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Veterinarian in Athens, GA

Your Classic City Vet

Learn more about Gaines Shoal Animal Clinic‘s Veterinarians & Staff! We are glad to offer your pet the best veterinary treatment!

Meet Our Caring and Compassionate Veterinary Team

We are solely dedicated to your pet’s care! We look forward to getting to know you, and we hope you’ll take the time to scroll down and get to know us.

Our Veterinarians

Dr. Bartelt

Managing Veterinarian

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Meet Dr. Bartelt
Bryce Bartelt, DVM

Managing Veterinarian

Dr. Bryce Bartelt graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and has been working in veterinary medicine since 2016.

Getting to learn client’s stories and how their pets play a role in their lives is what makes Dr. Bartelt excited to come to work every day! He also has a passion for surgery and internal medicine.

In his free time, Dr. Bartelt enjoys spending time with his wife, Abby, and their daughter, Nora. He also enjoys many hobbies including soccer, golf, tennis, and board games!

Dr. Rankin

Veterinarian

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Meet Dr. Rankin
Mackenzie Rankin, DVM

Veterinarian

Meet our newest doctor on board, Dr. Makenzie Rankin. We are very proud to have one of UGA’s finest join our team, and she is already making friends with our wonderful patients! Dr. Rankin is here to be a voice for your pets, and she absolutely enjoys sending them home feeling their very best. Dr. Rankin has a passion for dermatology and preventative care, and we know we definitely see a lot of itchy pets in Georgia! Please stop by to meet Dr. Rankin and ask her questions about your pet’s needs.

Dr. Leigh Fulford

Dr. Fulford

Veterinarian

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Meet Dr. Fulford
Leigh Fulford, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Leigh Fulford is a University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine graduate.

Dr. Leigh is passionate about meeting the various needs of people by providing quality general preventive, medical, and surgical care for the pets they love. Her love for animals goes without saying, but compassionate care for the people these animals find companionship with is a calling that has evolved over the years and one that she finds quite rewarding.

Dr. Leigh enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking in her free time. She values her time with her family, friends, and pets. Dr. Leigh craves adventure and loves to travel with her husband, John, and their young adult kids. She also enjoys quiet time alone reading or running.

Dr. Leigh brings an immense amount of knowledge, expertise, and compassion to Gaines Shoal Animal Clinic, and we are grateful to have her on our team.

Technicians

Ginger, LVT

Registered Veterinary Technician

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Meet Ginger
Ginger, LVT

Registered Veterinary Technician

Bio coming soon!

Management Team

Christine Ford

Practice Manager

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Veterinary Assistants

Brenna

Veterinary Assistant

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Meet Brenna
Brenna

Veterinary Assistant

After a brief sabbatical, we are happy to have Brenna back at Shoal Creek! Brenna has worked with animals her entire career but made the switch to veterinary assistant in 2020. Shoal Creek is her first and, thus far, only clinic she’s worked for, and she says we have done a wonderful job teaching her everything she knows about vet medicine. Prior to joining the SCAC team, Brenna worked as the lead trainer for UGA’s rhesus macaque colony, and though she misses her monkeys, she’s loving getting to learn so many new skills! Outside of work, her favorite pastime is lounging around with her ferrets, Labrador retriever, and husband.

Gia

Veterinary Assistant

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Meet Gia
Gia

Veterinary Assistant

After being a client for over a decade, Gia joined the Shoal Creek team in September of 2020 to pursue her dream of working with animals. A licensed Cosmetologist in a previous life, she will still give haircuts to the Shoal Creek team (and their families). When she’s not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family and 2 cats; and playing video games.

Kaitlyn

Veterinary Assistant

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Meet Kaitlyn
Kaitlyn

Veterinary Assistant

Born and raised in Flowery Branch, GA, Kaitlyn joined our team in September of 2021. She grew up in a household full of animals, from parrots to German Shepherds, and has had an endless love for animals and nature since she was old enough to say “dog”. Her parents work in the ER, and her interests in medicine and fur babies led her to spend her high-school years first volunteering in treatment and then working as a kennel assistant at her local vet in Sugar Hill. After moving to Athens to pursue a degree in Ecology at UGA, Kaitlyn was thrilled to join our team and be able to work as a vet assistant here at Shoal Creek.

When she’s not working or studying, Kaitlyn enjoys reading and watching a mod podge of sci-fi and fantasy adventures and spending time with her bird and puppies! Her favorite hobbies though (when she has the time to travel), are scuba diving and exploring the outdoors with her boyfriend and family.

Tory

Veterinary Assistant

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Meet Tory
Tory

Veterinary Assistant

Tory joined us 1 year ago and is currently pursuing a degree in Biological Science with a Pre-Vet focus at the University of Georgia. She strives to provide a safe and comfortable environment for animals under her care, making every effort to understand them and ensure a low-stress experience. In her free time, she can be found spending time with her dog Hazel, crafting, swimming, or doing aerial dance.

Amber

Veterinary Assistant

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Meet Amber
Amber

Veterinary Assistant

Bio coming soon!

Lawson

Veterinary Assistant

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Lawson
Lawson

Veterinary Assistant

Lawson brings two years of experience to the veterinary industry and is currently pursuing his undergraduate degree at UGA. He takes pride in delivering exceptional customer service, ensuring clients feel comfortable while their pets receive top-quality care. Lawson believes he contributes a positive atmosphere to the clinic and possesses a strong work ethic that influences his coworkers.

