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Our Careteam

Your pet’s emotional and physical well-being is prioritized with every visit. We put the patients first!

Ashley F.

Ashley F.

Veterinary Technician

Thanks to a fascination with medicine and lifelong love of animals, Ashley’s original career goal was to become a veterinarian. After working as a veterinary assistant at a small animal practice, however, she discovered that her true passion lies in veterinary nursing. As one of our amazing veterinary technicians, Ashley enjoys being hands-on with patients and helping to provide the best medical care possible.

Ashley started her career at a veterinary clinic while she was still in college, working toward her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and Biology. Several years and a few clinics later, Ashley enrolled in the online veterinary nursing program at Colby Community College in Colby, Kansas. Shortly after classes started, she and her husband relocated from Springfield, Missouri to Charlestown. She joined Clyde’s Animal Hospital in July of 2022 and has quickly become a pivotal part of the team.

Clinically, Ashley has a special interest in drawing blood and placing IV catheters. Additionally, she has discovered a passion for veterinary dentistry and performing dental prophylaxis. She also loves educating clients on how to care for their pets. Helping people help their pets brings her tremendous joy.

Outside of work, Ashley is married to her husband DJ, with whom she fell instantly in love the moment he fell in love with her dog. Together, they are pet parents to a Golden Retriever named Rey, and are hoping to add some human children to their family in the near future. A self-proclaimed nerd, Ashley enjoys reading, writing, drawing, playing video games, and watching movies and TV with DJ. She also loves being outside and enjoys hiking and walking with Rey.

Emily

Emily

Veterinary Assistant

Emily’s childhood babysitter used to work at Clyde’s Animal Clinic, and Emily and her siblings spent a lot of time here growing up. Emily was only in kindergarten when she observed her first surgery! She knew right away that she wanted to work in animal care herself. Emily’s passion never quit—now, she’s a Veterinary Assistant.

Emily is a Mattoon native and launched her journey in veterinary medicine by setting up a meeting with Dr. Clyde to inquire about a job. It wasn’t long before she had signed on as a member of the clinic family! Emily comes to the clinic after her school day and helps to shut the exam rooms down as the hospital is closing. Her favorite part of the job is the way that no two days are ever quite the same, and she’s constantly learning something new from the amazing staff she works alongside. 

In her spare time, Emily likes gardening, playing tennis—she was ranked number-one on her school’s tennis team during her junior and senior years!—and spending quality time with her friends and family. At home, she shares her life with one pet: Rascal, a white Labrador with a penchant for knocking things over with his tail.

Maranda

Veterinary Technician

Maranda was only a little girl when she decided that she would work with animals one day. She never gave up on that dream. The older she got, the more her heart was drawn to companion animals. Maranda knew that she wanted to help others’ pets live happy, healthy lives! She gets to do just that as a Veterinary Technician. 

Maranda grew up in Villa Grove and attended college to study animal science. She launched her veterinary career at a clinic in southern Illinois, working as a Kennel Technician, before moving home and becoming a Veterinary Nurse at a nearby hospital. In July of 2020, Maranda joined the team here at Clyde’s Animal Clinic to continue her veterinary journey and complete her education as a Veterinary Technician. She’s been a part of the family ever since!

Maranda enjoys assisting in surgical procedures and loves the way it constantly keeps her on her toes. She’s also fond of helping nervous or anxious pets feel more comfortable during their time here. Of course, she’s always partial to puppy and kitten appointments, too! 

When she’s not at work, Maranda enjoys camping, boating, and hiking in the great outdoors. She also loves to spend time with family, friends, and her pets. She shares her life with two dogs—Remi the Black Labrador, and a Chocolate Labrador who goes by Timber—as well as four cats named Jet, Cinder, Louie, and Tilly. 

Samantha

Samantha

Veterinary Assistant

For Samantha, working with animals is more than just a job. It’s the culmination of a lifelong passion. As a veterinary assistant, she loves that she is able to truly make a difference in the lives of animals. No day is the same – it’s never boring, and she gets to learn and grow every day.

Samantha started out as a certified nursing assistant and shortly thereafter obtained her Associate’s degree in applied science with the goal of becoming a medical administrative assistant. After working in human medicine for three years, however, she stumbled across a job opportunity to become a receptionist at a local veterinary clinic and quickly decided it was time to make a career change.

In 2021, Samantha relocated from Texas and took a job at another local veterinary hospital. After taking a break to care for her niece and nephew, she began her search once again for the perfect practice. She came across Clyde’s Animal Clinic, and officially joined the team in August of 2022.

At home, Samantha is fur mom to three dogs of her own: Malibu, Keiser and Tazmanian Devil. Malibu (a.k.a. Mali) is Samantha’s ride or die and acts like a total princess. Keiser is everyone’s favorite. He is a sweet soul and will draw you in with just one look. Tazmanian devil, or Taz for short, definitely lives up to his looney tune character’s name-sake.

