Veterinarians
Dr. Sam Smith
Dr. Sam Smith received his undergraduate degree from North Carolina State University and graduated from Ross University with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1997. While at NC State, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology. Dr. Smith has more than 16 years of experience in veterinary dentistry, with training from boarded veterinary dentists, oral surgeons and continuing education programs. His special interests include raptor rehabilitation, advanced dentistry and orthopedic surgery, including the Lateral Suture CCL technique.
Dr. Stephen Anderson
Dr. Stephen Anderson received his Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from North Carolina State University and continued on at NCSU to graduate with his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. After graduation, Dr. Anderson moved to the Florida Keys to gain more hands-on experience in exotic animal medicine at the Marathon Veterinary Hospital and spent his free time volunteering his services for the Sea Turtle Hospital, Wild Bird Center and Marine Mammal Rescue Team. After a couple of years in the Keys, Dr. Anderson moved on to bring exotic animal medicine and veterinarian services to the Wilmington, NC area. He is also the area veterinarian for the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, the UNCW Marine Mammal Stranding Program and Southern Reptile Rescue, as well as Sky Watch Bird Rescue, the Wilmington chapter of Phoenix Landing and the Wilmington House Rabbit Society. His special interests include exotic animal medicine (including wildlife), surgery and oncology.
Dr. Kelsey Weingartner
Dr. Kelsey Weingartner received her Bachelor of Science degree in Pre-Medicine with a minor in Biochemistry from Kutztown University, and moved to the Island of St. Kitts shortly after to pursue her doctorate. She graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine with high honors, where she spent her first 3 years of training in St. Kitts and completed her clinical year rotations in Raleigh at NC State University. Prior to veterinary school, Dr. Kelsey received several years of training and experience as both a veterinary assistant and receptionist at a family owned practice in her hometown of Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Dr. Kelsey shares her home in Wilmington with her pitbull mix, Jackson, that she adopted during her time in Raleigh. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time at the beach, and taking Jackson on outdoor adventures in the area.
Dr. Katie Alewel
Although originally from Las Vegas, Dr. Katie Alewel has spent 8 years in Missouri where she attended the University of Missouri (MIZ!) for a Bachelor's degree in Biology and her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Alewel knew she wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as she can remember and has been working with animals of all shapes and sizes since high school. After completing her doctorate, she decided to move to Wilmington to be closer to the ocean for regular beach days and a chance to explore the east coast. She knew Paws & Claws was home after completing an externship here and experienced how dedicated and passionate the team is. Dr. Alewel enjoys scuba diving, traveling, hanging out with friends, playing video games and precising the violin. She is excited to be part of the Wilmington community and being able to serve your furry, hairy, scaley and feathery family members. Her own pets include a toy poodle named Harley, a bearded dragon named Flick and Guinea Pigs Appa and Momo.
Sarah Beth
Originally from Alabama, Sarah Beth met her husband, Aaron, who is a North Carolina native and decided she would also make North Carolina her home. Rest assured, she's an Alabama football fan until the day she dies! Now, she is a mom of two boys, Christopher and William. Sarah Beth and her family have two fur babies, Chance and Apache, and a chicken coop featuring their roosters, Mayhem and Dave, and their hens, Jolene and Ivy! In her free time, Sarah Beth loves exploring the outdoors with her family, serving at her church and soaking up all that mamahood has to offer. After leaving the automotive industry, she has absolutely fallen in love with Paws & Claws and does not see a change coming any time soon!
Tiffany
A North Carolina native, Tiffany has been in the veterinary field for over sixteen years! Tiffany was an addition to our staff in early 2018 and quickly fit right in. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband & daughter, watching scary movies, and collecting vintage horror film memorabilia! At home resides her dog, Bronson, but she is also basically Manny's (pictured) godmother. As a feisty juvenile Savannah Monitor, the only thing Tiffany doesn't like about him is when it comes to his feeding time, which includes dubia roaches!
Claudia
Claudia was born and raised here in Wilmington and can't imagine living anywhere else. She has been working in the veterinary field for over 10 years and has been at Paws & Claws since day one. Claudia currently shares her home with her dog "Little Man" (also known as Bruce) and her boyfriend, Corey. Outside of work, Claudia enjoys playing pool, going to the beach, and being with friends.
Kelly
Having lived in many places such as New Jersey, Colorado, and Nevada, Kelly and her family decided to finally settle down in Wilmington in 2021. Kelly has several years of experience holding many positions in animal hospitals throughout the country. She shares her home with her husband, daughters, and cat, Kiwi. In her off time, she enjoys taking strolls on the beach, traveling, and exploring historical sites. Kelly's bubbly personality fit right in and we couldn't be happier to have her on our team!
Erica
Erica joined the Paws & Claws team in July of 2022. A Berklee alumni, Erica is also a teaching and performing pianist! She has worked in animal care since 2019 and enjoys the client interaction she has as a receptionist. In her little free time, she loves to sit on her porch, while her husband watches TV and her dog, Pablo Snickersbar, suns himself in the yard and chases squirrels.
