About Us

Owner/Veterinarian

CHERRI

TRUSHEIM, DVM
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Owner/Veterinarian

CHERRI TRUSHEIM, DVM

Dr. Trusheim is the visionary behind Urban Animal. Since graduating from veterinary school in 1999 and pursuing an internship on the east coast, Cherri has been searching. She has gone to bartending school, carpentry school, taken the realestate course and considered law school. It wasn’t until realizing Urban Animal that she found her passion. Built upon the principles of affordable care provided by individuals who are highly trained and experienced, Urban Animal has created a new model of veterinary care.

In Dr. Trusheim’s own words: “I drive a 1978 Ford truck and occasionally pull a 1973 airstream. (mostly it sits in our driveway and we make fires in front and pretend we are camping) In my spare time I enjoy remodeling our house, spending time with my amazing wife and our three dogs: Betty White an american bulldog/pitbull mix, Floyd, a brindle pitbull, and the newest addition to the family, a chihuahua named Flee.”
Medical Director

LISA

EDWARDS, DVM
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Medical Director

LISA EDWARDS, DVM

Dr. Lisa Edwards was born and raised in Southeast Tennessee. She graduated veterinary school at the University of Tennessee in 2002. She then completed a small animal medical and surgical internship at Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital in Denver. She decided to continue moving northwest and practiced as an emergency/critical care veterinarian here in Seattle for 12 years. She then moved on to general practice for three years until receiving the great opportunity to joint the Urban Animal Team in February 2017.
Professionally, she thoroughly enjoys emergency/critical medicine and cardiology. She lives in Ballard with her husband, Alan, their feline child, Lunchbox, and their nautical child, a Nordic Tug Boat named Rudolph. Outside of work she loves cooking, sailing/boating (racing and cruising), running, hiking and watching sports – especially college football! GO VOLS!!
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Veterinarian

JULIE

IRWIN, VMD
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Veterinarian

JULIE IRWIN, VMD

Dr. Julie Irwin attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 1998. She worked in general practice and also owned her own emergency practice for several years before relocating to the Seattle area. She is an avid early morning rower and in her free time also enjoys hiking, cross-country skiing and traveling. She and her husband share their home with both two- and four-legged critters, and a Betta fish named Aquin.
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Veterinarian

SARAH

FOSNAUGH, DVM
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Veterinarian

SARAH FOSNAUGH, DVM

Dr. Sarah Fosnaugh, who generally answers to Foz, grew up in Columbus, Ohio. She attended Miami University (of Ohio) for college, played lacrosse and received her BS in Zoology. She then moved to Miami, Florida, to work for Habitat for Humanity for a year followed by New Orleans, Louisiana, where she worked in a small animal veterinary hospital. After this fun break, she returned to Ohio to attend Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduating in 2007, Dr. Foz decided to chase the sunshine and relocated to Phoenix, Arizona. For 8 years, she worked as an ER vet and then tried independent contracting (aka relief) in general practice, ER and low cost spay/neuter. After relocating to Seattle and working in general practice, she finally found her home at Urban Animal. Her professional interests include emergency medicine, soft tissue surgery and radiology.

Dr. Foz has always been an outside kid and spends as much time hiking, camping, backpacking, skiing, running, bicycling, kayaking, SUP etc as possible. She enjoys playing the guitar and writing songs, traveling, reading, and eating really good food. Even though she has always been a bit of a wanderer, she feels at home here. She lives in Fremont with a naughty gray kitty named Piccolo and a stubborn Great Pyrenees mix named Aria.
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Veterinarian

ANNA

MOORE, DVM
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Veterinarian

ANNA MOORE, DVM

Dr. Anna Moore was born and raised in Alabama, but considers herself a Seattleite at heart.

She obtained her undergraduate and veterinary degrees at Auburn University. She then completed an internship in equine medicine and surgery which is as surprising to her as it is to you. After that, she moved to Seattle and found her passion in emergency & critical care where she spent most of the last 8 years prior to joining the Urban Animal team. She’s excited to be part of a place that’s so much cooler than she is, and loves not having adrenal fatigue.

Anna enjoys all things PNW and has an unhealthy obsession with her French Bulldog, Posey.
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Veterinarian

MICHAEL

LIGHT, DVM
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Veterinarian

MICHAEL LIGHT, DVM

Dr. Michael Light is no stranger to our city. He lived here for 16 years prior to leaving for upstate NY, but the desire to be back on the west coast & part of Urban Animal brought him back in 2019. He considers Seattle home, despite growing up in the suburbs of Chicago where he got his start in the field in 1995. After working as a technician around the Puget Sound for years, Michael went back to school & graduated from the veterinary program at WSU in 2008. He worked as an emergency veterinarian before transitioning to general practice & is excited to bring his experience to the Urban Animal family!

Michael enjoys living on Capitol Hill & when he’s not at work, you’ll find him spending time with his senior Beagle, Murphy, exploring the city & making plans to travel & camp. If you see him out & about, say hello!

