Carolyn Smith has been a dedicated member of the AmherstVeterinaryHospital team for 18 years!Carolyn has the best of both worlds, be being versatile in both front office and veterinary technical work.She especially enjoys her work at AmherstVeterinaryHospital because no two days are the same, there is always something new to learn and it gives her the opportunity to meet new people.Carolyn has been married for 31 years, has three children, 5 grandchildren, 2 dogs, 3 cats and 5 horses.She is an active member of First Baptist Church of Monroe where she serves on the finance committee and is a member of the missionary union.Her interests include horse back riding, quilting, traveling and spending time with her children and grandchildren.Carolyn has lived in AmherstCounty for the past 18 years, and enjoys her farm off of High Peak Road.We are lucky to have Carolyn and her dedication to AmherstVeterinaryHospital!
Chastity Breeding has been a part of AmherstVeterinaryHospital for almost 17 years.Her dedication to the practice, the animals and people here is evident as soon as you meet her!She was “born interested in animals” and was always the one in her family that helped with sick animals, even when she was just a child.She loves being around animals, and loves working here.Chastity is a graduate of AmherstCountyHigh School, and is married with three children (2 boys and a girl).She enjoys spending time with her family and likes cooking as well.Along with having met her best friend, Rachael, Chastity says that Amherst Veterinary Hospital is not just a place to work-it is home and family.We are glad she feels the same way we do, and is a part of it all.
Michelle Ripley joined the Veterinary Assistant/Technical staff almost seven years ago.She enjoys her work at AmherstVeterinaryHospital because of the compassion and caring she can provide for the animals.She has always had a special place in her heart and an interest in cats.Her nick name at AmherstVeterinaryHospital is “The Cat Lady”.She believes there is no better feeling at the end of the day than working with animals.Michelle has lived in Lynchburg for 9 years, and graduated from EC Glass High School in 2002.Recently married, her husband and she share their home with 3 cats, a leopard gecko, a beta fish and a rabbit named “Mr. Nibbles”.She enjoys the outdoors, riding ATVs and doing home improvements to her new house.AmherstVeterinaryHospital is glad that Michelle has applied the passion and caring to the animals in our practice.
Michelle Lewis began working at AmherstVeterinaryHospital in 2005. Michelle was born in Bedford, Virginia and graduated with honors from AmherstCountyHigh School. Michelle has two children, 2 dogs, 2 cats and 2 fish. Michelle has always loved animals and loves working at AmherstVeterinaryHospital. She thinks that animals are appreciative of the care they are given, and enjoys singing to the animals which she says makes them happy. Michelle also spends time working at the Amherst County Humane Society and believes people should adopt more animals from the shelter to help save a life. Michelle says “I feel really good that I was able to help an animal or an owner by loving that animal. There is nothing like a good, old sloppy dog kiss. I am all about the animal-whether its holding the paw of a sick animal, bathing a dirty dog or just playing with the dogs in a run. What a blessing!!” Michelle and her love for animals are a great addition to our staff.
Kim Wise has lived in AmherstCounty for her entire life, and graduated from ACHS in 2004.She has lived on a farm her entire life, and she feels that her interest in animals is something that came naturally to her.Her greatest enjoyment from her work at AmherstVeterinaryHospital comes from knowing that her work is making a difference in some animal’s lives.She takes pride in her work and says that “Whether itis getting animals clean and shiny with a nice bath or clipping their toenails, I know I make them feel better.”Kim lives on a cattle farm in AmherstCounty with her parents and younger sister, 2 dogs and 1 cat.When not at work, Kim likes to enjoy the outdoors, hanging out with friends and her nephew.Kim’s caring and attention to details of animals are a wonderful asset to AmherstVeterinaryHospital. Kim will soon be a Certified Animal Health Technician.
Debra Deacon joined the front office staff 4 years ago.Debra is a native of Lynchburg, having graduated from EC Glass High School in 1974 and CosmetologySchool in 1990.She loves her job because she gets to work with animals and people.She never remembers a time without an animal being an important part of her life, and can’t imagine a life without them.She presently has two dogs, “Banjo” a five year old Shih-tzu and “Snuggles” a three year old Peke a Poo who she thinks has been named perfectly. She has one daughter and three grandchildren who live close by and she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.Debra is a people person too, and is a great asset at the reception desk in helping people and their animals get the care they need.
