Harrisonburg Veterinary Center

Anicira’s Operation Free Pet Healthcare provides free sick and well care, dental surgery, spay/neuter surgery, and general surgery to pets of qualifying families in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. Click here to learn more.

Pit Bull Terriers and Pit Bull mixes residing in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County are eligible to receive a $40 spay/neuter surgery through the Pit Fix program. Click here to learn more.

Aiden’s Friend Fund and Feline Fund help pets in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County receive veterinary care. Pet families must qualify for Medicaid or other government assistance to receive funds. Click here to learn more.

Unexpected veterinary expenses can be stressful. We want to make veterinary care affordable for everyone in the community by offering payment options that will fit into your budget. Click here to learn more.

We’ve compiled a list of organizations who assist with veterinary expenses. Click here to learn more.

Cate is the visionary force behind the Anicira Veterinary Centers, serving as its founding CEO since January 2005. With a deep passion for improving the well-being of pets and their families, Cate has dedicated herself to transforming accessible high-quality veterinary care. Under her leadership, the veterinary hospitals have experienced major growth both in the number of non-human family members served and the range of services provided. Cate received an MS in public policy and animals from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and a BA in government from the University of Virginia. Cate is a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) and a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM). She shares her life with her spouse, daughter, and three mixed-breed adopted dogs Bernadette, Liliana, and Louie.

As Hospital Administrator, Melissa spends most of her time making sure daily operations run smoothly. Melissa is very passionate about her job at Anicira and cares very deeply about providing high-quality veterinary care and excellent client service. She works tirelessly to create an environment that feels welcoming where pet parents can be confident that their four-legged family member is receiving the best care. Her favorite part of working at Anicira is helping pets and their families who would otherwise not receive necessary veterinary care and seeing the happy success stories. In 2021, Melissa earned her Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM). Outside of work, Melissa shares her life with her long-term significant other and their six beloved pets. She loves cooking and trying new foods, being outside, watching new movies, and spending time with her closest friends and family.

Dr. Oelstrom has been involved with Anicira Veterinary Center since October 2013. She started as an associate veterinarian at the Manassas hospital helping the practice to grow and helping countless pets and their families. She now serves as the Chief Medical Officer overseeing all of the Anicira hospitals.

Megan received a BA in biology from the University of Virginia in 2005 and earned a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2010. After graduation, she completed a small animal rotating internship at Regional Veterinary Referral Center in Springfield, Virginia.

She has exhibited a passion for surgery and helping animals in need since veterinary school. During that time, she volunteered with the Rural Area Veterinary Service providing spay/neuter and vaccine clinics in remote areas of the United States.

Megan feels blessed to be able to help animals in her community by providing affordable surgical services.

When not in the hospital, Dr. Oelstrom enjoys many outdoor activities (beach-going, skiing, camping) with her spouse, two children, and her “Mississippi mutt”, Obi.

Dr. Akers graduated from Christopher Newport University with a Bachelor of Science in cellular, molecular, and physiological biology. She continued her studies at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine where she earned her doctor of veterinary medicine degree. Dr. Akers loves working together with pets and their families to formulate a successful treatment plan. She is very passionate about client education and fully believes no one knows their pets better than their parents. Working at Anicira, she enjoys being able to provide medical and surgical care to animals that might not otherwise receive it. Outside of work, you can find Dr. Akers working out at Crossfit Harrisonburg and hiking with her dog. She has a soft spot for male orange tabby cats and has three of her own named Finn, Killua, and Gojo. Her dog, Lucy, came from a shelter in West Virginia and was the first dog she performed a spay surgery on during vet school.

Dr. Artale graduated from UNC-Wilmington with a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry. She then received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.

Working at Anicira, Dr. Artale values the exceptional quality of care provided at an affordable price. She is committed to clear communication and tailoring treatment plans to meet the unique needs of each pet and their family. Her professional interests include soft tissue surgeries, dentistry, and medical visits.

Outside of work, Dr. Artale loves spending time outdoors with her family, attending sporting events, fishing, and taking her dogs on adventures.

Dr. Eure graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. Throughout his years as a Veterinarian, he has enjoyed inspiring others, providing high-quality care to animals in need, and focusing on helping both pets and their families live better lives.  Dr. Eure shares his life with a dog named Shashta and a cat named Gandalf. During his time not in surgery, he loves to go whitewater kayaking especially at Watauga River Gorge and he has kayaked through the Grand Canyon a total of four times- 227 miles each trip!

Dr. Kivlighan graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Biology and fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian by earning her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.

At Anicira, Dr. Kivlighan thrives on the variety in her workday, enjoying the mix of routine preventive care, sick visits, and emergency cases in the medical department. She finds joy in witnessing the love between pet parents and their animals and engaging with them meaningfully.

