Our Staff
Doctor
Dr. Douglas L Coward , DVM, MS
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Dr. Doug Coward received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Santa Clara, a Master of Science in Animal Ecology and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of California at Davis. He is a member of the American Association of Avian Veterinarians and the Association of Holisitc Veterinarians. Prior to settling down in Mission Viejo, Dr. Coward traveled throughout the world studying wildlife in their native habitats. Since 1985, he has worked at practices specializing in exotic animals, dermatology, emergency medicine and critical care. |
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Dr. Peter W Bloch , DVM., CVA
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Dr. Peter Bloch received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Cornell University in Ithaca and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell. Dr. Bloch is a New York native, moved to California following graduation and has been practicing veterinary medicine since 1976. He is certified in veterinary acupuncture and is a member of The Veterinary Medical Assistance Team(VMAT), which addresses emergency animal issues at disaster sites. Most recently VMAT had him deployed to help the hurricane victims in Texas. He is pictured here with his chocolate lab "Moses." |
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Dr. Brett M Hensley , DVM
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Dr. Brett Hensley began at the Animal & Bird Clinic in July 2005. He graduated from UCLA with a degree in Biology in 2000 and a doctorate of veterinary medicine from UC Davis in 2005. Dr. Hensley grew up in Davis, California and also has local family in Southern California. He has advanced training in avian and exotic animal medicine and surgery with an externship in San Diego as well as extensive studies at UC Davis. He is also skilled in all aspects of small animal medicine and surgery.
His lovely wife Kerri is a geneticist at the Nichols Institute. They have a 1 year-old son, Brendan, and also share their life with Kezie a doberman mix who is known for her ability to leap over 7 foot fences! |
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Greg Myers , DVM/MS
Dr Myers was a technician at the clinic while attending the University of California-Irvine, where he earned his bachelor degree in Biological Sciences. He completed a Master's Degree in Animal and Veterinary Science while researching exercise physiology in horses. Dr. Myers earned his Veterinary degree at UC Davis and has been back working with us since 2007.
He is a native Hawaiian from the island of Oahu and attended the legendary Punahou High School. He enjoys spending his free time with his wife Kristy and 2 cats Malia and Leilani! |
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Management
Sarah Sturtevant Sarah has worked at the clinic since 1999. She started as a receptionist but has spent most of her time as the office manager. She misses the interaction with the wonderful clients and being able to cuddle with all the animals, but at least she has her dog Jack and her Honey cat at home. Sarah enjoys working here mostly because of everyone's deep compassion for animals and the fact that we are all one big family. She spends her free time with her daughter Wendy.
Mike Walling As the Practice Manager, Mike joins the clinic with many years of management experience, most recently with The Disneyland Resort. He enjoys positive training and has worked with many shelter dogs to help alter their behavior to enhance their adoptability.
Technician
Juan Infante
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Juan was born in Iberica, Mexico and came to California in 1992. He started working with reptiles in 1995, but already had experience with them since when he a child. Juan has been working at the clinic for almost 8 years now, and loves taking care of all kinds of pets. He owns many reptiles: a 14 lb lizard, a 12 foot long python, scorpions, tarantulas, ...a total of 22 reptiles. |
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Rosa Flores Rosa started at The Animal & Bird Clinic in December 2005 as a veterinary technician and has a total of over 17 years of experience in the animal field including grooming, surgical duties, x-ray, dentals and much more. She loves taking care of all of the pets at the hospital.
Emma Cusack , RVT A graduate of Mount Antonio Veterinary Technology program, Emma began her career in the veterinary field in 1994 and worked as an emergency and critical care technician before joining our team in October 2006. Her life-long love of animals began as a young girl growing up in England, where she spent her spare time creating an animal sactuary out of card board boxes for all the locally injured critters (including worms), and reading everything by James Herriot. She still loves to nurture wildlife and continues to rehabilitate rabbits, birds, rats, opossums, and squirrels. In addition, Emma has specialized in the critical care of ophaned neonates. When she is not working, Emma likes to spend time with her husband and young daughter, both she and her husband are black belt martial artists, and spend time teaching classes at their local martial arts studio. Emma's hobies include running with her dog, and eating (but not necessarily in that order.) | 
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Raquel Rosales Raquel started working at the clinic in July 2004 as a kennel attendant. She currently works as a technician assistant and enjoys helping the Doctors and patients as much as possible.