Fun Fact: If you look at the pictures on the photo booth at our Capitol Hill location, you’ll see a picture of Michael & Murphy taken at the original location when Urban Animal opened in 2012!
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Veterinarian

NICOLE

STAIR, DVM
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Veterinarian

NICOLE STAIR, DVM

Dr. Nicole Stair hails from eastern Washington, where she received an undergraduate degree at Whitman College in Walla Walla before earning her DVM from Washington State University.
She did one year of general practice before completing an internship in emergency and critical care. She worked in emergency medicine for the next 9 years, before starting at Urban Animal. Nicole is really excited to be a part of such a talented group of veterinary professionals who strive to give the best care every day (and to get to work during daylight hours!).

Nicole’s family includes her eternally patient husband TJ (it’s hard to be married to a vet!) and their two adorable little boys Jack and Luke, who have taught her more about dinosaurs and sharks than she ever thought possible. The four legged family members include Landry, the oldest and sweetest lab mix ever, and Stewie, who is a naughty feline – seriously, if you have a saucy cat, feel free to commiserate with her. She enjoys volunteering with her kids’ schools, baking ridiculously decadent cakes and brownies, and reading herself to sleep.
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Veterinarian

SAMANTHA

HMELO, DVM
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Veterinarian

SAMANTHA HMELO, DVM

Dr. Hmelo hails from the east coast, but she is thrilled to be able to call herself a Seattleite! She received her veterinary degree from Ross University and went on to complete a 1 year rotating internship at The Ohio State University. She practiced emergency medicine ever since until her recent jump into general practice. Dr. Hmelo has a special interest in feline medicine and loves cats with a little ‘cat-titude.’

Outside of work, you can find her lifting heavy things at the gym, running the streets of Seattle, and playing guitar to her darling cats, Captain and Toast.
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Veterinarian

TRICIA

HANS, DVM
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Veterinarian

TRICIA HANS, DVM

Dr. Tricia Hans earned both her BBA and DVM degrees from the University of Georgia. Go Dawgs! Since vet school, she has practiced in the Chicago suburbs, and both northern and southern California, before relocating to Seattle in 2017.

She is currently dog mama to a stubborn chiweenie named “Georgia”, and collects as many cats as possible.

She loves the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and enjoys hiking and camping, spending time at the gym, and crossword puzzles.
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Veterinarian

MARY

SCHMID, DVM
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Veterinarian

MARY SCHMID, DVM

Dr. Mary Schmid was born and raised in Nashville, TN before heading off to New Orleans where she earned her undergraduate degree from Tulane University. After graduation an internship at The Elephant Sanctuary In Tennessee led to a full time position as an elephant caregiver. While it was an honor to be able to care for retired elephants, her desire to attend veterinary school could not be ignored. Mary moved to Massachusetts to attend and graduate from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine with the Class of 2014. Tired, of shoveling snow, she jumped to the other side of the country to complete a small animal medical and surgical internship at Veterinary Specialty Center of Seattle in Lynnwood WA. Finally finding a part of the country that felt like home, Mary took a position practicing ER medicine in the greater Seattle area. Mary joined the Urban Animal family during the summer of 2019 where she enjoys helping animals from her owner neighborhood.

When not working, Mary’s favorite activities involve spending time on or near the water – sailing, kayaking, or hiking to hidden lakes fills most of her days off. She recently took up skiing; realizing that snow isn’t all that bad after all. When not outdoors, Mary enjoys spending time with her cat, Will Geronimo Parker. Parker is an obese prone male tuxedo polydactyl cat who loves long naps and eating cheese (when he can convince Mary to share).
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Veterinarian

HANNAH

LEWIS, DVM
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Veterinarian

HANNAH LEWIS, DVM

Hi! I grew up in Colorado, but first came out to Washington for my undergraduate degree at Whitman College. I worked at a vet hospital in Portland for a while after graduation and then went back to Colorado for vet school at Colorado State University.

My internship was at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston. I moved out to Seattle after my internship and worked as an ER vet before joining Urban this fall. I enjoy imaging, emergency medicine, and especially love taking care of geriatric pets.

Outside of work I like hiking, trying to cook, yoga, and traveling. I have a old man Border collie mix named Abu who is perfect in every way, loves fetch, and is learning how to beg.
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Veterinarian

JENNA

HEFT, DVM
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Veterinarian

JENNA HEFT, DVM

Dr. Jenna Heft grew up in the Midwest but was lured out here by the promise of outdoor adventure, and has been happy to call the Seattle area home since 2012.

Academically, she studied Zoology at Michigan State University, and then went on to veterinary school at University of Illinois. After graduation she spent several years in general practice before landing at Urban Animal. She loves working with all of the fun and highly skilled veterinary professionals at Urban, and enjoys the variety of clients and patients she gets to see everyday.