In her free time, Dr. Kivlighan loves spending time by the water with her dog, whom she considers the cutest and funniest dog ever.

Dr. Shelby Pedigo began her education journey at James Madison University, where she majored in Biology with a minor in Pre-Veterinary Medicine and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies and a concentration in microbiology. Her passion for helping pets led her to Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, where she received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Shelby’s fascination with animals blossomed from an early age, and she finds great fulfillment in understanding their unique communication and finding ways to improve their lives. Animals, in turn, are her constant teachers, imparting invaluable lessons. Being a part of Anicira’s compassionate and experienced team is particularly rewarding, as it allows her to provide much-needed care to both people and animals.

Among her proudest accomplishments are the diverse veterinary experiences and travel opportunities she has encountered early in her career. From working in different locations such as France, Florida, Colorado, North Carolina, and New Orleans, she has forged a strong network and gained invaluable exposure.

Outside of work, Dr. Shelby is an avid enthusiast of outdoor activities. She finds joy in hiking, skiing, horseback riding, and running. Her love for trying new things keeps her constantly engaged and active. Dr. Shelby shares her life with Blair, her beloved Australian Shepherd, whom she adopted from Anicira Adoption Center during her senior year at James Madison University. Blair was originally meant to be a foster, but Dr. Shelby couldn’t resist their bond, making her the first foster fail.

Dr. Thompson received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and joined the team at Anicira in July 2021. She was raised on a ranch in rural New Mexico surrounded by many animals and knew from an early age that she wanted to work with animals. Dr. Thompson truly enjoys every aspect of veterinary medicine, especially working with pet parents to provide the best possible care. She loves Anicira’s collaborative and friendly environment. Dr. Thompson has many pets of her own – a horse named Rafiki, a dog named Bee, and two cats named Penny and Leonard. Outside of work, she enjoys riding her horse, taking long walks with her spouse and dog, gardening, and traveling whenever she gets a chance! Being a New Mexico native, she enjoys eating any food that has  Hatch Green Chile in it.

Lauren received her Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology from Blue Ridge Community College in 2021. She is passionate about pet care and gives each animal the same level of care and attention that she would want her own to receive. Lauren most enjoys teaching clients about pet care and loves seeing the strong bonds between people and pets.

Lauren shares her life with her spouse and pets. She has a goat named Ralph and two dogs named Jasmine and Baxter. In her free time, she enjoys going to the park with her dogs and traveling with her spouse and daughter.

Caroline Palmore is a dedicated Licensed Veterinary Technician with a passion for providing exceptional care to animals. Her journey in veterinary medicine began at Blue Ridge Community College, where she earned her associate’s degree in veterinary technology in 2023.

Caroline’s interest in working with animals was sparked by her childhood pets. From an early age, she found joy in “playing doctor” to her dogs and horses and eagerly absorbed knowledge from her family’s veterinarians.

Caroline’s passion for helping pets is palpable, and she has a special place in her heart for shelter animals. She takes pride in playing a small but meaningful role in their lives. Caroline thrives on the diversity of animal personalities and situations she encounters. Additionally, she highly values actively listening to and collaborating with pet parents, recognizing their invaluable insights into their pet’s well-being.

Outside of work, Caroline lives an active lifestyle. She enjoys hiking with her faithful Plott Hound mix, Eddy, whom she adopted from the HCHS. She also enjoys spending quality time with friends in downtown Harrisonburg and channeling her enthusiasm into recording podcast episodes.

Elizabeth graduated from the Veterinary Technician program at Blue Ridge Community College in 2021. She grew up near Harrisonburg on a farm and has always been interested in helping animals. Elizabeth loves getting to know pets and their families and is grateful for the opportunity to form relationships with all family members. Her favorite part of working at Anicira is helping pets receive care that they might not be able to afford elsewhere. Outside of work, she enjoys camping with her family. Elizabeth has three cats — Flounder, Zero, and Stitch — and three dogs — Gage, Ruger, and Benelli.

Kelsey earned an Associate Degree in Applied Science with a major in Veterinary Technology from Blue Ridge Community College. She has always known she wanted to work with animals and takes pride in being an advocate for her patients.

In her free time, Kelsey enjoys spending time with her wife and friends, watching action movies, reading mystery and sci-fi books, and playing video games. She has a dog named Rumple and a cat named Freya.

Kelsey’s favorite parts of working at Anicira are assisting with dentistry and oral surgery.

Jessi attended Bridgewater College, where she received a bachelor’s degree in biology, and then went on to earn her AAS in Veterinary Technology at Blue Ridge Community College. Her love of animals started at an early age, and she works each day to love and care for each patient as if it were her own pet. Jessi’s favorite part of working at Anicira is that the focus is on the patient’s health and well-being above all else. She is grateful to be able to make a positive impact on the outcome of each patient visiting Anicira. Professionally, Jessi is most interested in cases involving feline neonatal and geriatric care, chronic disease management, and emergency care. In her free time, Jessi likes to garden, watch and play sports, go antiquing, and listen to music. She enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and pets.

