Spokane's Top Veterinarians & Pet Health Specialists
Dr. Hart graduated from Washington State University in 2002. Upon graduation, he practiced as an associate at Ocean Beach Veterinary Hospital in Longview, WA for four years and became Medical Director during his last year there. He joined the Fairwood Animal Hospital team in 2006 as an associate before purchasing the clinic from Dr. Vic Perger in January of 2009. His special interests include ultrasound, endoscopy, canine reproduction and surgery including orthopedic, laser, and minimally invasive surgeries.
Dr. Hart grew up in East Wenatchee, WA, and is an avid outdoorsman. He enjoys fishing, bird hunting, spending time with friends and family, and most of all being a dad. Dr. Hart and his wife, Jen, have two children. They also share their home with two cats – Bro and Olivia and two dogs – Duke and Lulu.
Dr. Hanson joined our team in 2008 as a hospital assistant and returned in 2018 as a veterinarian after graduating from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Prior to that, she graduated from Riverside High School and received a Bachelors degree from Whitworth University. Dr. Hanson shares her home with her husband (Kwinn) and her three children (Anson, Monroe and Kashious). Before joining FAH, she coached soccer. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Dr Hanson said, "The staff are like family. I love the level of care and broad spectrum of medicine that we offer." We are so excited to have Dr. Hanson on our team!
Mataya originally joined the Fairwood Family in 2019 as a Veterinary Assistant. She came to us already having a Bachelor Degree in Animal Science. Soon thereafter, she was accepted into the WSU Veterinary program and went off to school. We are so thrilled that she rejoined our team in July 2024 as one of our talented and compassionate Veterinarians! Dr. Beal has a husband, Nolan. Together, they have two dogs (Pip and Liko) and two cats (Chester and Luna). Before joining FAH, Dr. Beal was an undergrad student. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Dr. Beal said, "Helping take care of all of the pets that come in!" We are so excited to have Dr. Beal on our team of exceptional Veterinarians!
Dr. Feist joined the Fairwood family as one of our Associate Veterinarians in January of 2021. Dr. Feist did her undergraduate studies at Gonzaga University where she earned a Bachelors of Science in Biology. During that time, she had the privilege of playing on the Gonzaga Women's Soccer team, which also taught her invaluable lessons in teamwork, time management and work ethic. From there, she moved to Pullman, WA to complete her veterinary studies at Washington State University of Veterinary Medicine. When she is not working, her hobbies include soccer, camping, and hiking. Dr. Feist plays in a co-ed adult indoor and outdoor soccer league year round. She would also like to get into backpacking. Dr. Feist loves house projects - anything from paint to small construction and remodeling. Family is extremely important to Dr. Feist and she can never get enough family time. She comes from a family of 7 kids and they all love spending time together. Whether that's socializing over dinner, competing in cornhole, Nertz or Spikeball, or participating in TikTok challenges that they're probably too old to be attempting (her words, not ours!). No matter the scene, they always have a great time together. Dr. Feist shares a home in Deer Park with her husband, Ryan. They hope to expand their family soon with a Mastiff and a Great Dane! They have plans to expand their human family in the future, as well. Prior to veterinary school, she started in a small animal hospital as a Boarding Caregiver. She was new to the profession and trying to get her first "real" experience in the field. Over the course of a few months, she worked her way into a receptionist position. She got to know many families and their furry friends over the course of three years. After graduating from WSU VTH, she joined a busy small animal VCA hospital as an Associate Veterinarian. They served the community as an urgent care and general care provider. They worked long hours and were available 7 days a week. It was a steep learning curve but provided her with invaluable experience in surgery and advanced diagnostics. Dr. Feist has a soft spot for giant breed dogs. She also takes a personal interest in dermatology and nutrition. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Dr. Feist said, "My favorite think about FAH is our amazing team. My support staff makes work fun and they genuinely care. They strive to serve every single client. They advocate for each pet to overcome scheduling challenges or to simply make the visit less stressful. Most importantly to me, they work hard. No matter how many extra appointments we take, how late we stay, or the number of lunches they miss, they show up the next day ready to do it all over again. It shouldn't be so rigorous, but they endure and continue to make my job doable." We love Dr. Feist and are so grateful to have her on our team!
Amanda joined the Fairwood team in 2011 as a Boarding Caregiver and has since learned every position in the hospital, from the front desk to the treatment area. Amanda’s favorite part of her job is observing medical procedures, learning new things, and getting to know our patients and clients. Outside of the clinic, Amanda enjoys crafting in her free time, and spending time outside. She and her husband are always busy with their three daughters, their dog, Olaf, and their chickens.