Outside of clinic hours, she’s usually doing something in the mountains or on the water – snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking/backpacking, camping or boating/kayaking. Her husband, Will, and their two dogs, Diesel and Zucchini, are always up for an adventure. At the end of a long day outside or at work, she enjoys curling up with a good book, a cup of tea (she considers herself a budding connoisseur) and her kitty, Rafiki, in their home in West Seattle. Traveling is also a passion of hers and is always looking for the next itinerary to plan- suggestions in the PNW (or anywhere!) always welcome.
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General Manager

ROB

OATMAN, LVT
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General Manager

ROB OATMAN, LVT

Rob is the resident veterinary version of a physicians assistant or nurse practitioner. He graduated from State University of New York at Canton in 1999 and has been in the veterinary field impressing the unimpressable ever since. He has extensive training in both dentistry and critical care. Rob is loved by all and Urban Animal is lucky to have him.

In his own words: “I grew up in a small town in upstate New York and have lived in Seattle for 14 years. I have a very sweet cairn terrier, Leonard, a horribly behaved miniature dachshund, Mable, and a handsome, orange tabby named Churchill. I am a huge music fan with a special fondness for country. (dont judge)I also have a weakness for bad reality TV.”
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Manager

JAIME

SYMBOL, LVT
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Manager

JAIME SYMBOL, LVT

In her own words: “Here’s the short story: I grew up in a small rural town in Alaska then moved to the big city “Seattle” in my early 20’s. I worked various desk jobs and decided it just wasn’t for me, so I quit and applied for the Assistant/Reception job at the vet down the street. Obviously they hired me, I spent four years there then seven very educational years at ACCES before finding a spot at Urban Animal. I took the Veterinary Technician exam a few years ago to become licensed.

I have two sometimes-beautiful children, two step-children and a husband. Also occupying the house are two large dogs, two cats and a tortoise; there is never a dull moment.”
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Manager

DANIEL

SNODGRASS, LVT
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Manager

DANIEL SNODGRASS, LVT

Daniel Snodgrass was born in the small town of Payson, Arizona. He started in the veterinary field at 15 years old as a kennel attendant after school and spent the next several years working towards obtaining his Veterinary Technician License, which he did in 2006. After a short stint in Phoenix, AZ and then Topeka, KS, Daniel fulfilled his dream of moving to Seattle in January of 2009. While fortunate to work with multiple fantastic doctors around the area, Daniel finally found a good work home at Urban Animal in June of 2014. During his free time, Daniel likes to relax watching movies, go hiking, paddleboarding, singing karaoke, and spend time with his Husband and friends.
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Licensed Technician

SHANNON

DWYER, LVT
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Licensed Technician

SHANNON DWYER, LVT

Shannon joined the Urban Animal team in 2015 and brings with her a wealth of experience. She became an LVT in 1994 and has worked in the Veterinary field ever since. During her working interview, we realized that she had a big love for geriatric patients. In her spare time, you can find her boxing at the gym; gardening; or at the ocean with her best pal, her dog Chachi. She misses California but Seattle is growing on her.
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Licensed Technician

DANICA

KELLEY, LVT
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Licensed Technician

DANICA KELLEY, LVT

“Originally from Arizona, Danica moved to Seattle July of 2015, after living 4 years in Ohio, with only what could fit into her VW Golf and her two dogs, Rock and Sonar. Danica has a history of working in general practice for just over 2 years and about 1 year in emergency. She is currently enjoying some much needed rest and relaxation after finishing school and obtaining her license. Danica enjoys spending time outside with her dogs, photography, and discovering this amazing new city she now calls home. You can follow her dogs on Instagram at sonar_theeyelessdog and rock_boxer – you will not be disappointed!”
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Licensed Technician

ALYNE

FROST, LVT
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Licensed Technician

ALYNE FROST, LVT

Originally from southern California, Alyne moved to Seattle three years ago from Bellingham with her boyfriend. Her plan was to start the Veterinary Technician Program at PIMA Medical Institute. She completed the program while working in a small general practice. Upon graduating and obtaining her license in 2016, she then made her way into the Urban Animal family. Alyne enjoys a good book, music, traveling, and spending time with the two loves of her life, her boyfriend and her dog.
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Licensed Technician

KEN

KUCEY, LVT
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Licensed Technician

KEN KUCEY, LVT

Now a Seattleite through and through, Ken moved cross-country to this beautiful city from Georgia 8 years ago in order to study Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences at UW. GO HUSKIES!!! After working in the finance industry for a few years, Ken decided there was a lack of puppies and kittens in this line of work so he decided to switch to the Veterinary Medicine field. In his free time, Ken loves to play basketball, soccer, tennis, take his dogs hiking and backpacking through the Cascades and Olympics, and most of all give big ‘ol hugs to every puppy that crosses his path.
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Licensed Technician

MARK

FINK, LVT
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Licensed Technician

