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The staff of the Animal Care Clinic brings 70 years of combined experience in the veterinary field to assist you with your pet care needs.
 Name: W. Patrick Parnell, DVM
Title: Owner, Practicing Veterinarian, and Clinic Director
Joined Team: Founded the practice in 1981
Pets: 1 dog (Dolly), five cats (Milo, Ranger, Cashew Kitty, Red and Rum) and two Mallard ducks (Poe and Weeble)
Hobbies: Photography, music, tennis, floating, fishing, and target shooting with my son who is on the trap team in high school.
Favorite thing about the job: Having the opportunity every day to improve my patients' quality of life and interact with clients who are serious about their pet's health care.
Favorite hospital memory -- In May 2006 we celebrated our 25th year in practice with a Silver Anniversary Open House where I was surrounded by the best staff I've ever had, my family and my numerous clients that I consider my friends. I'll treasure that day in my memory always.
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 Name: Melissa Parnell, ABCDT
Title: Co-Owner, Office Manager, Certified Animal Behavioral Consultant and Dog Trainer
Joined Team: May 1983-1985 as the office manager and veterinary technician and May 1996 to the present as office manager, co-owner and Animal Behavioral Consultant
Pets: 1 dog, (Dolly) 5 cats (Milo, Cashew Kitty, Red, Rum and Ranger), 2 Mallard ducks (Poe and Weeble.)
Hobbies: Writing, genealogy, archaeology, research in various areas, interacting with different species of animals and studying their behaviors and characteristics within their habitats.
Favorite thing about the job: Working with wonderful clients and getting to interact with different animals on a daily basis, and as the office manager I am blessed with supervising the best and most talented staff I've ever worked with.
Favorite hospital memory -- In 1983 just after I began working for Dr. Parnell, I made an appointment for "Bo" to have a skin condition checked. Being new, I didn't think to ask, but assumed Bo was a dog. Imagine my surprise when Bo the black bear showed up the next morning, walking on hind legs and standing over 6 feet tall! I learned that day to ALWAYS ask, "So is your pet a dog or a cat?"
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 Name: Rhonda Lofton, RVT
Title: Medical Services Supervisor, Registered Veterinary Technician
Joined Team: July 2000
Pets: 7 cats (Tubby, Lilah, Tiffy, Phantom, Blaze, Tiger, Callie), 3 dogs (Baloo, Daphney, Rusty), 2 horses (Cas, Brownie), 1 pony (Cocoa), 1 donkey (Squeak)
Hobbies: Most of my time is spent with my three children, ages 2 1/2, 4 and 10. However, when I do get a spare few hours, my husband and I like to take off on our horses and trail ride. I also love winter sports: snowmobiling, sledding and ice fishing.
Favorite thing about the job: I love playing with the puppies and kittens and really enjoy laboratory work, especially blood work and analysis.
Favorite hospital memory -- My favorite memory has to do with an animal rescue where over 100 dogs were saved from a puppy mill. Our staff worked with the Humane Society to provide medical assistance for several dogs rescued from a "collector". There were many treatments and a lot of hard work, but the results achieved with these neglected, abused dogs were amazing. My Cocker Spaniel, Rusty, is one of the dogs that was rescued. She came in with a double eye infection, fur matted to the skin and a uterine infection. Today she is a happy, healthy -- if not spoiled -- dog.
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 Name: Misha Titus
Title: Clinic Services Supervisor; Veterinary Technician
Joined Team: August 1996
Pets: 6 cats (Raisen, Lucky, Rufus, Tipper, Holly and Julius)
Hobbies: Spending time with my husband and our six-year-old boy. Family walks, swimming and theme parks.
Favorite thing about the job: Playing with the pets (especially those who are eager/excited to see us.) Reuniting worried owners with their pets after a medical crisis. I enjoy working with the owners, putting them at ease regarding their animal and surgery/sedation. We also have staff retreats, which I love.
Favorite hospital memory -- We had one of our clients, Dr. Christy Hiser, who happened to be a local physician/surgeon, assist Dr. Parnell with an extremely complicated surgery on my 2.5 lb cat who had a diaphragmatic hernia. Surgery was a success, giving me two more great years with my cat.
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 Name: Tara Bonger
Title: Patient Care Specialist; Housekeeping Director
Joined Team: November 2005
Pets: 1 dog (Abby) and 1 cat (Sam)
Hobbies: Reading, playing with my pets, cross-stitching and spending time with my husband.
Favorite thing about the job: Pulling blood and learning new things related to my current course work to become a Registered Veterinary Technician.
Favorite hospital memory -- We had a mother cat and two kittens abandoned at our clinic door. I fell in love with one of the kittens (Sam) and adopted him. Another staff member took the momma cat.
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 Name: Joleen Schmidt
Title: Client Care Specialist
Joined Team: April 2006
Pets: A Rottweiler named Aries, 7 cats (Velvet, Smokey, Emma, Furball, Mittens, Carmel and Misty)
Hobbies: I am co-leader of the Branson Go-Getters 4-H club. I also raise English, French and Mini Lop rabbits. In addition, I do many
things with my four children, ages 15, 14, 12 and 2.
Favorite thing about the job: Getting to play with the new puppies and kittens that come in.
Favorite hospital memory -- This summer I adopted Velvet who was left on our clinic doorstep with two kittens. Velvet was going to be our clinic cat, but it didn't work out so I adopted her.
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Branson, MO 65616