Amber joined the Fairwood Family in January 2021. She initially started as one of our Boarding Caregivers but is now one of our amazing Veterinary Assistants! Amber has a Bachelor degree in Animal Science from WSU. In her spare time, she likes to go kayaking, fishing and camping! Amber has 4 dogs - Remmi (Chocolate Lab), Emma (German Shepherd), Paisley (Aussie Doodle) and Marshall (Pomchi Doodle). She also has 2 cats named Waffles and Moana. Before joining FAH, Amber worked as a CNA and attended school to obtain her degree. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Amber said, "the adorable patients, my co-workers, and constantly learning new things!" We are ecstatic to have Amber on our team!
Ayla joined the Fairwood Family in July 2022 as one of our awesome Boarding Caregivers! Ayla is a senior at Mt. Spokane High School and will graduate this year. She is also doing Running Start at Spokane Falls Community College. She will be moving to Ellengsburg in January 2025 to attend Central Washington University and pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Biology! Ayla's hobbies include snowboarding in winter and hiking and going to the lake in the summer. Ayla has two family dogs - Ruger (a 12 year old Labrador) and Kash (a 7 year old German Shorthaired Pointer). When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Ayla said, "I love the people - everyone is super sweet and fun. I also like getting to meet new pets everyday! I enjoy how many new things I learn everyday!" We are happy to have you on the team!
Casidi joined the Fairwood Family in June 2024 as one of our friendly Client Service Representatives. Before joining FAH, she graduated from Mead High School and then attended Paul Mitchell School of Cosmetology. Her and her husband Jesse have three daughters: Braelyn, Kalayna and Monroe. She was most recently a stay at home mom. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and traveling. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Casidi said, "Everyone is so friendly!". We are happy to have Casidi on our team!
Delaney joined our team in March 2021 as a Veterinary Assistant. Delaney took a special interest in the reproductive side of things and eventually took over the role of Breeding Coordinator, as well. Before joining the FAH team, Delaney was a stay-at-home mom to her son, Dakota. In her free time, Delaney enjoys shooting guns, watching movies and online shopping. She has 2 dogs (both St. Bernards) and 1 cat. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Delaney said, "The relationships you build - both professional and personal!" We are so thankful to have Delaney on our team!
Devon joined our team in June 2019, while she was finishing High School. She is one of our amazing Boarding Caregivers and also works as a Client Service Specialist, as needed! When she is not working, she enjoys hiking, reading and drawing. Devon has a boyfriend of 9 years, Nathaniel. Together, they have 3 cats - Stewie (a 16 year old rescue), Salem (a foster fail) and Chickpea (also a rescue). FAH was Devon's first job and coincidentally, the career she dreamed of having! When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Devon said, "I love the opportunity for growth that I'm given and of course, seeing all the cute furry friends I get to take care of." We are so grateful to have Devon on our team!
Emily joined Fairwood in 2020 as a client service representative and started off her experience in the veterinary field. In her time at Fairwood, Emily has taken on more administrative duties and moved into the role of Administrative Coordinator. Emily loves problem solving and finding creative solutions for clients, patients, and staff members alike. Outside of the office, Emily can be found with her nose in a book or spending time with her husband and two cats, Summer and Morty.
Emma joined Fairwood in 2025 as one of our Veterinary Assistants. In her time at Fairwood, Emma has shown great interest in any learning opportunity offered and wants to use her experience as she works on getting her pre-veterinarian credits completed at MSU. Emma shares her home with her husband and their two cats, Chevy and Blaze, and two dogs, Bella and Juno. When not working with pets, Emma is usually riding horses, playing hockey, enjoying all the outdoors has to offer, trying new foods around Spokane, or training to eventually compete in a half-Ironman.
Starting out in 2020 as a Boarding Caregiver, Erica quickly worked her way to veterinary assisting in early 2021. Erica loves coming to work each day to be with coworkers who care about pets as much as she does. With her background in biology, Erica loves running our lab and has aspirations to become a veterinary student in the near future. She is nothing but passionate in her work, both at Fairwood and coaching tennis at Whitworth University. In her freetime, Erica loves being active: playing soccer, running, or spending time with her dog, a wheaten terrier named Jessie.
Grace joined the FAH team in May 2022 as a Boarding Caregiver, before moving into the role of Client Service Representative. She has a general AA degree. Her hobbies include camping, reading, hiking and spending time with her animals. She loves camping and camp fires. She also LOVES the snow and taking her dog for walks in the snow. Grace has a dog named Bonnie and two cats named Ember and Pinky. Before joining FAH, Grace worked at Safeway. When asked what she likes most about working at Fairwood, Grace said, "the people and animals!" We are so lucky to have Grace on our team!
