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Middle Plantation Animal Hospital

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Our Care Team

We put the ‘Care’ in Care Team! Your pet’s emotional and physical well-being is prioritized with every visit. We put the patients first!

Stephanie

Stephanie

Practice Manager

Before stepping into veterinary medicine, Stephanie spent two years working as an EMT, where she developed a deep appreciation for fast-paced, hands-on medical care. While she valued that experience, she found herself drawn toward a path that felt more personal. Animals had always had a strong impact on her life, and even as a child, she carried a desire to help and protect them whenever she could.

At the age of twenty, Stephanie made the decision to change direction and began working at a veterinary hospital as a kennel technician. What started as an entry-level role quickly grew into something much more. Over the next seventeen years, she gained experience across nearly every part of the hospital, taking on roles that included Veterinary Assistant, Treatment Supervisor, Receptionist, and Inventory Manager. Each position gave her a deeper understanding of how a hospital functions and how every role contributes to patient care. Among them all, working as a Veterinary Assistant remained her favorite, where she felt most connected to the animals and the care they received.

In September 2019, Stephanie was invited by Melissa Dunsmore to visit Middle Plantation Animal Hospital. From that first introduction, it felt like the right fit. She joined the team and stepped into her role as Practice Manager, where she now helps guide the hospital with both experience and heart.

Stephanie finds the greatest joy in the everyday moments, walking into work and seeing the patients, connecting with clients, and knowing that her team is there to help when it matters most. She values creating an environment where both pets and people feel supported.

For Stephanie, this work is not just a career. It is something she has built over years of dedication, shaped by experience, and driven by a lifelong commitment to helping animals.

Roxxan

Roxann

Licensed Veterinary Technician

For Roxann, veterinary medicine has never felt like just a job. It has been part of her life since she was 12 years old, when she first began volunteering in the puppy room at a shelter. That early experience gave her a close-up view of the care, patience, and responsibility animals require, and it sparked a curiosity that only grew stronger with time.

As Roxann continued volunteering at local veterinary hospitals, her interest in the field deepened. She wanted to understand more, learn more, and play a larger role in helping animals heal. She began working as a kennel attendant, gaining hands-on experience while seeing how every part of a hospital contributes to patient care. That path eventually led her to pursue school for veterinary technology, and she has been a proud Licensed Veterinary Technician since 2008.

Roxann joined Middle Plantation Animal Hospital in the fall of 2024, looking for a workplace closer to home while continuing the career she has dedicated herself to for so many years. She brings extensive experience to the team, especially in anesthesia, surgery, and dentistry. These are the areas she knows best and enjoys most, combining technical skill, focus, and compassion to help pets receive safe and effective care.

Just as important to Roxann is the bond she builds with clients. She enjoys talking with pet owners, answering questions, and helping them feel confident that their pets are in good hands. She approaches each patient as if they were her own pet, always striving to provide the level of care and attention she would want for her own animals.

For Roxann, veterinary medicine is all she has ever wanted to do. Her long experience, dedication to patient care, and commitment to supporting both pets and their owners continue to shape the work she does every day.

Holly

Holly

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Bio coming soon.

Hannah

Hannah

Veterinary Assistant

Not every path begins with a clear plan, and for Hannah, finding her place in veterinary medicine came through a process of figuring out what truly felt right. After graduating high school, she explored different jobs, searching for something that felt meaningful and lasting. While those early experiences helped her grow, they also showed her what she did not want, and pushed her to think more seriously about what direction to take.

Looking back, the answer had always been there. From a young age, Hannah had been surrounded by animals and found herself drawn to caring for them. What started as a childhood interest grew into something more steady and important over time. She realized that helping animals was not just something she enjoyed, but something she genuinely cared about.

That realization led her to pursue a role in veterinary medicine. In October 2025, she joined Middle Plantation Animal Hospital as a Veterinary Assistant, stepping into a field where she could continue learning while doing work that felt meaningful to her. Being in an environment where she is constantly gaining new knowledge has helped her build confidence and develop her skills each day.

Hannah especially enjoys getting to know the patients that come through the hospital. She appreciates how every animal has its own personality, and she finds joy in the small interactions that make each day different. Learning more about animal medicine and being part of a team that helps care for patients has made this role both exciting and rewarding.

For Hannah, this is just the beginning. What started as uncertainty has grown into a clear direction, one that continues to develop as she learns, gains experience, and builds a future working with animals.

Rileigh

Rileigh

Veterinary Assistant

A single moment with her horse, Newt, changed the direction of Rileigh’s life. In 2022, after a career-ending injury, Newt required extensive veterinary care. What began as a difficult and emotional experience became something more meaningful as Rileigh watched the team, especially the surgical technicians, care for him with skill, patience, and compassion. Seeing the impact they had, not only on Newt but on her as well, shifted her path in a way she had not expected.

Before that moment, Rileigh had planned to pursue a career as a professional horse trainer. Instead, she found herself drawn to veterinary medicine, inspired by the people who supported her during that time. In November 2022, she joined Middle Plantation Animal Hospital as her first role in the field, starting as an assistant and learning the fundamentals from the ground up.

With guidance from Dr. Dunsmore and the licensed veterinary technicians on her team, Rileigh developed her skills through hands-on experience and mentorship. Now a veterinary technician student set to graduate in August, she has grown into a leadership role within the hospital. She assists in surgery, helps monitor patients, and serves as one of the lead assistants on the team.

Rileigh finds joy in both the meaningful and lighthearted parts of her work. She loves seeing the creative pet names that come through the hospital, and she has earned a reputation as the “cat whisperer,” known for helping even the most nervous cats feel more comfortable during procedures. Whether it is a careful approach, a warm towel, or a well-timed treat, she focuses on creating a low-stress experience for every patient.

