Thankful Thursday: Grati-Tails from Across our Practices

Every month we shine a light on the incredible people who make our practices feel like home. In this edition of Thankful Thursday, we’re sharing “Grati-Tails”, heartfelt messages from team members to one another, celebrating the kindness, teamwork, and everyday moments that make Vetcor so special. Whether it’s a shoutout for a helping hand, a word of encouragement, or a simple thank-you, these notes remind us that gratitude is one of the most powerful ways to build connection and community.  

Ashley Willis from Basin Run Animal Hospital, Colora, Maryland, wants to recognize Dawn Conklin, IT: "Dawn is literally amazing!!!  When I get a call for a help desk ticket and it's Dawn I know it will be resolved and it will be resolved quickly.  She has a wealth of knowledge and actually LISTENS to practices concerns.  Recently I was having issues all of a sudden remoting in to my computer from home to work.  I put in a helpdesk ticket and I was already behind on work and it was looking like I wasn't going to have a resolution until the following week.  Friday I got a call from Dawn and right away she had a solution!  She implemented it and walked me through all steps/things I may see when I logged in from home.  As always she is a literal lifesaver!!!!!" 

Margie Giles from All Animals Veterinary Hospital, Sanford, North Carolina, wants to recognize Stephanie Zorn, CCR Receptionist: "Your warmth, patience, and organization keep everything running smoothly—and your kindness to both pets and their people never goes unnoticed. Thank you for being the calm in the chaos and the friendly face everyone looks forward to seeing.  Stephanie is retiring at the end of the year and we will miss her dearly. Thank you for everything you've done for us and the clinic over the last 10 years!" 

Wanda Denslow from Ocoee Animal Hospital, Blue Ridge, Georgia, wants to recognize Kevin Peery, Receptionist: "Kevin is always polite, kind and extremely helpful not only to our clients, but also to our staff (no matter what department they work in). He always has a positive attitude and comment for everyone and never lets anything get him down. Recently, our Boarding Supervisor was out sick, Kevin came in on his day off to help the other kennel staff with boarding duties. He is a breath of fresh air and we love having him on our Ocoee Team." 

Lucy Smith from the OPS team wants to recognize Lindsay Fidder and Christina Drake, Hospital Managers: "Lindsay and Christina are both active in our regions team chat - they often help answer questions or chime in on how to do a certain task. I appreciate their willingness to help their fellow HMs!" 

David Gagnon from Kaukauna Veterinary Clinic, Kaukauna, Wisconsin, wants to recognize Hannah Halfmann, Veterinary Assistant: "Hannah has been an important and very helpful person who helps things run efficiently. She'll help with animal restraint, as well as any odd job we ask of her. She's always up for the task and maintains a great attitude and a smile. We're glad to have her as a part of our team!" 

Jennifer Crepeau from Zippivet Kyle, Kyle, Texas, wants to recognize Dr. Tiffany Cockman, Chief of Staff: "Dr. Tiffany handled every weird thing that this hospital could throw at her while I was gone on maternity leave. From broken fridges, bad electrical issues and equipment issues and repair, all while seeing patients. I appreciate everything she did to keep this hospital happy and afloat in my absence. I came back to very few urgent things to address, a clean hospital and a clear desk. I am so lucky I have her as my COS and friend! Thank you, Tiff!" 

Destiny Rodriguez from Medina Vet Clinic, Medina, Ohio, wants to recognize Mallerie, CSR, and Paige, Veterinary Assistant: "Mallerie and Paige have been absolute rock stars in our Summer Splash contest, their competitve spirit and want to win helped us reach one of our goals, and we're extremely proud of them!" 

Wanda Denslow from Ocoee Animal Hospital, Blue Ridge, Georgia, wants to recognize Amanda Langevin, Receptionist: "Amanda is always in motion! She heads up our in-house food ordering and display as well as being an advocate for every pet and client who walks in our door. Amanda is a hard worker who takes pride in all that she does and it shows! She just recently put together new Purina food shelves and reorganized our pet foods in the lobby. She's also working with our Royal Canin rep to get a new shelf for their food to make our lobby and the product more marketable. She's an amazing force to work with." 

Lynn Dumas from Cross Timbers Animal Medical Center, Flower Mound, Texas, wants to recognize Amanda Talley, Lead Technician: "For being SUCH a wonderful Team member, always flexible and willing to help, organized and troubleshooting skills are amazing, extremely professional and always looking out for our Team!" 

Lynn also wants to recognize Laura Andino, Hospital Manager: "Laura is an amazing HM, she is so patient, caring and has such compassion for our Team and Hospital. She is very organized and has so many great ideas for improving our ways of working and for taking care of our clients and employees. She is a great asset to Vetcor and our Practice!" 

Brittany Poulin from Main West Animal Hospital, Welland, Ontario, wants to recognize Sara Crowley, CSR: "We are so grateful to have Sara on our team! She is an amazing CSR who always goes above and beyond for our clients. Whether it’s greeting them in person or speaking with them on the phone, Sara is always polite, professional, and eager to help in any way she can. She’s dependable, always on time, and never complains—no matter how busy the day gets. Thank you, Sara, for your hard work, positivity, and dedication. We’re lucky to have you!" 