MARK FINK, LVT

Mark has been working with animals since 2000 and earned his veterinary technician license after graduating in 2006 from Wilson College, a small private college in Pennsylvania. At Wilson he completed a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Veterinary Medical Technology. Mark also completed an internship at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital in Denver, Colorado where he discovered his foremost interest within anesthesia and surgical assisting. Since then he has participated in more than 5,000 surgical cases involving numerous species of animals. When he isn’t pursuing veterinary medicine, Mark enjoys long- distance hiking, camping, yoga and reading books on anything and everything. He loves living in Seattle with his wife and their always ready to go hiking, Border Collie named Hoppy.
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Licensed Technician

RACHEL

KAUSE, LVT
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Licensed Technician

RACHEL KAUSE, LVT

Rachel is an animal lover extraordinaire! She grew up in a quaint little town in Downriver Michigan where she discovered her passion for veterinary medicine. She graduated from Michigan State University (Go Green!) in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in science and a major in veterinary technology. Immediately after passing her LVT exam, she moved to Seattle with her now husband and hasn’t looked back! Rachel worked 2.5 years at a specialty hospital as an emergency ICU technician before finding her place at Urban Animal in 2017.

She spends her free time exploring the PNW and going on adventures with her husband, her golden retriever, Barley, and her Pitty Pup, Bonnie. She also enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and tasting new foods and brews.
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Licensed Technician

AVIS

ANZELC, LVT
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Licensed Technician

AVIS ANZELC, LVT

Avis joined the veterinary profession in late 2009 after rethinking her career goals not long after obtaining her Master’s degree in biological anthropology from Kent State University. She was licensed as a Veterinary Technician in early 2016 after squeaking in under the grandfather clause right before it ended in Washington state. Her veterinary interests lie in parasitology, zoonotic diseases and clinical pathology.
When Avis is not work, she enjoys traveling, reading outdoor survival stories, hiking, knitting, and spending time in the sun, when and where she can find it. She is an adrenaline junkie and loves speed boats, go-cart racing, roller coasters, and exploring sites that hold a little bit of danger. She has a cute little geriatric kitty at home named Suna and a gigantic, dopey puppy named Eli, that keeps her amused by just being themselves.
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Licensed Technician

JESSICA

YOUNG, LVT
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Licensed Technician

JESSICA YOUNG, LVT

Hi, my name is Jessica! I have been a licensed veterinary technician since 2010, but I’ve been working with animals since I was 11 years old when I began showing horses and working as a ‘gallop girl’ for my families thoroughbred race horses. I am a Pacific Northwest Native who has lived in all of the western states, and have spent the last 10 years living in South Lake Union. I have a passion for senior pets, anything smooshie face, and love all critters with a good spirit. Outside of my work at Urban Animal, I enjoy everything that the city life has to offer, including live music, fantastic restaurants, and craft beer. I am also an outdoor lover who is most happy when snuggling my two rescue dogs by a campfire after a long day in the kayak, or the hiking trail.
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Licensed Veterinary Technician

ALISON

DEPUTY, LVT
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Licensed Veterinary Technician

ALISON DEPUTY, LVT

Alison is a Seattle native (ok, she grew up in Bellevue…but we don’t talk about that) and has always cherished animals. She received her Bachelors Degree in Veterinary Technology in…let’s just say it was a while ago…and has never questioned her career choice! She’s worked in general practice, surgery and anesthesia, ER, research, and sales, and has found her forever home at Urban Animal.

“I love our model of making high quality veterinary care available for as many people as possible. I have a passion for medicine and animals, and I love being able to help people.”

Alison is an outdoor enthusiast, a travel and road trip addict, delights in flying with her boyfriend and his family (they’re all pilots!), and she’s quite the bird nerd. She carries her monocular (aka the “spyglass”) with her most of the time she’s outside so she can geek out over feathered beasties. She lives in the sticks with her boyfriend, the two hairy monster felines, Guinness and Eli, and all the deer, bears, squirrels, coyotes, cougars, bobcats, raccoons, possums, rabbits, weasels, and birds that live right outside her door (sometimes literally).
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Licensed Veterinary Technician

KIM

WILKERSON, LVT
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Licensed Veterinary Technician

KIM WILKERSON, LVT

Kim is a true blue PNW native. Yet as one does when growing up and realizing there is more to the world than home, she packed her bags and moved to California and then packed them again to move to Chicago. She worked diligently in the payroll industry as a trainer until she realized, much to her dismay, that there were little to no cats or dogs involved in that line of work. She immediately corrected this mistake by moving back to Washington to attend Pierce College to become a Veterinary Technician. 2018 saw her graduating as Class President, with awards and determination under her belt and a plan to get her BAS ASAP. She has been at Urban Animals since 2019 as one of their many multi-talented LVTs.

She loves all creatures, furry and not so furry alike, but dogs and cats will forever be a mainstay in her home. Currently, she lives with her boyfriend and the vivacious cat Babs, who not-so-secretly runs the house with her fluffy tail held high. When she’s not at work, Kim can be found exploring any given book store for hours on end, enjoying a day at the zoo, or cuddling/entertaining/pampering Babs as often as required and sometimes even simultaneously.
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Licensed Veterinary Technician

ADRIENNE

LOPEZ, LVT
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Licensed Veterinary Technician

ADRIENNE LOPEZ, LVT

Hello! I’ve been a vet tech for 8 years, with a background in emergency/critical care and surgical specialty.

