Doctors & Technicians

Michael Bassett, DVM, Medical Director

Dr. Bassett was born and raised in Ocean City, MD.  He received his BS and MS in Animal Science at Virginia Tech, and his DVM at Tuskegee University.  In 1983, he purchased Shady Grove Animal Hospital and then The Animal Inn in 1985.  He combined both businesses to form what is now Pet Dominion.  His special interests include senior pets, preventive health care, and improving the quality of life for patients and their owners.  He has served as president of both the Northern Virginia and Montgomery County Veterinary Associations.  His son, Justin, also works at Pet Dominion as a canine physical therapist, and his daughter works as a human resources manager for JBG.  He and his wife Lynda are proud owners of Jameson, a fun-loving Golden Retriever.

Lance Brody, DVM

Dr. Brody began his veterinary career at Pet Dominion in June 2019. He was born and raised in Rockville, MD. He knew he wanted to be a veterinarian in high school so he worked at various animal hospitals as a technician, cow and horse farms, and even spent time doing research in a lab. He attended The University of Maryland where he earned his B.S. in Animal Science then went to veterinary school at The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, VA. Dr. Brody enjoys all aspects of small animal medicine but is particularly passionate about surgery, dentistry, preventative medicine, and working with new pet owners. As a firm believer in the importance of the human-animal bond, Dr. Brody is dedicated to providing high-quality and individualized care. He believes that good client communication is necessary to provide patients with the best care. He lives in Rockville with his wife Kristen, daughter Brooke, and cat Leo. In his free time he enjoys playing hockey, basketball, and paintball.

Andrea Franco, DVM

Dr. Franco was born and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland. From a young age she knew she wanted to be a veterinarian and in high school she started shadowing at various animal hospitals. She obtained a B.S. in biology from the Catholic University of America where she participated in research in a lab. After college she worked as a veterinary technician at a local animal hospital and volunteered with animal shelters. Dr. Franco is a recent graduate from St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine in the Caribbean island Grenada and completed her clinical training at the University of Georgia. She has a special interest in internal medicine, cardiology, and preventative health. Dr. Franco is a self proclaimed cat lady and lives with her two island cats, Nina and Peppi, who she adopted in Grenada and Lola her golden retriever.

Anthoni Minor

Anthoni grew up with all different types of animals because he lived in the country with dogs, cats, goats, chickens, rabbits and cows! He has been working in the veterinary medicine field for the past three years. He’s a recent addition to Pet Dominion, but he has previous vet tech experience. He is also in the process of becoming a Certified Veterinary Technician. He lives with two cats of his own.

Devon Youngclaus

Devon joined the team in November 2011. She grew up in a small beach town in Connecticut and went to school in Colorado. She has a very well-loved cat named Sir Walter and always opens her home to foster pets. In her free time, Devon loves to explore DC and try new restaurants.

Davon Williams

Davon joined the Pet Dominion team in 2015. He starting as an animal care technician in our lodging facility and more recently became a technician assistant in the hospital. He was born and raised in Montgomery county where he lived and attended school. His dogs Achilles and two newly adopted pups Kanye and Wilhelmina “ Mina” barker enjoy coming to work with him each day to play in daycare.  Aside from building computers, he himself loves to cook and is an avid gamer in his free time.

Ashley Gallarza

Ashley started her career in veterinary medicine in 2001 at a small beach hospital located in sunny California. Ashley moved to Maryland in 2012 where she continued to grow her knowledge in veterinary medicine specializing in Surgery In-Patient Care. Ashley is a mom to four amazing little rascals, one pug and a purrfectly fabulous kitty. Ashley is an amazing animal lover who allows herself to learn and grow with every new day. In her free time, she enjoys anything outdoors, family time and doing just about anything creative.

Princess Ugorji

Princess has been in the veterinary care field for over 15 years. She joined the Pet Dominion team in 2019 as a part time veterinary technician. Princess has always had a strong affinity for animals. Princess has 5 fur babies of her own. Princess has 2 dogs and 3 cats. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hikes and any outdoor outings with her fur babies and daughter.

Kelsey O’Brien

Kelsey joined the team in 2019. She grew up in Gaithersburg MD, attended Montgomery County schools and went on to Salisbury University to achieve her bachelors degree in English and Biology. She has worked with a variety of animals ranging from large raptors to tiny insects and has a deep appreciation for all creatures. She lives at home with her husband Dustin, their pug Xander and cat Vincent.