Jessica Daniels from Central Animal Hospital, Petaluma, California, wants to recognize Brittany Klopp, Hospital Manager: "I want to thank Brittany at Central Animal Hospital for the incredible support she’s been providing—not just to her own hospital, but also to new HMs and other hospitals in the region. I couldn’t do this without you!" 

Jessica Spellacy from The Pet Doctors of Sherman Oaks, Sherman Oaks, California, wants to recognize Ginger Freibrun, CCS: "This month, I want to recognize someone incredibly special to our team — Ginger, our most tenured CCS team member, who celebrated her 15-year anniversary with The Pet Doctors of Sherman Oaks on May 20, 2025.  Ginger’s loyalty and dedication are unmatched. In the nine years I’ve had the privilege of working alongside her, she has missed only one (maybe two!) shifts — a level of reliability that is truly remarkable. Beyond her consistency, Ginger brings a steady presence, unwavering support, and deep care for our clients, patients, and teammates every single day.  As Ginger prepares to begin her next big life adventure in the New Year, I want to take a moment to express my deep gratitude and respect. She has been a core part of our CCS team for so long, and her impact will continue to be felt long after she moves on.  Thank you, Ginger, for your 15+ years of dedication, compassion, and reliability. You are so very appreciated — and you will always be part of our Pet Doctors family." 

Jessica also wants to recognize Amber Brito, Kennel Assistant: "For this Thankful Thursday, I want to recognize Amber, our amazing Kennel Assistant, who has been with us for almost 8 years!  Amber does such an incredible job every single day, and she brings the best energy and attitude to our hospital. Not only does she keep everything spotless and smelling great (no small feat in a veterinary hospital — lol!), but she also fills the place with her positivity.  Honestly, if you looked up “positive vibes” in the dictionary, I’m sure you’d find Amber’s picture there. She is such a joy to work alongside, and I am so grateful for her dedication, her spirit, and the light she brings to our team.  Thank you, Amber — we’re so lucky to have you!" 

Lastly, Jessica wants to recognize Tonia Zangger, Regional Manager: “This Thankful Thursday, I want to recognize someone who makes such a big difference for me and for our hospital — my amazing Regional Manager, Tonia! Tonia is always so responsive and supportive. No matter how much she has going on, she somehow finds a way to make herself available — and that means so much. She takes the time to listen, to guide, and to mentor with patience and a great sense of humor.  I truly appreciate her help, her encouragement, and her example as an excellent mentor. Thank you, Tonia, for everything you do — we’re so lucky to have you in our corner!" 

Katrina Guell from Scottsdale Cat Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, wants to recognize Ciara Landon, LVT: "I wanted to take a moment and recognize Ciara Landon. No matter what life throws at this lady she still shows up and busts her bottom! From exam rooms, surgeries, boarding, to laboratory, she juggles it smoothly. Everyone's workday is better is when she is here, and I am grateful to have her on our team!" 

Jennifer Blair from St Francis Animal Hospital, Roseville, Minnesota, wants to recognize Molly Moy, Hospital Manager: "We would like to say thank you to our Hospital Manager, Molly!  This month, Molly celebrates her 23rd Anniversary at St Francis. Every day, she not only juggles her long task list of her own responsibilities, but also willingly jumps in to support anyone who needs it and she does all of this with a smile. Molly is extraordinary, and St Francis would not be the incredible practice that it is today without her leading the way. Thank you, Molly, for all that you do!" 

Michelle Field from Service Center, Service Center, Service Center, wants to recognize Lisa White-Mitchell, Hospital Manager: "Lisa has been a great partner and advocate for growing her hospital's online pharmacy. She has helped me to better understand how she works with her team to integrate in her practice and shared best practices with other hospitals. A belated thank you to Lisa for her willingness to share her knowledge!" 

Heidi Milano from Raritan Animal Hospital, Edison, New Jersey, wants to recognize the whole staff: "In the middle of August my healthy, happy husband unexpectedly passed away while on a business trip. While my world was in turmoil, my team stood tall and handled so many of my tasks while I was away. I was humbled, touched, and proud of them. As the person who tries to take care of everyone else, I had the tables turned on me. I was overwhelmed by the love and support from the best team ever. My team is my safety net." 

Tavish Mathiasen from Mother Lode Veterinary Hospital, Grass Valley, California, wants to recognize the whole team: "I am so grateful for the amazing team at Mother Lode Veterinary Hospital. Their compassion, dedication, and heart shine through in every interaction, and the care they provide makes a true difference for pets, families, and our community. The appreciation we hear from clients is a reflection of the love and effort this team puts in every single day. I’m also thankful for our connection to the Vetcor network, which supports and invests in our people so that teams like ours can continue to grow, thrive, and make a lasting impact close to home." 

Jolene O'Brien from Berrien Veterinary Services, Baroda, Michigan, wants to recognize Dr. Sophie Leto: "Dr Leto joined our practice as a new grad just 7 months ago and has grown leaps and bounds as a veterinarian in that time. She is a perfect fit for our team and has a very positive attitude. Very proud of her abilities and her great care of her patients!"