I made the switch to day practice in October 2019, needing a change of pace and balance in my work life.

In my free time I enjoy baking, crafting, and being lazy with my dogs .
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Veterinary Assistant

TAYA

MAES
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Veterinary Assistant

TAYA MAES

Taya Maes has been in the veterinary field working at some of Seattle’s top notch veterinary practices for eight years before opening Urban Animal with her wife, Dr. Trusheim. She has a wide range of both technical skills as well as office management experience. She is a sucker for all four leggers and loves working in the field of veterinary medicine. Taya brings organization and charm to Urban Animal.

In her own words:”I’m a Pacific Northwest native who hates the outdoors and can’t stand the rain. I love a good mani/pedi. One day I hope to get botox but until then I’ll be happy watching the Real House Wives of Beverly Hills with Rob.”
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Veterinary Assistant

LYNETTE

MARTINEZ
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Veterinary Assistant

LYNETTE MARTINEZ

Lynette Martinez joined the Urban team in September 2015 as a veterinary assistant after working in the field for the past 8 years. Lynette is originally from California but moved to the PNW about 4 years ago before adopting a terrier mix and her self proclaimed soulmate, Daisy. In her free time you can usually find her hiking, backpacking, drawing or eating and drinking her way around Seattle.
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Veterinary Assistant

MATTEO

BISCARDI
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Veterinary Assistant

MATTEO BISCARDI

Matteo was born in Queens, New York. At age 10 he moved to Tucson, AZ. From a very young age Matteo had a strong passion for the care of animals. He initially went to college for human medicine and elderly patient care, but after 6 years in the industry, he switched to veterinary medicine. He earned his veterinary assistant degree from PMI and has since worked in hospitals that practiced Eastern and western medicine. He was taught many different types of care from Chinese herbs, acupuncture and laser therapy. When he had a opportunity to move to Seattle, he jumped on it! Seattle is now home and is enjoying the various new adventures here. In his spare time he enjoys hanging out with his rescue cats Link, the gray tabby and Bacardi, the Bombay, as well as taking his box turtle Epona, tortoise Apollo and Diana to parks for fresh air. You can also find him biking in the city, going to the zoo and aquarium.
Favorite part of his job, the outcome of helping animals getting better, making them and their families happy.
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Veterinary Assistant

ALYSSA

CASH
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Veterinary Assistant

ALYSSA CASH

Alyssa is a Whitworth Alumni with a passion for animals and keeping them healthy. After completing her degree she returned to the Pacific Northwest. Alyssa has spent the last few years in the veterinary field as an assistant and is the proud owner of two adorable pups!
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Veterinary Assistant

KAYLA

OSTBY
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Veterinary Assistant

KAYLA OSTBY

I am originally from a little hick town called Sedro-Woolley (HA!) but moved to Seattle as soon as I graduated because of my love for the city life. I started working in the animal field at a boarding facility where I was a supervisor and apprenticed under an amazing trainer for a little over a year. After that I pursued veterinary medicine and have been in the field since 2014. Outside of work, I enjoy my pets, Lila a French Bulldog and two cats Blacky Chan (one in the pic of course and his brother Mr. Meowghi). My boyfriend and I travel a lot. We have been to Italy, Rome, Florence, New Orleans, Canada, Florida, Hawaii, California, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and many more places to come.
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Veterinary Assistant

GRACE

JACKIE
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Veterinary Assistant

GRACE JACKIE

Grace grew up in Connecticut where she started her career as a kennel assistant. She later spent 3 years in Florida where she worked as a veterinary technician and enjoyed the beach. She made her move to the great, pacific northwest July 2017 with her cute, little family of 2 dogs, Milo and Daisy, a rabbit named Fonzi, and her fiance Alex.
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Veterinary Assistant

APRIL

SCHUMANN
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Veterinary Assistant

APRIL SCHUMANN

April Schumann joined the Urban Animal team in July 2017 as a veterinary assistant after working in veterinary medicine for the last 5 years.

April is originally from Austin, TX but has also lived in Washington D.C where she got her start in animal care and behavior.

She has 3 male orange tabbies (Larry, Lionel and Nelson) that she loves dearly. In her free time she loves traveling, playing video games, and walking around the city.
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Veterinary Assistant

SUMMER

TAYLOR
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Veterinary Assistant

SUMMER TAYLOR

Summer was born and raised in Seattle and has loved animals since she was very young. Always watching animal planet and wanting to rescue animals, her first step after graduating high school was to dive into the great big world of veterinary medicine!

Summer lives in Captiol Hill with her two rescued guinea pigs, Bubbles and Carrot. Bubbles was actually found outside of our Downtown location in a bush! They are now living a spoiled and healthy life in a very large cage in her room.

