Our Staff
Primary Supervisor Torey Edwards says that she values the capabilities that are enabled by Cascade Animal Medical Center’s resources. “I love the technology we have and all of the options we are able to offer our clients because of that technology,” she says. “I also like that the people I work with are fantastic, which makes it a lot easier to get up as early as I do; it’s fun to be here and we all learn new things each day.”
Torey’s primary responsibilities include opening the building in the morning, serving our clients and tending to the boarding and daycare animals, which involves providing medications, feeding, exercise, and playtime. She has been with the Center since July of 2005 and says that working in the animal care field came naturally to her after spending most of her free time as a kid helping care for animals on her best friend’s farm.
Torey has a Pitbull named Boomer and spends her free time reading and with her friends and family. She also says, “I wish I had time for horseback riding, hunting, fishing and camping, but you can only do so much.”
Patient Coordinator Supervisor Dorothy Sanders has a wide range of responsibilities that include client service, scheduling, setting up boarding reservations, and a number of front desk tasks and duties. “I really like interacting with the clients and their pets, meeting new clients on a daily basis, and helping resolve any problems or concerns that our clients may bring forth,” she says. “My work really is a very rewarding challenge.”
Dorothy has been with Cascade Animal Medical Center since April of 2006 and says that integration of the Center’s practice management software has been a huge asset in her work. “It really is a privilege to be able to work at such an advanced and technologically up-to-date veterinary practice,” she says.
Dorothy’s animal family includes a Jack Russell Terrier named Emma, a Miniature Schnauzer named Max, a Terrier/Pomeranian mix named Pepper, and a German Wirehaired Pointer named Jackson. She also enjoys gardening, spending time with family and friends, shopping, movies, music, and volunteering each year for the cancer telethon.
Patient Coordinator Brittany Mae Bartholomew says that she likes to think that she can bring a smile to the staff and our clients and works each day to be a positive force around the Center. “I love the staff I get to work with and our clients too,” she says. “Not everyone gets to wake up and go to a job they enjoy like I do!”
Brittany has been part of the Cascade Animal Medical Center team since September of 2010, which also marks her entry into the animal care field. She is currently enrolled at Rochester Community and Technology College in the Veterinary Technician program. Her responsibilities with the Center include greeting and checking clients in and out, phone calls, and client services.
Brittany has three dogs: a Mastador named Callie, a Dachshund named Monster, and Koda, a Great Dane. She spends her free time riding with her fiancée on his Yamaha R1, traveling, hiking, and has recently taken up hunting.
Certified Veterinary Technician Emily Horejsi joined the Cascade Animal Medical Center staff in March of 2009 and began working in the animal care field in 2007. She has an Associate’s degree in Applied Science for Veterinary Technician and is a member of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association.
Emily says she enjoys having both the hospital and boarding co-located within the same state-of-the-art veterinary facility. The advanced nature of the facility also offers her quite a bit of experience working with the diagnostic and lab equipment, which she finds particularly rewarding. Her other duties include taking X-rays, assisting during exams and procedures, client education and support, drawing samples for lab work, and managing other related responsibilities.
At home, she has a Golden Retriever named Mocha, a Pitbull named Louie, two cats named Rita and Java, and an Albino Holland Lop rabbit named Butters. She likes to spend her free time taking her dogs for walks and watching movies.
Certified Veterinary Technician Danielle Hoffman says that she enjoys her work at the Center because, “We have a beautiful facility with great diagnostic equipment and resources. I also appreciate that the staff here feels like a family and that we have such awesome clients.”
Danielle joined Cascade Animal Medical Center’s staff in December of 2005 and has been in the animal care field since 2002. She has an Associate’s degree in Applied Science for Veterinary Technician from Argosy University and underwent an internship during college at a veterinary clinic in Minneapolis-Saint Paul. She also teaches a puppy socialization class here at the Center that focuses on how clients with new puppies can socialize their dogs in a positive way.
Asked about her own pets, Danielle says there are too many to count, “I live on a hobby farm, so we have cows, horses, chickens, ducks, dogs and cats.”
She goes on to add, “My free time involves horseback riding, enjoying time with all of my animals on the farm, and spending time with my husband working on the dairy farm that his family owns.”
