Our Staff
Veterinarians
MICHAEL C BASSETT , DVM Medical Director
Education
BS and MS in Animal Science Virginia Tech
DVM Tuskegee University
History
Born and raised in Ocean City, MD
Five years of small animal practice in Northern Virginia
Served as president of both the Northern Virginia and Montgomery County Veterinary Association
Purchased Shady Grove Animal Hospital in 1983
Purchased The Animal Inn in 1985
Combined the two businesses to form what is now Pet Dominion
Special Interests
Elder pets, retrievers, preventive health care and surgeries, diagnostics that improve the quality of life for patients and their owners
Pets
Guinness the golden retriever loves being a pampered only child
Bagel the beagle and Glasgow the mixed border collie, his daughter’s two dogs, also spend time with them
Hobbies
Running with Guinness, swimming, diving and fitness
Also, spending time with family and friends
Family
Lynda, his wife with the designer’s eye that improves everything that she touches
Jennifer, his daughter who is a human resource manager for JBG and loves her dogs
Justin, his son is a senior at Lynchburg College in biomedical sciences
BETHANY C FALTER , DVM Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Falter graduated from Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 2005 and has been our associate veterinary ever since. Her interests include ultrasonography and surgery. Dr. Falter shares her home with Ben, an australian shepherd, and Puffy Cat and Teddy her two cats.
AMIE L CARRIER , DVM Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Carrier is from the small town of Windsor Locks, CT. She graduated cum laude from Moravian College in PA and then with honors fron the University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Carrier moved on to Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine and completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery. Most recently she was a resident in Internal Medicine and Emergency/Critical Care in Gaithersburg, MD.
Dr. Carrier's academic interests include hepatology, urology, endocrinology, dermatology and infectious diseases. Outside of work Dr. Carrier enjoys cooking, hiking, exercising, reading, writing, medical illustrating and animal rescue. She currently shares her home with a Rottweiler mix named Emma, Tuck the three-legged Tree Walking Coon Hound, Storm a full Rottweiler, Jeanine her kitty and five foster cats.
Technicians
INGA REEVES , BS, RVT Hospital Manager
Inga's involvement with Pet Dominion began in late 1998. She moved on from hospital assistant to veterinary technician and finally hospital manager. Inga graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a BS in Animal Science. She is also a Registered Veterinary Technician in Maryland. One of her aspirations is to become board certified as a Specialist Technician in Internal Medicine. Inga also enjoys focusing her veterinary interests on balanced anesthesia and pain management in dogs and cats.
Outside of work Inga is equally passionate about horses and owns a Thoroughbred named Duncan who she competes in local events. She loves art and enjoys doing pet portraits such as those in Pet Dominion's reception area. Inga and her husband and daughter share their home with Milo the Rottweiler, Damian the gray tabby, Daemona the little orange tabby princess and social director of the house, and Percy the curious and naughty orange tabby.
PAM SHOFF , BS, RVT Medical Technologist
Before joining us at Pet Dominion Pam worked for 13 years as a human medical technologist focusing on hematology. She also owned a cat specialty store, 'For Cat's Sake', for 16 years. Pam has always loved cats and is currently owned by six fabulous felines.
ERIN RICKARD , BS, RVT At the Univerisity of Maryland Erin focused on Animal Science and later graduated from Centenary College with a BS in Equine Studies. She has been a registered veterinary technician since 2006. Her passions include horseback riding, biking, swimming, and music. She has a yellow labrador retriever named Titan and four cats.
FRANCA AYALA Franca is one of our newer additions the the hospital team. She started with us in July, 2008. Franca grew up in Peru and studied veterinary and animal science at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru. She has completed internships in veterinary clinics and National Reserves in Peru and in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She made the move to small animal veterinary medicine after coming to the United States in May, 2008.
TOMMY DONOVAN Tommy joined the Pet Dominion team in August of 2005 as a kennel technician and quickly worked his way up to kennel supervisor. In 2007 he assumed the role of technician's assistant in the hospital. Working with animals has always been a dream of Tommy's. As a child he surrounded himself with a slew of animals including dogs, cats, horses, gerbils, fish, and snakes. Through school Tommy worked at several veterinary clinics. Currently he is taking classes through AAHA to become a registered veterinary technician. He plans to dedicate his life to the care, health, and wellbeing of animals. Currently he shares his home and heart with Sonny his shepherd mix.