Summer has volunteered at many animal rescues and has worked in the veterinary field for a little over two years now, and she was recently promoted from kennel attendant to veterinary assistant! She is delighted to be working at Urban Animal!
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Veterinary Assistant

ERIN

GRISE
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Veterinary Assistant

ERIN GRISE

Hi, my name is Erin and I’ve been working with animals for the past 15 years, starting out working at dog daycares. I have a 10 year old Pomeranian named Zorro and a 12 year old cat named Pickles. When not working I enjoy crafts, nature, and hanging out with my sassy animals.
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Veterinary Assistant

DANIELLE

HUDES
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Veterinary Assistant

DANIELLE HUDES

I’m from New Jersey, and I’ve been in Seattle for 4 years.

I began working as a veterinary assistant in 2017. It has been incredibly rewarding to be involved with the medical care of the animals I am so fond of!

When not working, I am either training or coaching weightlifting, skateboarding, or hanging out with my guinea pig Obi.
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Veterinary Assistant

TAYLOR

BURMER
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Veterinary Assistant

TAYLOR BURMER

Hi there! My name is Taylor. I grew up in Arizona but I have called the Seattle area my home for the past 7 years (yes, I do actually like the rain here!) I spent the last several years teaching marine science and outdoor education to kiddos of all ages, but found my true passion to be working with animals. I’m so excited to be a part of the Urban Animal team and to learn as much as I can about helping and healing pets! When I’m not working, you can usually find me either playing on a beach or in the woods somewhere, or reading a book with a cup of coffee at home with my fiancé and our two cats (Levi and Jasper) and our tiny chihuahua (Tasha.)
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Veterinary Assistant

STEPHANIE

HASHIMOTO
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Veterinary Assistant

STEPHANIE HASHIMOTO

Born on Oahu and raised in New York City, Steph finds Seattle to be the perfect midpoint. Steph graduated from PIMA’s Veterinary Assistant program in 2016 and joined Urban Animal. They enjoy the chance to learn from Urban’s talented team and meet and treat Seattle’s cats and dogs.

When they aren’t working, Steph enjoys honing their homemade bagel-making skills (gotta make up for that NY bagel deficit!) enjoying a wide variety of cured meats, teaching their cats to jump through hoops and spending quality time with their lovely wife Olivia. They actively restrain themselves from adopting all the animals, but would someday love to have a small menagerie.
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Back Of House Assistant

AUSTIN

CHICK
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Back Of House Assistant

AUSTIN CHICK

Austin is from Tri-Cities, WA. He was a sound engineer in TV production but left that field to work in animal care. For five years, Austin trained dogs and worked for an an exotic animal vet providing daily medical care for reptiles and birds. His favorite part of the job is seeing an animals’ personality emerge while they heal after a successful treatment.

Austin lives in Greenwood with a formerly feral bangle cat named Mama Cat. She rules the house with an iron paw. Mama Cat loves to talk and has no problem telling you what she wants. She will tell you to clean the box and guilt you for leaving late at night. Typical mom stuff.

On his sunny days off, Austin is riding his bike around the Burke Gillman trail and spending as much time outside as possible. When the rains come in, he enjoys baking sweets and hosting a fake cooking show in his kitchen.
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Back Of House Assistant

ASHLEY

DORNACK
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Back Of House Assistant

ASHLEY DORNACK

Ashley Rose was born and raised in the bluff country of Minnesota and moved to Seattle in 2017 after a couple of years in Wisconsin. After years of being a custom framer, she joined Urban Animal in pursuit of her dream career with animals and has never been happier! On her days off she enjoys working on her watercolor paintings, strolling through Elliott Bay Book Co., studying mammalogy and botany, or exploring the PNW with her partner.
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Back of House Assistant

COURTNEY

THIEL
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Back of House Assistant

COURTNEY THIEL

Courtney was born and raised in Michigan but ditched the snow for rain in 2017 (which involved a road trip with her lil old lady kitty who was very unimpressed with Mount Rushmore).

In addition to being a lifelong animal lover, Courtney is passionate about conservation and has spent several years volunteering in wildlife rehab and research (see also: bird nerd). She joined Urban Animal as a kennel attendant in January 2020 and has been enjoying a work environment with a lot less bugs and a lot more good boys. In her free time she provides unsolicited Star Trek opinions, horror recommendations, and Hamilton renditions.
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Front Of House Manager

CALVIN

SPIVEY
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Front Of House Manager

CALVIN SPIVEY

“The Texas born, military brat, that calls Seattle home.

Calvin, his wife, and two daughters have spent the last 10 years living in San Diego. Where he was known for bringing a positive attitude, welcoming smile, and wonderful customer service to all those he encountered. After making the painstaking decision to leave the sun and return home, he decided to join the Urban Animal crew. Which was an easy decision, the companies motto, the atmosphere they created and the philosophy behind affordable option-based healthcare was something he could stand behind.

