responsibilities at Sequoyah Animal Hospital include taking care of animals, feeding them, taking them out, bathing them, giving them love, and assuring their comfort while their family is away. Destiny’s favorite part of her job is just being with the animals. She enjoys being a part of the team at Sequoyah Animal Hospital because the staff are great workers who are incredibly determined. Destiny says their love for animals truly shows.
When not at work, Destiny is busy keeping up with her 4-legged crew at home. She has three dogs: Jordan; a seven-year-old Pitt Mix, and two Chihuahuas; Shadow, and Stormy.
In her free time, Destiny enjoys reading, baking, running, hiking, and swimming.