Kara joined the Fairwood family in June 2019 as one of our Veterinary Assistant's. She has a Bachelors degree in Anthrozoology from Carroll College and is working on her Bachelors degree in Animal Behavior from Virginia Tech. In her spare time, she enjoys DIY projects, crafting, video games and cycling. Kara and her husband, Blake, have two dogs (Charlie and Hiccup - both Border Collies) and two cats (Dora and Ninamich). Before joining FAH, Kara worked at a doggy daycare. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Kara said, "Caring for the animals and my co-workers!" We are so grateful to have Kara on our team!
Kelsey joined our team in July 2017 as a Boarding Caregiver. She is currently a Veterinary and Treatment Assistant. Kelsey graduated from Mead High School in 2019. She has taken some college classes at both WSU and Penn Foster. In her free time, Kelsey enjoys photography and painting. This is Kelsey's first (and hopefully only) job! Kelsey has two dogs - Pearl (a Heeler) and Isis (a German Shepherd mix). She also has a Bearded Dragon (Marlowe) and Leopard Gecko (Echo). Kelsey, sadly, has recently lost two sweet pups - Mariposa and Bumblebee - both French Bulldogs. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Kelsey said, "Helping animals in need and the energy and atmosphere of teamwork with my co-workers." We are so lucky to have Kelsey on our team of rock stars!
Laurie joined Fairwood in 1999 and has held multiple roles over the years; her skills as a Licensed Veterinary Technician still come into play as our Hospital Administrator. Laurie and her husband, Jay, have two grown children, Cami and Jason, and have two dogs, Mick and Piper Rose.
Lindsey joined our team in July 2023 as one of our Boarding Caregivers and Treatment Assistants. Lindsey is in high school and will be graduating in 2026. Her hobbies include playing basketball and soccer. Lindsey has 1 brother, Nate. Her family has 4 pets - Lulu and Duke are dogs and Bro and Dashi are cats. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Lindsey said, "Getting to work with animals!" We are thrilled to have her on our team!
Megan is currently enrolled in Mead High School and works at FAH after school and on weekends. Her hobbies include playing basketball and reading. Her and her parents have one dog, a chocolate lab named Rui. When asked what she likes most (so far) about working at FAH, Megan said, "I really enjoy the atmosphere, everybody is so great!" We are happy to have you on our team, Megan!"
Melody joined Fairwood in 2012 as a Licensed Veterinary Technician after graduating from Yakima Valley College, and is now our Technical Team Manager. Mel loves the family aspect of the company culture here at Fairwood, as well as helping pets in anyway she can; she thrives on all the variety of pets and experiences Fairwood has to offer. When she is not caring for our patients, Mel loves spending her time at the lake boating, riding the side-by-side, having BBQs, and enjoying everything the outdoors have to offer. Along with her three children, Mel shares her home with her two cats, Monica and Elfie, and her dog, Millie.
Nyla came to Fairwood in May 2021 as one of our amazing Client Service Representatives. It wasn't long before she worked her way to the role of Boarding Supervisor. You may still see her filling in as a CSR on occasion but her primary role is to keep our Boarding department running smoothly. Nyla graduated from Mead High School in 2018. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, out door adventures and playing with her fur babies. Nyla and her boyfriend (Joziah) share 1 dog (Annie, a Retriever mix) and 4 rescue cats (Junebug, Tanjiro and a mother/son duo - Jupiter and Nebula). When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Nyla said, "I love our sense of community here and how much fun we have. We all love getting to take care of our patients!"
Paisley joined Fairwood in 2024 as a Licensed Veterinary Technician. Paisley’s experience in the veterinary field started in 2016; she has worked with wild animals, large animals, and exotics. Paisley has her Bachelors of Science in Veterinary Technology (BSVT) and aspires to attain a credential as a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in general practice. Paisley comes to work ready for the chaos each day brings. She has a special interest in clinical pathology and emergency care. Outside of the clinic, Paisley can be found hiking, spending time with her family at sporting events, reading, or crocheting. Paisley and her family care for their cat, Cosmo, and two dogs, Murphy’s Law and Maple Bacon.
Here since 2017, Paiton started as a Boarding Caregiver and has worked in every position Fairwood has to offer. Currently, Paiton is working as a Veterinary Assistant while she attends Penn Foster to receive her Licensed Veterinary Technician License. Paiton’s diverse experience at Fairwood has given her a passion for radiology and dentistry, making client and patient connections, and advocating for all animals. She is a self-described failed foster parent of numerous French bulldogs and doodles. In her free time, Paiton spends her time with her family, caring for her nieces and nephews, crafting, or spending time outdoors. She shares her home with her husband and their four dogs, Polson, Bella, Tugboat, and Pudge.
