Christina Bowles, D.V.M.
Dr. Christina Bowles is the proud leader of the outstanding team at Shaver Road Animal Hospital in southwest Michigan. She obtained her Doctor of
Veterinary Medicine degree from Purdue University in 2001 (Boiler Up!), and spent four years practicing at a 24-hour care hospital before joining Shaver Road as a staff veterinarian in 2005. Dr. Bowles has a deep passion for delivering personalized pet care, and this dedication to her clients and patients led her to become the owner of the hospital in July of 2012.
Dr. Bowles is devoted to nurturing the bond between pet owners and their furry family members. She uses her extensive medical, surgical, and behavioral expertise to provide comprehensive care for her patients, while actively listening to the concerns of pet owners. Beyond her work at Shaver Road, Dr. Bowles is an active member of the community, serving on the board of the Vicksburg Community School Foundation and speaking at local schools and daycares. She also runs the high school intern program at the hospital.
Outside of work, Dr. Bowles and her husband, Chad, keep busy with their two boys, Jackson and Maguire. Jackson is off to college and Maguire is close behind him, this is certainly a big change for her and the family! Dr. Bowles’ mornings typically start with snuggles from Scratch, the family’s bottle-fed rescue kitten, and a walk in the woods with their black lab, Olive. She and Chad are water enthusiasts, and they love to spend their free time camping and boating with their family. Dr. Bowles can often be found cheering on the Vicksburg Bulldogs at many sporting events, as well!
Rachel Haas, D.V.M.
We welcomed Dr. Rachel Haas to the Shaver Road team in November 2022. A Plainwell native, Dr. Haas attended Gull Lake schools before completing her undergrad courses at Hope College. She then decided to experience island life while attending Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in the Caribbean! Her clinic rotations were a little closer to home, however, at Purdue University. Dr. Haas has a passion for behavior medicine, and loves helping our clients solve any behavior concerns that may pop up – whether you just need a little advice, or a full behavior consult, Dr. Haas is your DVM!
Dr. Haas and her fiance, Nayt, share their home with an anxious mixed-breed island dog (Piper), and four cats (Jackal, Hades, Spitten, and Bunty). She enjoys her downtime playing video and board games, origami, and cross-stitching. Also an avid rock-collector, Dr. Haas is no stranger to digging in the dirt to find the best specimens! If you see her at a local rock/mineral show, be sure to say hello!
Carol Neal, D.V.M.
Dr. Carol Neal is a Michigan native, a graduate of MSU College of Veterinary Medicine, and has spent most of her time locally in the Portage area. She is the previous co-owner of Portage Animal Hospital, so Dr. Neal may very well be a familiar face to some of our clients. Others may recognize her from her public service endeavors; focusing her efforts in the Portage and Vicksburg communities. Dr. Neal enjoys life to the fullest and certainly keeps herself busy – we love hearing her stories when she comes back from her travels!
Dr. Neal has always had a passion for veterinary medicine, and is proud of the successful veterinary practice she and her late husband owned for 21 years. She is also very proud of her two adult children, and of course the 4 growing grandchildren keep Dr. Neal on her toes! When she isn’t “practicing” retirement, you can find Dr. Neal helping out at our clinic – we keep her busy with a constant stream of appointments!
Jess Kamm, Licensed Veterinary Technician/Team Leader
Jess is a licensed veterinary technician who hails from North Muskegon, MI. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Technology from MSU in 1999. Jess started her career in veterinary medicine at a small animal hospital before joining the Shaver Road Animal Hospital team in July of 2008, where she became the hospital’s first licensed veterinary technician. Jess’ love for veterinary technology stems from the variety of tasks her job entails. From laboratory work and performing dental prophylaxis to anesthesiology, there is never a dull moment in her workday. Her favorite aspect of her job, however, is forming bonds with patients and their owners.
At home, Jess is a dedicated mom to her two daughters that are keeping busy with college. She has a black and white, longhaired cat (Sushi). Jess is also an avid cook and proud owner of five crockpots; if you have a favorite recipe to share, let her know! When she’s not cooking, Jess enjoys kayaking, reading, and watching the newest season of Survivor.
Audrea Bailey, Licensed Veterinary Technician
Audrea is a talented LVT who graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Technology in December 2003. Originally from Indiana, Audrea has spent her career working with animals and has developed a wealth of experience and knowledge in the field. Audrea chose to share her skills with us because our values line up with hers: pets, family, community. SRAH was excited to welcome Audrea to the team in February of 2020.
When she’s not at work, Audrea is a dedicated mother to her two sons, Isaac and Andrew. They share their house with a terrier mix (Milo), one cat (S’mores), and a guinea pig (Layla). Audrea is proud to share her love of animals with her children and together they foster kittens through a local animal shelter.