Karen received her AAS in Veterinary Technology from Blue Ridge Community College. Karen loves serving our clients and patients at Anicira so much that she drives an hour each day to work. Growing up, Karen would bring home animals that needed care and would work tirelessly to save them. She believes that we are the voice for animals and loves being able to help them in any capacity. During her free time, she enjoys hiking at Bear Church- a 12-mile hike!, kickboxing, and watching movies with her spouse and two teenagers. Karen has two rescue dogs – a chihuahua named Ruru and a Pitbull name Jelly Bean – and a cat named Optimus Prime.

Jennifer grew up in Northeastern Pennsylvania. She knew she wanted a career with animals ever since she was a small child. Her family always had a hard time prying Jennifer away from anything with fur, feathers, or scales. At family gatherings throughout her entire childhood, she could always be found wherever the nearest animal was. Even while the other kids might be playing in a pool, she would play fetch with the dog or feed snacks to the horses.

Jennifer spent her early adulthood and college years trying to make time to live her passion by working and volunteering for various animal organizations such as wildlife education centers and animal shelters. She also spent time training dogs.

She began her career with Anicira as an Adoption Specialist in July 2018 and eventually transitioned to her current role as a vet assistant. Her favorite part of working at Anicira is being a source of comfort for the animals and helping pet parents feel at ease knowing their pets will be treated as her own.

Jennifer is always learning more about animal care and building her education. She has an associate degree in Wildlife Biology and a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She is also a certified dog trainer with a certification from Animal Behavior College and a canine massage therapist. Jennifer is currently studying to become a veterinary technician.

Jennifer shares her life with her spouse and a menagerie of animals. She loves spending time outdoors in nature and is working toward her dream of someday owning a hobby farm.

Dan has been a dedicated member of the Anicira team since 2010, starting his journey as a Veterinary Assistant. Over the years, he has taken on various projects across all veterinary centers. Dan also manages Anicira’s Pet Food Pantry in Harrisonburg, a role he is particularly proud of as it allows him to directly support the community’s pets in need.

Dan is passionate about Anicira’s mission to provide the best possible care for all patients. He finds immense satisfaction in witnessing the transformation of animals as they recover from illness, injury, or abandonment. His work at the Pet Food Pantry has been instrumental in its growth, enabling the program to extend its reach and help even more pets.

Dan graduated from Northern Arizona University with a degree in Political Science. He is an active member of the Harrisonburg Rotary Club, contributing to local service projects and community initiatives.

Outside of his professional life, Dan enjoys spending quality time with his wife and two boys. They love exploring vineyards and embarking on outdoor adventures together. Dan is also an avid volleyball player and shares his home with 2 dogs, Flash and Aurie and three cats: Monty, Abigail, and Wednesday.

As a member of the Resource Center team, Liliana is dedicated to helping pets receive the vital care they need. She finds it especially rewarding to assist in emergencies and loves hearing the joy and relief in pet parents’ voices when they learn their pet will receive care.

Liliana attended Blue Ridge Community College. She lives with her spouse, their young daughter who is the light of her life, and their 5-year-old Siberian Husky, Jax. Outside of work, Liliana enjoys spending sunny days outdoors with friends and family and cuddling with her dog on cold days while watching Grey’s Anatomy.

Karen Duffy has always been an avid animal lover. This passion led her to a rewarding career in veterinary medicine. Known for her outgoing and compassionate nature, Karen enjoys the opportunity to help pets and takes pride in maintaining open communication with pet parents.

At Anicira, Karen is committed to keeping pets safe and healthy, and she values the clinic’s community-focused mission. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, attending local festivals, and spending time with family and friends. She shares her life with her beloved adopted orange tabby, Julius.

Chasity is a caring and understanding resource center team member who will go above and beyond to assist pet families. She has worked at Anicira since August 2022 and is excited to learn more about veterinary medicine. Chasity is passionate about DIY projects, gardening, and growing her own food. For fun, she enjoys baking breads and desserts. Chasity is a mother of 3 kids and a wife. She has two rescue pets – a cat named Bloo and a puppy named Zoey.

Liz has always loved animals and grew up with many family dogs in her native Cuba. Despite working in various customer service positions, working at Anicira allows her to combine two passions: assisting people by providing awesome client service and helping pets get the care they deserve. Liz looks forward to coming to work every day and is proud to be part of a fantastic team that positively impacts many pets in the community. As a new mom to a beautiful baby boy, Liz enjoys leisure walks in one of the city parks, where she can spend quality time with her family and her beloved dog, Susie.