Paityn joined the Fairwood Family in June of 2024 as one of our awesome Boarding Caregivers. She is in high school currently and will help take care of your fur babies in boarding during her free time. Her hobbies include soccer and going for walks. Paityn has 3 pets and 1 sister. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, she said that she is excited to get to work with animals! We are happy to have Paityn on our team!
Rachel joined our team in January 2025 as one of our awesome Boarding Caregivers. She is a Junior at Mead High School. Rachel and her family have two French Bulldog mixes, Maggie and Sophie. In her free time she enjoys reading, spending time with friends, volunteering at the animal sanctuary and being in the great outdoors. Before joining the FAH family, Rachel was focused on her schooling and spent time volunteering at River's Wish Animal Sanctuary. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Rachel said, "The people! Everyone is very accepting and welcoming. Overall just a great place to be!" We are thrilled to have Rachel on our team!
Stephani joined our team in August 2020 as a Boarding Caregiver. She left for a few months to start her own cleaning business. She came back as our Hospital Custodian in November 2021! Stephani graduated from Mt Spokane High School in 2004 and from Apollo College in 2007 from their Medical Assistant Program. Prior to joining the FAH team, Stephani was a Stephani joined the Fairwood team in 2020 as a Boarding Caregiver and has moved around and experienced many different parts of Fairwood from custodial work to reception, moving up to Client Service Manager. Stephani enjoys providing our clients and pets the comfort and support they need and working with an amazing team where she truly feels she belongs. Apart from camping, boating, comedy, and reading, Stephani spends her time with her pets, a dog, Maverick, her two cats, Tuesday and Batsy, and her family: her husband, Ryan, their three children, and growing number of grandchildren.
Sydney joined our team in January 2023 as one of our stellar Veterinary Assistants. She received her Bachelors degree from WSU Major Animal Science in December 2022. Prior to that, she graduated from Lakeside High School and attended Running Start at Spokane Falls Community College. Before joining FAH, she also worked at WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Sydney and her fiancé (Branson) are getting married in September 2024! They share one dog, a black lab mix, named Luna. When asked what she likes most about working at FAH, Sydney said, "The staff!" We are happy to have Sydney on our team!
Taimith joined our team in November 2011 as a Boarding Caregiver. She is now one of our amazing Veterinary Assistants. She works in the hospital assisting doctors with their surgeries, filling medications, completing vaccinations and blood draws for tech appointments and ensuring the overall comfort of our hospitalized patients. Taimith has a daughter. Sadly, her best furry friend passed away in 2021 but she is hoping to rescue a dog sometime in the future. In her spare time, she likes going to the gym (she considers working out a form of therapy and calls herself a gym addict), spending time with family, listening to growth mindset podcasts, traveling and doing outdoor activities during summer. She is not a fan of the winters in Spokane. Taimith also hopes to one day travel to different countries to volunteer her time to rescue homeless dogs and cats. When asked what she likes most about working at Fairwood, Taimith said, "Since I don't have any pets I love seeing all of the cute faces, tail wags and smiles. Animals truly fill my heart with joy. I really appreciate all of the pet parents that go that extra mile for their pets. I love that FAH takes care of us by giving us the tools we need to expand our skills." We are so appreciative for Taimith and the amazing skills that she brings to our team!
Travis has been a part of our team since December 2020. He is "Mister Fix-It" and is our go-to person for maintenance requests. He helps keep everything running properly. Travis has an AA degree in Customer Service from Spokane Community College. In his free time, Travis enjoys playing golf, building models and going to the gym. His wife, Shasta, is our Office Manager. Together, they share 5 dogs and 1 chinchilla. Most of Travis' jobs have been in Customer Service and/or Sales. When asked what he likes most about working at FAH, Travis said, "Getting to see the interesting cases and being able to repay Dr. Hart for everything he does for the clinic - his clients and staff, alike." We are happy to have Travis as part of our team!
Troy joined our team in August 2021 as a Boarding Caregiver before moving into a Veterinary Assistant role. He graduated from Mead High School in 2013. Before joining the FAH team, Troy installed and maintained satellite internet systems. In his spare time, he enjoys playing disc golf, longboarding, snowboarding and playing computer games. Troy has 1 cat named Beerus. When asked what he likes most about working at FAH, Troy said, "Feeling like what we do everyday matters - and the people!" We are so lucky to have Troy on our team!