In his free time, Lawson enjoys activities such as running, playing soccer, spending time with friends, and engaging in cancer research with his UGA lab.

Joe

Inventory Technician

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Meet Joe
Joe Gwiazdzinkski

Inventory Technician

Meet Joe Gwiazdzinkski; he is one of our longest-running employees, having been with us for 20 years. He is the inventory manager for both of our hospitals, assuring we always have what we need to provide the best care for your loved ones. Joe enjoys working with our teams to help us learn about the newest advancements in animal medicine and what are the best products on the market for our patients. When Joe is not at work, you can find him walking his pup, Josie, enjoying movies, or playing video games.

Kaitlyn H

Veterinary Assistant

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Karen

Veterinary Assistant

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Sam

Sam

Veterinary Assistant

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Meet Sam
Sam

Veterinary Assistant

Sam is an upcoming senior at the University of Georgia, where she’s pursuing her degree in animal and dairy sciences. She dreams of attending veterinary school and one day opening her own clinic. Sam is deeply committed to caring for animals and the people who love them. When she’s not studying or gaining hands-on experience at the dairy farm, you can find her spending time with her four fur babies. Sam is devoted to making every visit a positive experience and is always eager to provide the best care for your furry family members.

Amelia

Destiny

Veterinary Assistant

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Meet Destiny
Destiny

Veterinary Assistant

Hello, my name is Destiny. I have worked in the vet med field for a little over a year. I enjoy doing outdoor activities such as horse back riding, hunting, and enjoying bright sunny days at the lake. I have worked in the large animal field as well as small. I am in school at San Juan College to receive my Vet tech degree in mixed practice.

Amelia

Amelia

Veterinary Assistant

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Meet Amelia
Amelia

Veterinary Assistant

I’m from up in the mountains in Blue Ridge, Georgia and I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Biology at University of North Georgia! Now, I am living in Athens as a veterinary student at the University of Georgia to pursue my dream of becoming a veterinarian!

I started working at clinics once I was in high school and worked as a vet assistant while I was in undergrad! I have always known veterinary medicine was where I belong as I love treating animals and educating clients on how they can best help their pets.

In my free time, I like to read, hike, enjoy all the activities that come with living in Athens, and spending time with my Great Pyrenees mix, Ellie Mae!

Groomers

Robin

Grooming Manager

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Meet Robin
Robin King

Grooming Manager

Hi! I’m Robin, the Grooming Manager at Gaines+Shoal Animal Clinic. I started my career with animals in 2001 as a bather, trained to become a pet stylist and spent many years perfecting my trade. In October 2015, I began working at Gaines School Animal Clinic. In April 2022, I was promoted to Practice Manager of Gaines School Animal Hospital and Barber Creek Veterinary Hospital. In June 2023, we merged hospitals, along with Shoal Creek Animal Clinic, to create the beautiful practice you see today. I still maintain a limited grooming schedule and spend the rest of my time with the operations of the clinic. Away from the clinic, I have a husband, four amazing children, a husky mix, Afghan hound and two cats.

Chaz Rooks

Assistant Groomer

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Meet Chaz
Chaz Rooks

Assistant Groomer

Bio coming soon!

Receptionists

Amelia

Shelby

Receptionist

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Meet Shelby
Shelby

Receptionist

Shelby is a compassionate Veterinary Client Services Representative at Gaines Shoal Animal Clinic. With a lifelong love for pets and a natural gift for connecting with both animals and their humans, Shelby brings empathy, warmth, and reliability to everything she does. At the clinic, she’s a steady, caring presence – greeting clients, managing appointments, and guiding families through the full range of veterinary experiences. She has a deep passion for supporting pet parents through hard appointments, especially end-of-life goodbyes. In those emotional moments, Shelby finds purpose in simply being there – offering comfort, understanding, and a quiet strength when it’s needed most. Shelby’s heart is fully in every part of her work – making a difference, one fur baby at a time.

Outside of Gaines Shoal, Shelby enjoys spending time with her fiancé, MG and their two dogs, Moose and Maverick, and their cat, CJ. She also loves anything involving water and absolutely lives for Halloween. In fact, she’s getting married on Halloween this year! She also has her own pet sitting business that she has been building since before her time at the clinic. She truly loves working in her current position at Gaines Shoal and foresees herself being part of the team long term. She would love to meet you next time you’re at Gaines Shoal!

Hannah

Receptionist

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Meet Hannah
Hannah

Receptionist

Bio coming soon!

Amelia

Sarah

Receptionist

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Meet Sarah
Sarah

Receptionist

Sarah is a dedicated Client Services Representative at Gaines Shoal Animal Clinic, where she plays a key role in ensuring a smooth, welcoming experience for every client and their pet. With over 10 years in the animal care field—including hands-on experience training animals in zoos, aquariums, and in private dog training—Sarah brings a unique blend of professional expertise and heartfelt compassion to every interaction. She is Fear Free Certified and deeply committed to creating low-stress, positive environments for animals and their owners alike. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Florida International University and is known for her calm presence, kindness, and genuine care for the well-being of every animal she meets. Outside of Gaines Shoal, Sarah dedicates time to training dogs, enjoys hiking local trails with her fiancé and her Golden Retriever, Kai, capturing moments through photography, and unwinding at home with a good book.