For Rileigh, the work she does today is rooted in a moment that changed everything, and it continues to shape the care she provides every day.

Anna

Anna

Veterinary Assistant

Anna’s path into veterinary medicine began with a sense of curiosity that started early and never really left. Growing up in Williamsburg, she spent much of her childhood visiting zoos and aquariums with her grandparents, who encouraged her fascination with animals of all kinds. Those experiences, combined with an early interest in medicine, shaped her long-term goal of working with both familiar and more unusual species.

Her introduction to veterinary medicine came through a personal connection. After meeting the Dunsmore family through church and sharing her interest in the field, Anna joined Middle Plantation Animal Hospital in June 2022. What began as her first job in veterinary medicine quickly turned into a clear career path. Starting as a kennel attendant, she worked her way up through the practice while gaining hands-on experience and building her clinical skills.

Now working as a Veterinary Assistant while pursuing her education at Tidewater Community College, Anna is focused on developing her knowledge and experience as a future Licensed Veterinary Technician. She is especially drawn to the nursing side of patient care, finding fulfillment in helping animals feel better and supporting their recovery. She also enjoys laboratory work, particularly running bloodwork and diagnostics, where attention to detail plays an important role in patient care.

Outside of the clinic, Anna stays active through recreational figure skating and enjoys traveling and attending concerts. At home, she shares her space with her parents and two younger brothers, along with her pets—guinea pigs Loki and Oreo, and her cat Ash, who is always motivated by food.

Anna’s curiosity, dedication, and long-term goals continue to guide her growth in veterinary medicine.

Alexis

Alexis

Receptionist

Some career paths are shaped by moments that change perspective, and for Alexis, that path began with a desire to help animals in need. As a child, she spent time volunteering with a dog rescue, where she witnessed firsthand the work veterinarians do to care for vulnerable animals. Watching those efforts sparked a lasting interest in being part of that process and helping animals receive the care they deserve.

Her journey into veterinary medicine took a more defined turn after working in the shelter environment. Following a severe dog bite incident, Alexis made the decision to transition into veterinary care, where she could continue working with animals in a more structured and controlled setting. That experience reinforced her commitment to staying connected to animal care while prioritizing safety and long-term involvement in the field. It also gave her a new appreciation for the balance between compassion and caution when working closely with animals of all backgrounds.

At Middle Plantation Animal Hospital, Alexis serves as a Receptionist, playing an important role in creating a welcoming and supportive environment for both clients and their pets. She enjoys being part of the daily flow of the clinic, where no two days are the same. From greeting clients to interacting with patients, she values the opportunity to connect with a wide range of animals, each with their own personality and story.

One of the most rewarding aspects of her role is seeing familiar faces return over time. Many of the pets she meets become memorable, and some hold a special place in her heart as she watches them grow and continue their care journey with the hospital.

Alexis’s background, resilience, and continued passion for working with animals shape the care and connection she brings to her role every day.

Ariel

Ariel

Receptionist

Ariel’s story starts in the wild beauty of Chesapeake, where they grew up surrounded by the wildlife and winding edges of the Dismal Swamp. In a childhood shaped by both challenge and discovery, the outdoors became a place of peace. Among the trees, water, and restless movement of animals, Ariel learned to pay attention, to be gentle, and to find comfort in the quiet presence of living things.

When Ariel moved to Williamsburg to attend William and Mary and pursue a degree in Biology, that lifelong connection to animals began taking a clearer shape. They wanted experience, practical skills, and a path that felt meaningful. Then one everyday moment changed everything. After bringing their mother-in-law’s dog to Middle Plantation Animal Hospital in February 2024, Ariel saw something that stayed with them: a team whose compassion was as real as its medical care. It felt like the kind of place where they belonged.

Today, as a receptionist at Middle Plantation Animal Hospital, Ariel helps create calm in moments that often feel uncertain for pet parents. They love building relationships with clients, learning their stories, and being a steady, reassuring presence when emotions run high. They also treasure the bond they share with their coworkers, who have become like family.

Outside the hospital, Ariel’s world is full of creativity and nature. They enjoy making art, identifying plants, and birdwatching, including one unforgettable moment when they spotted a flock of Cedar Waxwings feasting on holly berries. At home in Williamsburg, they share life with their fiancé and their very fat cat, Christmas, a sweet and silly escape artist whose greatest passion is food.

For Ariel, caring for animals has always been personal. Now, they get to turn that care into something clients can feel from the moment they walk through the door.

Jamie

Jamie

Kennel Attendant

A house filled with more than twenty rescue dogs is not something most people grow up with, but for Jamie Burton, it was normal. In Williamsburg, surrounded by constant movement, barking, and pet personalities of every kind, he learned early on that every animal carries its own story. Some needed patience, some needed structure, and some simply needed someone willing to sit beside them until they felt safe.

That understanding stayed with him as he stepped into hands-on animal care. During high school, Jamie began volunteering at a humane society, where he worked closely with animals that had been neglected, abandoned, or misunderstood. It was there that he learned how much impact quiet consistency can have. A simple walk, a calm voice, or steady presence could completely change an animal’s behavior and help them begin to trust again.

After taking a short break from veterinary medicine, Jamie felt a strong pull to return. In March of 2021, he joined Middle Plantation Animal Hospital as a Kennel Attendant, stepping back into a role that felt natural to him. Each day, he focuses on caring for the animals, walking them, talking to them, and making sure they feel as comfortable as possible during their stay.

He finds real meaning in the smaller, often unseen parts of his job. Providing companionship, reducing stress, and helping animals feel safe are things he takes seriously.

For Jamie, this work is about showing up every day with patience, consistency, and care, giving animals the comfort they need, even when they are far from home.