In his spare time you can usually find Calvin hanging with his family and close friends, but most likely out playing golf somewhere. He doesn’t currently have a pet, but talks about a new dog joining their family soon.”
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Front Of House

CHELSEA

THOMPSON
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Front Of House

CHELSEA THOMPSON

I was born and raised in Seattle, and while I have been working in the veterinary field since 2008, I feel like I’ve found a home at Urban Animal. I’ve always loved animals and feel very lucky to be able to get up every morning and do something I love. When I’m not at the front desk at Urban Animal, I can be found working on cars with my dad at the family business or curled up on the couch with my knitting or a good book. I share a home with my wonderful boyfriend and our two dogs and two cats.
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Front Of House

LYLA

DURHAM
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Front Of House

LYLA DURHAM

Lyla was born and raised in Colorado. She made her way to the Seattle area via time in Wyoming and Alaska. She briefly studied Veterinary Technology and worked primarily with livestock. Upon moving to Washington in 2004, she found her calling as a veterinary receptionist and has been working in the field ever since. When the day is done, Lyla heads home to Tacoma to spend time with her fiance, Jonathan, and her kitties, Zapampereohm and Mahnamahna. In her spare time, Lyla enjoys watching Homicide Hunter: Lt Joe Kenda and spending as much time as possible out of the sun.
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Front Of House

TINA

HOPE
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Front Of House

TINA HOPE

“Originally from California, Tina fell in love with the Pacific NW while transporting dogs from shelter to shelter. Once a month she would load a van up with 30 Chihuahuas and Chi mixes then make the drive straight up from San Jose to Vancouver. As the behavior and rescue coordinator, Tina spent many nights sitting with dogs bringing them out of their shell so they would be adoption candidates. During her seven years at the shelter she implemented enrichment programs, coordinated orphan kitten rescue, and sculpted a new behavior evaluation program that helped raise the save rate to 90%. Although it was difficult to leave such a rewarding career, Tina moved up north to further her education. She is pursuing a degree in natural resources with an emphasis in aquatic ecology. Tina can most often be found exploring either in the woods or the water with her partner, Siberian husky and Chihuahua. When she is not blazing trails she is usually snuggled up with her foster failure Manx cat and a good book.”
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Front Of House

BECKY

GILLIAM
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Front Of House

BECKY GILLIAM

Born in the country and raised in Seattle, Becky has always had an affinity for creatures. After becoming a beauty school drop out, she decided to switch gears and follow her passion. Coming from an emergency hospital Becky feels like she has found her niche here at Urban Animal. Becky shares her home with her boyfriend Bob, a chihuahua named Marty, a pit bull named Obi, and a cat named Keanu. In her free time you can find Becky catching up on terrible reality tv, digging through local thrift stores, avoiding hiking, and searching for the perfect slice of pizza.
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Front Of House

ALEX

NAUGHTON
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Front Of House

ALEX NAUGHTON

Hay y’all!! My name’s Alex, and I grew up in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas. I’ve always loved caring for pets, and I believe that they have wonderful healing qualities. As a youngster I had a hamster named Mac, and my parents still live with our family dog, Buster. After getting a degree in psychology at the University of North Texas I moved to Seattle, and I’ve loved it ever since. In my leisure I like to play music, read, and spend time with my partner Joy and our cat, Jeans.
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Front Of House

KATHRYN

WLODARCZYK
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Front Of House

KATHRYN WLODARCZYK

Originally from Philadelphia, Kathryn relocated to Seattle a few years ago after a six year layover in Portland. She appreciates Seattle’s weather because it is never too warm for a light jacket. Kathryn lives with her partner Jared, two very spoiled cats named Soda and Seven, as well as one goldfish named Ming. Her hobbies include traveling internationally, watching Jeopardy and reading restaurant menus. She spends most of her free time trying to find the perfect dog to adopt.
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Front Of House

TAMMY

DADISMAN
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Front Of House

TAMMY DADISMAN

Tammy was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio and moved to Seattle in August 2018. Tammy comes to Urban with 7 years of experience in veterinary medicine. In her free time she enjoys exploring the PNW with her spouse, Paul, traveling internationally, conversing with her cats Hazel and Bert, and binging an uncomfortable amount of true crime podcasts and documentaries.
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Front of House

KELSEY

JONSSON
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Front of House

KELSEY JONSSON

Kelsey Jonsson grew up in Marietta, Georgia but has called Seattle home since 2013.

Before joining the Urban Animal team she worked at Seattle’s first cat cafe, Seattle Meowtropolitan facilitating cat adoptions and promoting awareness of cat care and behavior.

Today, Kelsey is a recent graduate from the University of Washington and spends her days off drinking lots of coffee, going out for karaoke with friends, and enjoying movie nights with her two cats, Benny and Björn.”
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Front Of House

CAYLEE

BOOKER
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Front Of House

CAYLEE BOOKER

Caylee grew up in Philadelphia, PA and has lived in Seattle, WA for almost 10 years. She has always had a passion for the environment, animals, and medicine. After working in human medicine for a few years, she decided she wanted to work with animals again and found herself with Urban Animal while she pursues her future veterinary education.