Karina

Karina

Veterinary Technician

When Karina was a young child, she recalls visiting the vet and being awe-struck as she watched the doctor work. She was always asking questions about the animals and curious about their care. Even back then, she knew she wanted to one day become a veterinarian, bolding declaring her intentions to her mother. Never wavering in her mission, Karina is thrilled to be one step closer to achieving that goal and loving every minute!

Karina started her journey in high school, when she chose the area of health as her focus. She would then go on to enroll in veterinary school. Professionally, Karina enjoys surgeries because it requires total concentration and great skill. She also likes caring for our hospitalized patients, making them comfortable, and giving them their medication to make them feel better. And, of course, there’s the perk of receiving kisses from patients during their veterinary consultations.

At home, Karina lives with her husband and their two dogs, Milo and Musa. Milo is a very happy dog who loves to make friends and play with his toy rabbit. Musa was rescued from the streets. At the time, she was thin, dirty and scared. Today, however, she is happy, healthy and thriving.

A nonconformist by nature, Karina likes to challenge herself and rarely does anything without a goal in mind. Her greatest achievement to date has been relocating from her home country of Mexico to get a job in another language and culture. She remains determined to get her license and officially become a veterinarian.

Faith

Faith

Receptionist / Kennel Tech

Looking back, Faith can’t remember a time when she didn’t want to work with animals. Even as a young child, she had a deep love and respect for all creatures, and a strong desire to help them in any way she could. She credits her first dog, a lazy beagle named Patches, as the inspiration to pursue her dream and start a career in the veterinary industry.

Faith’s journey began right here at Clyde’s Animal Clinic when she was contacted in September of 2022 about an opening and applied. As one of our receptionists and kennel technicians, Faith truly enjoys getting to know our clients and their animal family members. Bonding with our patients and kennel guests and learning about their unique personalities makes the job that much more special.

At home, Faith has three fur-babies of her own, including a pit bull named Sloan, who believes he’s a lapdog and never passes up an opportunity to cuddle, and two cats, who enjoy watching animal shows on television. All three are inseparable. In her spare time, Faith enjoys being outdoors, whether it’s swimming, hiking, picnicking, or just hanging out and laughing with friends.

Cela

Céla

Kennel Tech

Céla has always wanted to be a vet. What drew her to veterinary medicine, aside from the opportunity to work with animals every day, was the challenge. Because pets can’t talk, they can’t tell us what’s wrong, so keeping them happy and healthy can be like a puzzle. Solving those mysteries intrigues Céla and inspires her to take those next steps in pursuing her dream career.

Céla met Dr. Clyde during the summer of 2022, while working at Aldi in Mattoon. When she mentioned her desire to become a veterinarian, Dr. Clyde suggested she apply at the clinic to gain some hands-on experience. The rest, as they say, is history! As one of our kennel technicians, Céla enjoys keeping things in order, prepping kennels for future boarders, cleaning, and of course, snuggling with the guests!

Outside of work, Céla has several pets of her own, including two cats (Bean and Cosmo) and two guinea pigs (Rosie and Poppy). Bean can be skittish and has an irrational fear of ceiling fans but loves to cuddle with his people. Cosmo is shy but can be sweet when she decides she wants attention. Poppy and Rosie love burrowing under blankets and are both extremely food motivated (especially carrots).

In her free time, Céla enjoys painting, gardening, cooking, playing games, reading, crocheting, and pretty much anything else that will keep her busy. Having worked in the restaurant industry for many years, she has taken a special interest in baking – especially cupcakes. She also recently became obsessed with painting clay pots for her plants.

Alissa

Alissa

Receptionist

The term “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” is something that truly applies to Alissa. Growing up, her mother would rescue every animal she could, fostering in her a deep and lifelong passion for helping pets. After losing her childhood dog to cancer, Alissa knew for certain that working with animals and helping other pet parents was her calling. Now, her childhood dream is becoming a reality!

Following high school, Alissa spent some time traveling through Oklahoma and Texas. Upon moving back, she began attending online college with Penn Foster with the goal of becoming a veterinary technician. To gain experience while taking classes, Alissa joined the Clyde’s Animal Clinic team. Professionally, she enjoys building relationships with our clients and gaining the trust of our patients.

Outside of the clinic, Alissa resides in Montrose with her boyfriend, her son Stetson, and the family’s two Australian Shepherds, Luna, and Ruger. Luna truly lives up to her full name, Lunatic. She has so much go, go, go, but when she calms down, is a great cuddler. Ruger is an old soul who is timid and shy but will love you endlessly.

In her spare time, Alissa enjoys river riding, ATV riding, and hanging out with family and friends. She credits her family as her greatest inspiration and says she couldn’t have accomplished half the things she’s done without their love and support.

“One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home.”

 – Pam Brown