In her free time, Audrea enjoys baking, gardening, reading, traveling, and spending time outdoors. She is also an avid nature photographer and loves capturing the beauty of the world around her. Audrea’s older son is passionate about beekeeping, and she enjoys helping him with his own bee colony. They are committed to making their yard pollinator-friendly to help support the bees and improve the overall environment. Audrea’s dedication to her family, her profession, and her community make her a valued member of our team.
Emily French, Office Manager
Emily has been with Shaver Road Animal Hospital since January 2003, and she can absolutely concur that if you “do what you love you’ll hardly work a day in your life.” Her love of working with animals started at a young age, and while the trajectory has changed over the years (volunteer positions, horse stables, etc.), ultimately working with animals has always been her passion.
Emily settled in Michigan with her husband, and they have two high-school aged children. They share their home with three cats (Kory, Ramekin, and Marie), and a bearded dragon (Sandy). A Giant Schnauzer (Ronon Dex) joined the French family just in time to keep life from getting too relaxing! In her free time, Emily enjoys Star Wars, math, kayaking, gaming, Star Wars, roller skating, cupcakes, music, and did we mention Star Wars?
Christy Hite, Team Leader/Inventory Manager
Christy wears many hats at Shaver Road Animal Hospital! Not only is she a veterinary assistant, she is our inventory manager and the HR Team Leader! Originally from Blackfoot, Idaho, Christy joined the team in June of 2014 and considers her job to be her dream career. Christy takes great pride in her work and strives to provide the best possible care for all of our patients.
When she’s not at work, Christy enjoys spending quality time with her family. She and her husband Johnny have two grown children and two grandchildren. Christy’s animal family members include two Old English Bulldogs (Kimura and Bull Brisket), the cat who rules the roost (Spencer), and a Pac Man frog (Budweiser).
In her free time, Christy loves to travel and explore new places. She is also an avid reader and enjoys a good horror movie. If you’re looking for a movie that will scare your socks off, talk to Christy! She can often be found spending time with her grandchildren, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Jessie Luke, Team Leader/Veterinary Assistant
Jessie joined Shaver Road Animal Hospital as a veterinary assistant in January 2020. Jessie was born and raised in Kalamazoo, MI. She has always had animals growing up and ultimately knew she would somehow make a career with them. She started her education in criminal justice to pursue K-9 handling and her passion for animals led her to a more tailored career in veterinary medicine.
At home, she has four rescued fur babies: a Border Collie/German Shepherd mix (Kyra), a Shepherd mix (Odin), a German Shepherd (Vera), and a cat who rules them all (Oliver).
Jessie and her husband, Matt, are kept on their toes with their son, who is growing like a weed and is always staying busy! Between working and being a mom, free time is hard to come by, but Jessie finds time to slow down and enjoy the outdoors, gaming, traveling, or just spending quality time with her family and friends.
Kaylee Root, Team Leader/Client Care Specialist
Kaylee, originally a Licensed Cosmetologist from Vicksburg MI, joined our team in August of 2020. Her love for animals has always been a part of her life and she is passionate about her work. While Kaylee is our Lead Client Care Specialist and definitely a familiar face at the front desk, she is also able to step in to assist on surgery days, and provides quality care to our boarding and hospitalized patients in our kennel.
Being the cat person that she is, Kaylee enjoys spending downtime with her six (yes, six!!) amazing cats (Naliah, Malakai, Elijah, Ava, Asher, and Sylas). And if she is not working on her latest painting, Kaylee can often be found watching her favorite TV shows on the couch with a variety of cats keeping her warm.
Sally Browne, Client Care Specialist
Sally is one of our Client Care Specialists, and a very familiar face around Shaver Road Animal Hospital as our longest-serving staff member, having been a part of the team since 1995! She is a valuable source of knowledge, and is passionate about our quality of care and the partnership that we form with our clients. The human-animal bond is important to Sally.
Sally lives with her husband Gary, an energetic pitbull named Wanda (The Wonder Dog!) and a sweet calico kitty (Miko). They also share their woodland property with wild creatures who have learned to rely on them for food and safety. We love seeing the pictures of their wild visitors – especially the owls and pileated woodpeckers!
In her free time, Sally enjoys reading, experimenting with new recipes in her well-stocked kitchen, and attending theater shows. She and her husband also participate in a long-term weekly dog training class with Wanda. Sally’s love for animals, especially her dedication to senior patients, is evident in her work and personal life, making her an essential member of the Shaver Road team.