Kaydy first became interested in animal welfare and veterinary medicine after rescuing her dog, Charlie, and after a trip to Mexico, where she saw many homeless pets on the streets. Her favorite part of working with animals is learning about each of their individual personalities. Kaydy is interested in learning more about veterinary medicine and plans to pursue further education. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, baking, traveling, and hanging out with her dog.

Maria brings a wealth of experience and a genuine passion for animal welfare to the Anicira team. Maria finds great fulfillment in interacting with pet parents and assisting them in giving their beloved companions the healthcare they deserve.

Two words that perfectly encapsulate Maria’s personality are “friendly” and “outgoing.” She thrives on making new connections and forming lasting friendships. Her adventurous spirit is evident in her willingness to embrace new challenges, like her daring skydiving adventure.
Working in veterinary medicine has ignited Maria’s passion for advocating for the voiceless. She sees herself as a champion for pets, ensuring they receive the care and attention they require.

Outside of work, Maria’s world revolves around her four beloved grandchildren. She revels in spending quality time with them, cherishing every moment. Additionally, Maria nurtures her green thumb by tending to her impressive collection of 70 houseplants and finds solace in her gardening endeavors.

As a proud pet owner herself, Maria shares her life with a wonderful crew. Adessa Jade, a loyal Pit Bull, has been her faithful companion since puppyhood. Sugar Cookie, a charming Miniature Horse, was a heartfelt gift to her youngest daughter. And then there’s Hotdog, the stray cat who stole her heart and became a treasured part of the family.

Marlene has an exceptional ability to connect with both people and animals. She thrives in the collaborative environment at Anicira, where she continuously gains new knowledge about veterinary care. Her passion for helping pets is fueled by the relief and comfort she hears in clients’ voices when they learn their pets can receive the care they need.

Marlene takes pride in assisting clients who may not be proficient in English, ensuring they receive clear and accurate information about their pets’ health and appointments. She wants pet parents to know that she is dedicated to helping their pets receive the best and most timely care possible, and she loves seeing the adorable faces of all the pets she helps.

Outside of work, Marlene enjoys watching movies, traveling, cooking, reading, and spending quality time with her siblings. The holiday season is her favorite time of year and she loves participating in festive outdoor activities. A fan of the Harry Potter series, Marlene enjoys binge-watching the magical adventures. Marlene shares her life with Luna, a lab mix with a fun-loving personality who adores going on walks.

Pets have always played a huge role in Jacob’s life. Working in veterinary medicine has allowed him to combine his love for animals with a stable, rewarding career. Jacob enjoys helping pets and their worried families because “pets are members of the family for a lot of people, and their concern and worry is equivalent in many cases to their own children.” Outside of work, Jacob prefers spending quiet time alone, playing video games, and creative writing. He has two rescue cats—Big Boy and Skitty.

After high school, Teresa joined the Army where she served for a combined six years as an active service member and a reservist. She is passionate about providing excellent client care and helping pets receive the care they need. Teresa loves pets because they each have such unique personalities. In her free time, she enjoys camping with her two dogs: Max, an Irish Setter, and Rooster, a Yorkie. She lives on a farm that keeps her busy.

Mary’s career in marketing communications began at Apple Computer, Inc., and she continued in high tech until she felt a nudge to serve and improve her local community. Mary answered that nudge by switching to nonprofit administration, initially leading marketing communications efforts for the UNC Medical School and UNC Healthcare System in Chapel Hill, NC.

Since relocating to the Shenandoah Valley in 1997, Mary has led marketing communications, community relations, partnership development, donor relations, and public relations for various local nonprofit industries, including healthcare, K-12 private and public higher education, the local children’s museum, and the regional public library system.

Mary is committed to breaking down barriers for her neighbors and connecting people to missions that benefit community needs. With a passion for animals, animal welfare, and access to affordable care for all living beings, leading Anicira’s marketing communications is Mary’s childhood dream come true.

Mary holds a B.A. in English Literature and Communications from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she also studied performing arts and nonprofit management. She and her husband enjoy travel, taking their Golden Retriever Penny on many adventures, and reveling when their three young adult children are in the Valley or available to explore someplace new in the world. When she’s not at Anicira, you’ll likely find Mary supporting local businesses, attending arts events of all kinds, or just curled up with her nose in a great book.

Katie has been instrumental in defining the voice and presence of Anicira across its three hospitals. Her responsibilities are vast and varied, from crafting web copy and curating social media content to managing grants. Katie works to highlight what makes Anicira unique.

Katie graduated from the University of Virginia in 2017 with a degree in Media Studies. Outside of her professional life, she is an avid outdoors enthusiast. She enjoys hiking with her three dogs, camping, gardening, and working with her fiancé on their farm. Her love for nature and animals perfectly complements her work at Anicira.