Certified Veterinary Technician Heidi Jo Breitbarth joined Cascade Animal Medical Center’s staff in June of 2005, but began her career in animal care in 2004. Her responsibilities include monitoring patients in the hospital for treatments and surgeries and keeping track of patients undergoing chemotherapy. She has an Associate’s in Applied Science in Veterinary Technician and is certified in Minnesota and nationally.
“I enjoy the various medical diagnostics we offer such as digital radiography and ultrasound,” she says of her work at the Center. “I also enjoy working in such a nice setting just outside of town.”
Heidi has a Rat Terrier named Roxy, a Boxer named Titan, and two cats named Toby and Ace. She is also a part-time groomer and a member of the Minnesota Association of Veterinary Technicians. In her free time Heidi tries to get outdoors as much as possible to fish, hunt, hike, camp, or simply sit around a camp fire.
Veterinary Technician Carissa Walters says, “It really is a pleasure to be able to work with all of the modern diagnostic technology we have such as our ultrasound, digital radiography, lab equipment and so on. I also enjoy working with our exotic and pocket pets.”
Carissa began her career in the animal care field at Cascade Animal Medical Center in 2006 and has an Associate’s in Applied Science for Veterinary Technician. She is currently working on earning her certification. Her duties with us include phlebotomy, anesthesia, dentistry, and client education.
At home, she has a Coonhound named Maggie, a Lab mix named Ranger, a Black Lab named Hunter Bear and a cat named Gemma. She likes to pheasant hunt with Maggie and Ranger as well as go fishing, camping, cook, arts and crafts, and is working on becoming a gardener.
Veterinary Technician Jacqueline Himmer says that she gains a great deal of satisfaction from helping educate our clients about how to better care for their pets. She also appreciates the professionalism of her coworkers and the opportunity to work with cutting edge veterinary technologies at the Center.
She began her career in the animal care field with Cascade Animal Medical Center in December of 2009 after earning her Associate’s degree of Applied Science for Veterinary Technician from Rochester Community and Technical College. Her work includes assisting during exams and procedures, blood draws, IV catheter placements, anesthesia monitoring and lab work.
Her pets include a Bichon/Shih-Tzu mix named Bailey, a Lab mix named Sadie, and a Lab named Madeline. “I enjoy taking Bailey and Sadie for walks and helping my dad down on the farm,” she says.
Veterinary Technician Christina Inman has an Associate’s degree in Applied Science for Veterinary Technician and served a three-month internship at the Mayo Clinic’s Research Department. She joined the staff at Cascade Animal Medical Center in January of 2010, but began her career in the animal care field in 2008.
“The staff here is easy and fun to get along with,” says Christina. “The clients are excellent as well. I love seeing the different kinds of pets and their loving families as well as helping a sick pet get better and return home.”
Christina has a Husky mix named Bear and likes to hike, fish, read, and go horseback riding in her free time.
Veterinary Technician Darla Rae Endle says, “I like that there is so much we can do for our clients’ pets onsite as far as lab work, surgeries and other diagnostics. I really do like working in the lab the best, though, because cytology is a high-interest area for me.”
Darla joined the staff at Cascade Animal Medical Center in June of 1997, but began her career in the animal care field in 1990. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1994 from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire. Her responsibilities include performing lab work, tending to pets in the hospital, taking medical histories, blood draws, and assisting during exams and procedures.
At home, she has a Yellow Lab named Loosy; three Dachshunds named Cami, Duncan and Quigley; and a cat named Quincy. “I spend most of my free time raising my five children, but when there’s time I like to scrapbook, read and go biking,” she says.
A member of the Center’s Kennel staff, Kelley Smith says that her favorite part of the day is playtime with our canine guests. She first joined Cascade Animal Medical Center’s staff in October of 2010, but started her career in the animal care field in 1998 as a dog groomer. She is currently working toward an Associate’s degree in Applied Science for Veterinary Technician at Rochester Community and Technical College.
She has a Toy Aussie named Bodhi, Shih-Tzu/Poodle mix named Peaches and an Italian Greyhound named Vito. Her free time is spent with her son playing sports and taking the family’s three dogs on hikes.
Kennel Attendant Nicole Guzman is currently enrolled in the Veterinary Technician program at the Minnesota School of Business College and has an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice. She has been with Cascade Animal Medical Center since September of 2010 and has been working in the animal care field since 2005.
Kennel Attendant Jessica Brekke is currently studying to become a certified Veterinary Technician.
Katie Kelly works in the kennel area and she has a special interest in animal behavior.