She is currently enrolled at Cal Poly Pomana in their pre-vet program, and hopes to be accepted by UC Davis in 2009.
In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her husband Jimmy, family and her two chihuahuas Daisy and Prince.
Reid Sneddon
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Reid has been working at the clinic since August 2004. He attends college at Cal Poly Pomona and hopefully plans to attend veterinary school to become a zoo veterinarian, specializing in reptiles. He has a large collection of tortoises representing fourteen different species and three Veiled chameleons. In addition, he also has a successful Russian tortoise breeding program. Reid feels that the knowledge that he has gathered from the hands-on experience in this practice will help greatly in preparing him for vet school. |
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Steve Araujo
Steve joined the clinic in 2007, first as a Kennel Attendant and then steadily progressing to his current position of Veterinary Technician. His eagerness to learn more about veterinary medicine keeps him attending Continuing Education regularly.
Steve is also a professional musician with over 15 years experience. He plays weekly as a bassist, band leader and vocalist in both public venues and upscale corporate events. When not working or making music, Steve likes to spend time with his two extremely friendly bully mixes, Spencer and Quinton.
Catherine Regnier
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Catherine has been working at the Animal and Bird Clinic since May of 1997. She started as a kennel assistant and has enjoyed working as a receptionist and technician for the past 5 years. Catherine graduated from The College of the Pacific in 2003 with her degree in nursing, but enjoys working with animals. Catherine spends her free time with her husband Aaron, new daughter Emily Rose and her chihuahua Toby. |
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Jordan Miles
| Jordan has been working at the clinic since December 2004. She is currently attending SDSU majoring in zoology and will graduate in 2009. In her spare time she enjoys horseback riding, going to the beach and spending time with her 2 sisters. She has a chihuahua named Dolce and a rabbit named Skipper. Her nickname is "Silly!" |
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Reception
Patty Dondanville
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Patty started working at the clinic in 1997. She works part-time in reception and feels that she offers total compassion and dedication to all the clients and their pets. Patty has 2 daughters that she adores and is very proud of. Outside of work she enjoys any activites that are family oriented, and is involved with different ministries within her church. |
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Abby Kostrzewa
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Abby started working at the Animal & Bird Clinic in June of 2003 while completing her Bachelor's degree in Biology at the University of San Diego. Now she is learning more and more about Veterinary Medicine while awaiting admittance into vet school. Also Abby is the proud mother of a Boston Terrier....his name is Zeus. She enjoys spending time with her husband Rob. |
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Amy Gower Amy has worked at the clinic since April of 2006. Previously she was in the field of accounting for 15 years when she decided she needed a change. Her passion for animals led her to Dr Cowards office.
Amy currently has 3 finches called her "finch family," but has hopes of owning a farm with tons of animals some day as it reminds her of living in Maine on her family's dairy farm. | 
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Samantha Santos Samantha started working at the clinic in March of 2007. She has birds, a hedgehog, tortoises, a rat, and a mouse that keep her busy in her spare time. She enjoys spending time with her boyfriend Tommy and has hopes of opening her own pet store in the future.
Jennifer J Ellena none
Kennel
Elizabeth Fisher Elizabeth was born in Bogota Colombia, South America. She has three children from her first marriage, and currently has been married for 26 yrs. She came to the United States in 1978 and is very proud to be a U.S. citizen. She is a very positive, sociable, caring, and devoted person. She enjoys people and loves animals with all of her heart. She has been working part time at the clinic since March 2005 but has been a client here for 15 yrs.
Elizabeth works as a kennel assistant. Elizabeth feels that the staff is like a family and because everybody helps each other, our client's pets are loved and cared for with the devotion and dedication like every single pet is their own. That's why she feels blessed to work with this staff. Her dream of helping animals is coming true.
Nicolas Infante
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Nicolas is one of our best employees at the clinic. He moved to the US from Mexico in 1992. He previously worked for Pre-Historic Pets for 3 years and has a vast knowlege in reptiles.
Nicolas enjoys spending his spare time with his wife and his two children. |
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