Our Staff at CCVSS

Joyce Arnold - Veterinary Technician

Joyce Arnold was born and raised on a 40 acre farm in Ft. Wayne Indiana. She grew up around sheep, cattle, and chickens. She started riding horses at the age of 12 for fun and in competition. Her main focus was hunter/jumpers.

Joyce attended the International Business college in Fort Wayne, where she was a member of the inaugural class of the college's veterinary technology program. Upon graduation in 2007, Joyce came down to Sarasota to visit her brother and his family for a 2 week vacation, and has never left.
Joyce loves working in the field of emergency and critical care. She has worked in other specialties but always seems to be drawn back to the CCU.

Joyce shares her home with two dogs. Her black lab Ginger is 12 years old (but thinks she's only 3) and her Old English Mastiff Mufasa, 8, loves to get into trouble and blame his older sister.




  Joyce with a post-op patient

Dawn Gillis - Veterinary Technician

Dawn transplanted from Connecticut to Florida back in 2006. She worked around animals for over 15 years, having owned her own barn, and working on a ranch. Dawn has experience training horses and dogs.

Dawn has been working in the veterinary world for about 10 years with most of her experience in the emergency setting. She had the opportunity to work at an emergency specialty hosptial in Connecticut for several years prior to relocating to Florida.

She really enjoys taking care of animals, and has adopted many with special issues that they have had in the begining of their lives: 3 dogs, 3 cats and a bird with a few fosters here and there. Dawn's Rottweiler, Cruz, is the poster boy featured on the clinic's sign.




 

Erica Morris - Veterinary Technician

Erica was born and raised in Bradenton, FL. She grew up on a farm with horses, dogs and cats. She was involved in 4H and FFA, showing her dogs and horses competitively. Erica realized she wanted to be involved in animal medicine after her dog was gored by a wild hog when she was 8 years old.

Erica attended University of Florida in Gainesville FL. She received her bachelor's degree in Animal Biology. She worked as a technician for 6 years in general practice in Gainesville. She returned to her hometown and started working emergency and critical care. The variety of cases seen in emergency makes this job very exciting.

Erica shares her home with her dog Ninja. She continues going to her mom's farm weekly to ride the horses and play with her dogs and cats. Erica enjoys the outdoor activities that Florida has to offer including the beach, fishing, and camping.



  

Jonathan Raichel - Veterinary Technician

Jonathan is a proud native of the Hoosier state. In 2010, he completed his undergraduate studies in natural resources and environmental science at Ball State University in Muncie, IN. Upon graduating, Jonathan and his wife Mallory moved to Florida.

Jonathan has had several jobs in the animal field including wildlife rehabilitation, and a stint with The Walt Disney Company as a veterinary hosptial intern at Disney's Animal Kingdom. He is currently in the process of completing prerequisites to attend veterinary school and has interests in zoo and wildlife medicine as well as small animal medicine.

Jonathan and Mallory live in Bradenton. They have a collection of furry children: a Shetland sheepdog named Roxy, a mouthy Siamese named Jolene, a tarantula, and one non-furry rosy boa constrictor.



 

Kristen Little - Reception/Veterinary Assistant

Kristen Little was born in a small town in Connecticut and moved to Lakeland, FL with her parents when she was 9. Growing up, she only ever had one dog, a Schipperke mix named Itchy, who lived for 16 years. She always thought working with animals would be fascinating. She took a position working at a USF research center while attaining her BS in Biology, which made her realize this was something she'd like to do full time.

Kristen and her husband Michael have been married for 5 years. Together they have 2 human kids (Sophie & Olivia), 2 dogs (Spot & Roscoe) and 3 cats (Gizmo, Oliver & Crybaby).

Kristen is excited to join the CCVSS team, and works both as a receptionist and veterinary assitant in the clinic.




 

Kayla Sprague - Reception

Kayla was born and raised in Sarasota, FL. She has had dogs and cats all her life, and took her first job working at a veterinary clinic when she was 15 years old. It was there that she realized her love for animals and how much she wanted to be involved in animal medicine.

Kayla graduated from University of Florida in Gainesville, with a bachelor's degree in Animal Biology. She worked as a technician in an animal hospital in Gainesville, as well as a research intern at the University of Florida Equine Science Center in Ocala. She then returned to her hometown and started working here at CCVSS as a receptionist.

Kayla shares two rescued dogs with her boyfriend Zack: Duke is a 1 1/2 year old lab/shepherd mix and Remi is an 8 month old Pit Bull mix. In her spare time, Kayla loves doing kinds of outdoor activities. Whether it's fishing, boating, or camping, she always makes sure to bring the pups along.



  

Josi Hixenbaugh - Inventory Control and Pharmacy

Josi was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana. She grew up on her grandparents' old farm. She has a twin brother and an older sister. An animal lover early on, Josi was active in 4-H, raising goats. As she grew older she became involved in gymnastics and competitive cheerleading, traveling the United States.

In 2003, Josi came to Florida on vacation and decided to stay. She moved to Venice in 2006, the year she gave birth to her daughter, Kharina. Josi loves the outdoors and the Florida sunshine. She enjoys camping, fishing, and hanging at the beach with friends and family.

Here at CCVSS, Josi keeps track of inventory and pharmacy supplies. She dispenses medications ordered by the doctors and makes sure we always have enough of everything on hand. She also does her best to keep the clinic looking neat and tidy, and helps with reception when needed.



  Josi

Joyce with a post-op patient

Josi