Pam Cash has lived in AmherstCounty and the local area all her life.Her interest in animals has shown itself throughout her life.After graduating from AmherstCountyHigh School, she received her cosmetology degree and received additional training in the art of dog grooming.Pam takes pride in her ability to love and take care of the animals that are staying here as well as the owners would if they were here.When not at work, Pam likes to spend time with her husband of 24 years, her three children, her 3 dogs, and friends.She likes to cook, garden, camp and make crafts.Pam says “I would love to be able to spoil and love your animals at our boarding facility.I take great pleasure in doing that!”The animals that come here are happy about that as well.
Cortney Lewandowski began working at AmherstVeterinaryHospital in 2006 as a part time employee. A 2008 graduate of HolyCrossRegionalCatholicSchool, she is currently a freshman at SweetBriarCollege. Cortney plans to pursue a major in dance at Sweet Briar and hopes to have her own dance studio. Cortney likes to spend part of every day she works visiting with each and every one of the dogs and cats in our care. She likes to check to make sure they are comfortable. She also has fun giving dogs a bath and getting them to smell good for their owners.
Melanie Higginbotham is an AmherstCountyHigh School graduate of 2005 and began to work at AmherstVeterinaryHospital in 2002. She attends SweetBriarCollege and intends to graduate in 2010. Melanie works part time while going to college, and she particularly enjoys spending time with all of the animals in our care. She has always had pets, and has always had a great interest in helping them. When not at school or with us, Melanie finds time to enjoy outdoor activities, working out, running and spending time with friends. She is the proud owner of her best four legged friend, Blair, who also sometimes goes to class with her at Sweet Briar!
Rachael Wade
has beena valuable member of the AmherstVeterinaryHospital team for ten years. She is the senior Technician and has a variety of responsibilities. Rachael says “It is hard to pick one thing I love about my job, when there are so many to choosefrom!” She finds that she has a special bond with the sick animals in our care, and believes that they appreciate all the kindness they are given. Rachael gets a great sense of satisfaction when the animal recovers and is reunited with their family. She especially enjoys all the new puppies and kittens we see. She says, “who can resist a new baby?” Rachael has lived in the AmherstCounty area for most of her life. Happily married to her husband, Steve, her “at home time” is spent with her 2daughters, 3 dogs, her long haired white cat and her newest interest, 20 chickens! Most of her pets have come into her life from prior situations that had caused them to become abandoned. Rachael loves her co workers (including her best friend Chastity our receptionist), and has “deep respect for all the doctorsI work with because they work tirelessly to help your pet.” She enjoys the challenge of learning something new every day and sharing that knowledge with our clients. She wants to see all of the pets at AmherstVeterinaryHospital “live a long and healthy life.” We know Rachael is a integral part of the excellent care the animals receive at AmherstVeterinaryHospital
Billie Bibb has been living in AmherstCounty on and off her entire life.Billie began her career as a groomer over forty years ago in Florida.Her interest in grooming animals began with the appearance of her own animals.She has been a grooming instructor as well as an owner of her own business for twenty years, and has been with AmherstVeterinaryHospital for thirteen years.Billie spends any free time she has riding her Harley, gardening and traveling to Myrtle Beach and Florida.She has two beautiful daughters and three amazing grandchildren.Her West Highland White Terrier, Ms. Madison, has a special place in her heart, and Billie says she is “human”.Her favorite part about her job is the transformation that occurs during the grooming session and the appreciation of her clients.We know the animals appreciate the grooming too!
Carolyn Smith has been a dedicated member of the 
an important part of her life, and can’t imagine a life without them. She presently has two dogs, “Banjo” a five year old Shih-tzu and “Snuggles” a three year old Peke a Poo who she thinks has been named perfectly. She has one daughter and three grandchildren who live close by and she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Debra is a people person too, and is a great asset at the reception desk in helping people and their animals get the care they need.
Billie Bibb has been living in 