Simone Heller, Veterinary Assistant
Simone joined the Shaver Road Animal Hospital team in December 2013 and has been an integral part of the Shaver Road family ever since. Simone was born and raised in Germany before meeting her husband and then moved to the United States… The rest is history!
At home, Simone is a proud mother of three adult children and is also the dog mom of two beloved canine companions (Cash and Raven). She treasures spending quality time with her family, especially when she has the opportunity to visit everyone back in Germany.
Simone is known for her vibrant spirit throughout the hospital. If you’ve ever been asked to make a payment in the form of chocolate, you know you are talking to Simone! She has a deep love for people and their pets and she always finds joy in helping others feel their very best. Her enthusiasm and warmth makes her a cherished member of our team and a joy to everyone she meets.
Rachel Smith, Veterinary Assistant
Rachel is a veterinary assistant at Shaver Road Animal Hospital and has been part of the team since February 2016. She is known for her friendly demeanor and is often seen assisting clients with their pets or snuggling a patient during a quiet moment. At home, Rachel has two dogs (Rambo and Dolly), four cats (Bessie, Tom, Diesel, and Wild Bill), and two horses (Cody and Gator). Dolly, a fun-loving Australian Shepherd, visits the clinic often as a resident playdate dog for our day-boarders!
Rachel knows how to keep busy! In addition to offering amazing care to our patients, she also has her own small business (RJS Farms), is the leader of the local MOPS chapter (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers), and is currently taking classes towards an LVT degree.
When Rachel has downtime, you can find her spending quality time with her husband, Sam, and daughter, Josie. Weather permitting, chances are they will be outside camping, riding horses, fishing, or hunting. If it’s a quiet day spent inside, you will probably find some cookies or pies baking in the oven!
Cassie Curtis, Veterinary Assistant
Cassie joined Shaver Road Animal Hospital as a veterinary assistant in September of 2021. With a deep love for animals, she was excited to start learning new skills and become a part of the team. Cassie is passionate about our patients, so whether your pet is here for routine boarding or an in depth surgery, rest-assured that Cassie is providing comfort and exceptional care to each and every patient.
Born in Wisconsin and raised in Michigan, Cassie is currently attending KVCC with a major in biology. She has plenty of farmwork experience and has volunteered at our local animal shelter, as well! Her hobbies include reading, writing, exercising, gardening, and catching her favorite bands in concert. She also has a variety of pets at home that keep her busy, including a dog (Barrett), seven cats (Dutch, Smudge, Ellie, Pip, Baxter, Rain, and Lotus), lots of fish, and a flock of chickens.
Sarah Gano, Veterinary Assistant
While Sarah officially joined Shaver Road Animal Hospital as a veterinary assistant in November 2022, she first spent a summer with us during high school in our intern program. After high school, she decided to pursue her education in animal science. She returned to Shaver Road to complete the Penn Foster College externship requirements, and then we promptly offered her a position on our team after graduation. Talk about coming full-circle; we are happy to have Sarah on board!
Sarah enjoys spending time with her family, and is close with her grandma as well. She has a chocolate lab (Rosie), a cat (Sassy), a bunny (Sullivan
Bugs), and fish. She loves spending time outside – whether fishing, swimming, or jet skiing. If outdoor activities aren’t in the cards, then you might find Sarah shopping or scrapbooking.
Andrea Morris, Client Care Specialist
Shaver Road Animal Hospital welcomed Andrea to the team in December 2022. Prior to settling in with us, Andrea was not only a licensed cosmetologist, but a certified dog groomer, as well! Her desire to work with and help animals in need has brought her to SRAH.
Andrea was born and raised right here in Portage, and she has one cat (Moon) at home. When the weather is cooperating, she enjoys a good hike to
take in the sights and sounds that nature offers. Otherwise, you may find Andrea exercising her imagination with writing. While Andrea will be well-versed in all areas of our hospital, she will certainly become a familiar face at the front desk! Say “HI” the next time you stop by!
Kara VanderKamp, Doggy Daycare Specialist
Kara joined Shaver Road Animal Hospital in 2024, bringing with her a wealth of experience and a fierce passion for animal care. Kara is a Portage, MI native, she spent six years working with an animal rescue organization and also spends her time working for a dog-walking/pet-sitting business.
Kara’s love for helping dogs live exciting and enriching lives makes Doggy Day Care a perfect fit for her skills and enthusiasm. She has a special interest in dog training and is always eager to learn more about canine behavior. Whenever Kara is working, she has a calm and natural presence that brings comfort to any animal she’s with.
At home, Kara enjoys spending time with her miniature poodle mix (Pinky), who joins her on walks around the neighborhood. Kara also loves reading, watching TV, and, of course, exploring the outdoors with Pinky by her side.