She comes home every day to her chunk of a cat named Niko, spends her free time hugging every dog she meets, and travels to festivals across the country to lead teams of volunteers who spread the importance of environmental awareness.”
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Marketing and Social Media

LIZ

LAVIGNE WEBER
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Marketing and Social Media

LIZ LAVIGNE WEBER

Hi There! I have always lived in a home with at least a dog and cat but my first experience working with animals was as a kid, back in the day when you could get a job at 12 years old, I landed my first job at a veterinary clinic in a small town in Minnesota. That Summer I was given a dog and a cat in lieu of wages and received lots of advice from “Doc” Pedersen.

After moving to Seattle in 1999, I rekindled my veterinary experience and worked as a veterinary assistant and now here at Urban Animal, combining my other life of product development, merchandising and marketing.

When not working I’m hanging out with my family or enjoying a moody morning listening to music and dreaming of new places to travel, as well as adventuring the great PNW outdoors and maybe an art project or two.
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Interior Designer

SARAH

LITTLEFIELD
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Interior Designer

SARAH LITTLEFIELD

Sarah Littlefield, proprietor of Seattle Junk Love, is a dyed-in-the-wool Midwesterner. Born and raised in Fargo, ND to parents with an appreciation for travel & adventure, she’d seen more than a few places before landing in Seattle in 2001. A fascination with the amalgamation of style and culture she experienced in her youth now provide her a sense of what’s out there to be discovered as an adult. Simple solutions, comfortable surroundings, an honest appreciation for nostalgia, and a healthy sense of humor often have prominent roles in influencing the interiors she creates.

Sarah’s a friend to both commercial and residential clients, offering services that range from simple to complex. If you need her to find that singular, perfect piece to complete your mountain cabin interior, or design an interior space from the ground up, she’s ready for the challenge.

While she’s most happy behind the wheel of her Chevy van in search of the next greatest thing to complete a project and thrill a client, she’s equally pleased to be home on the couch listening to records. Sarah counts her greatest finds to be a haul of vintage industrial factory lights, the original form that was used to cast the plastic “in/out of service” signs that sit atop today’s taxi cabs, and several old signs from a now-demolished Masonic Hall.

Sarah loves her Red Wing boots, old Ford trucks, even older country and western records, and being first in line at estate sales. You can reach her at seattlejunklovesjl@gmail.com
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Top Dog

BETTY

WHITE
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Top Dog

BETTY WHITE

Betty White found Dr. Trusheim and Taya after presenting to Animal Critical Care and Emergency Services (ACCES) by a good samaritan. She was found caught under a fence while being attacked by other dogs. She had many bite wounds and a severely broken left front leg. Dr. Trusheim was working at ACCES at the time and when Betty came through the door wagging her tail, it was love at first site. Her leg was repaired and after no one came forward to claim the sweet girl….she became a permanent resident in the Trusheim household.
Betty White passed away in 2018 but her very quiet and charming personality lives on at Urban Animal! She may be one of the prettiest girls we’ve known.

We love you Betty, you’re in our hearts forever-
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About Us

Owner/Veterinarian

CHERRI

TRUSHEIM, DVM

Owner/Veterinarian

CHERRI TRUSHEIM, DVM

Medical Director

LISA

EDWARDS, DVM

Medical Director

LISA EDWARDS, DVM

Veterinarian

JULIE

IRWIN, VMD

Veterinarian

JULIE IRWIN, VMD

Veterinarian

SARAH

FOSNAUGH, DVM

Veterinarian

SARAH FOSNAUGH, DVM

Veterinarian

ANNA

MOORE, DVM

Veterinarian

ANNA MOORE, DVM

Veterinarian

MICHAEL

LIGHT, DVM

Veterinarian

MICHAEL LIGHT, DVM

Veterinarian

NICOLE

STAIR, DVM

Veterinarian

NICOLE STAIR, DVM

Veterinarian

SAMANTHA

HMELO, DVM

Veterinarian

SAMANTHA HMELO, DVM

Veterinarian

TRICIA

HANS, DVM

Veterinarian

TRICIA HANS, DVM

Veterinarian

MARY

SCHMID, DVM

Veterinarian

MARY SCHMID, DVM

Veterinarian

HANNAH

LEWIS, DVM

Veterinarian

HANNAH LEWIS, DVM

Veterinarian

JENNA

HEFT, DVM

Veterinarian

JENNA HEFT, DVM

General Manager

ROB

OATMAN, LVT

General Manager

ROB OATMAN, LVT

Manager

JAIME

SYMBOL, LVT

Manager

JAIME SYMBOL, LVT

Manager

DANIEL

SNODGRASS, LVT

Manager

DANIEL SNODGRASS, LVT

Licensed Technician

SHANNON

DWYER, LVT

Licensed Technician