CARLOS GARCIA Carlos grew up in Peru, wanting a dog but his mom wouldn't let him have one. Instead he hid in his shed and fed the snails and cockroaches. After a year his mom found out about this activity and during the rest of his youth he had seven dogs.
Before moving to the United States in 2004 Carlos went to college and vet school in Peru. He volunteered at the shelter for one year and has been working at a local referral hospital as an ER and critical care technician. He currently has one dog, Clover, and three cats, Sushi, Sake, and Lucy.
RICHARD DIVITA Technician's Assistant
Richard started at Pet Dominion as a Kennel Technician in 2005. He has always been interested in the medical aspect of our facility and we were happy to have him join the hospital staff in early 2009. He is excited about his opportunity to increase his knowledge base and eventually become a Veterinary Technician. Although Richard loves both dogs and cats, at heart he is a cat person who enjoys lounging around the house and playing with his 7 year old black cat Littl'n.
Administration
KIM KIRKMAN Business Manager
Kim's career at Pet Dominion began in 2002. She has worked as a receptionist as well as a veterinary assistant while going to school. She graduated magna cum laude from UMUC with a BS in Business Administration. Kim became Pet Dominion's Business Manager in 2008. She is currently working toward her certification in veterinary practice management (CVPM). Kim has a big silly staffordshire terrier that shares her home with her and her daughter.
Front Office Staff
DAISY BAQUERO Front Office Manager
More information on Daisy to come.
HILARY HALL Assistant Front Office Manager
Hilary has been working at Pet Dominion since 2006. Before coming to work with cats and dogs she was working with horses, cows, goats and alpacas at the Large Animal Teaching Hospital at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA. She graduated from UGA with a degree in Journalism. Hilary has been an animal lover her entire life and she and her husband currently have two cats, Lexi and Sadie, and a Beagle Mix named Lily.
LISA Lisa joined our front office team in October 2005. She enjoys spending time with family and traveling when not hard at work. Lisa and her husband Jim have two furry babies, 'Daphne' and 'Persephone' - gray patch tabby sister kitties who were rescued and nurtured by Dr. Falter. She is both an employee and a happy client.
NANCY GRIFFIN Growing up in rural Indiana began Nancy's lifelong love of animals. Being part of the Pet Dominion staff gives her the terrific opportunity to continue her passion for pets.
JEN BASINGER Before joining Pet Dominion in 2009, Jennifer graduated from the University of Vermont in 2007 with a BS in Animal Science. She and her husband currently resite with two ferrets, Jack Otter and Calypso, a Border Collie mix named Svara, and Wolfie, the gray and white cat who reigns over the household trying to keep order.
PATTI RUBEN More information on Patti to come.
Kennel Staff
GIOVANNI GOMEZ Kennel Co-Manager
More information on Giovanni to come.
CHASE FIELDING Kennel Co-Manager
Chase began his employment at Pet Dominion in 2006 as a part-time kennel technician while seeking his BA at the Univeristy of Maryland, College Park. Since graduating he has moved on to become kennel manager. Chase and his family has happily shared their home with several spaniels over the years. Currently 'Girlfriend' an English Springer is keeping them on their toes.
CARI RIAL Senior Kennel Technician
Cari has been taking exceptional care of Pet Dominion boarding cats and dogs since 2003. She is a very generous person and enjoys giving the pets here extra comforts and treats, and spending plenty of time with them so that they feel at home. Cari has always loved animals and shares her home with Keegan, a mutt from the same litter as Sonny Donovan, and two tuxedo cats Phoebe and Pearl.
CHRIS SMITH Kennel Technician
Chris has been with us here at Pet Dominion since 2007 and enjoys working with the boarding pets. He looks forward to receiving his certification in pet care in early 2010. Chris has always lived in this area of montgomery county and has a twin brother who also works here at Pet Dominion.
ROBERT SMITH Robert has been working in Pet Dominion's kennel since 2007 and enjoys caring for your pets while you're away. His aspirations include becoming a certified Kennel Technician. Although he loves both cats and dogs and has three kitties at home he is truly a dog person at heart. We are lucky enough to have Robert's twin brother Chris working with us too!
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