Sam
Casey, RVT
Casey, a native to Hampstead, has been in the animal field for over 10 years. She has known since she was little that she wanted to care for all animals of all species. Before joining Paws & Claws in August of 2020, she graduated from the Veterinary Medical Technology Program at Cape Fear Community College. She officially became a Registered Veterinary Technician in March 2021. Along with joining Paws and Claws, graduating, and taking the VTNE, 2020 brought a wedding for Casey, as she married her fiance of 8 years, Cameron, in December. Casey has 4 fur and scaly children of her own: Rick Ross and Biggie Smalls, who are two sassy bearded dragons; Snorlax, who is spoiled rabbit; and last but not least Nalah, her dog who is the queen of the house. Casey has found her forever home at Paws & Claws and cannot wait for many years to come.
Straight out of early college, Morgan knew where her heart was meant to be - in the veterinary profession. Morgan has worked in animal hospitals for a decade now doing everything from reception, to being an assistant on the treatment floor, to taking care of animals in the kennel. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with friends, going to the beach and hiking in the mountains.
Jessica P.
Jessica has lived in Wilmington her whole life, she enjoys going to the beach with her sister and her son in the summer time. When not at the beach on the weekends, she enjoys reading, crocheting, watching tv, or just spending time with her family. Jessica resides in Hampstead with her husband, her son, her dog "Otis" and her newly acquired cat "Galaxy". She is a graduate of Miller-Motte College with a Diploma in Medical Billing and Coding as well as an Associates in Electronic Medical Records. Shortly after graduating, she realized she really wanted to follow her dream of working with animals. Her goal is to soon start classes at CFCC to become a registered veterinary technician. Jessica's smile & bubbly personality radiates through our office.
Krystin
Krystin is originally from Long Island, NY but moved to North Carolina when she was ten years old. In the past, she worked at a doggie daycare facility, but was introduced to the Paws & Claws family in the early fall of 2017. Krystin has always been driven to take care of animals - even as a small child. She originally started as a receptionist at our office but found her passion as a veterinary assistant where she has enjoyed caring for patients for the last several years. Outside of work, Krystin enjoys camping & hiking in the mountains, taking photos, and practicing yoga. In her free times, she loves spending time at home with her husband Chris, her dog Jack, and cat Julian. One of her favorite things to wear is a smile and you will never see her without one!
Tiffany
A North Carolina native, Tiffany has been in the veterinary field for over sixteen years! Tiffany was an addition to our staff in early 2018 and quickly fit right in. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband & daughter, watching scary movies, and collecting vintage horror film memorabilia! At home resides her dog, Bronson, but she is also basically Manny's (pictured) godmother. As a feisty juvenile Savannah Monitor, the only thing Tiffany doesn't like about him is when it comes to his feeding time, which includes dubia roaches!
Noelle
Noelle is a Wilmington native but moved to Raleigh for a few years to attend North Carolina State University. After earning her B.S. in Animal Science, Noelle moved back to Wilmington to continue working with animals, as a vet assistant, while also applying to vet school. Noelle has four parakeets, two box turtles, and a betta fish. When Noelle is not working, she enjoys staying active by hiking, jogging, or walking at the beach. She is an ACE certified group fitness instructor and loves to teach others that exercise can be fun. Noelle was previously a summer intern at Paws & Claws as a college student and is so happy to be back as a full-time vet assistant.
Hannah
Originally from the Cleveland, Ohio area, Hannah moved to North Carolina in January of 2017 to marry her husband. Prior to the move, Hannah volunteered at a multitude of clinics ranging from small animal practices to equine specialty practices from the time she was in middle school. With a profound love for animals, fostered by her upbringing with dogs and a lifelong passion for horseback riding since the age of 6, Hannah joined the Paws & Claws family in March 2018, and has no plans to go anywhere any time soon! Presently, Hannah and her husband share their lives with two beloved pups, Cooper and Ava, along with their recent additions, a corn snake named Blue and a ball python named Delilah, who are their world. In her free time, Hannah enjoys shooting sports, reading, riding horses and hanging out at home with the pups, snakes and her husband.
Lizzie
Lizzie is a Wilmington native, but she has also lived in Florida and New York! She fell in love with veterinary medicine after volunteering at a vet clinic and made the decision to pursue a doctorate in veterinary medicine. Lizzie is currently attending school to fulfill her prerequisites for vet school. She began working in the veterinary field in 2021 and became a member of the Paws & Claws team in February 2023. She has two cats at home named Mona and Chichi, and three dogs named Alegra, Luna and Osita. A fun fact about Lizzie is that she speaks fluent Spanish! In her free time, Lizzie likes to read, travel and learn all she can about veterinary medicine.
Zoe
Zoe moved to Wilmington from Boone, North Carolina in 2020 to study Marine Biology, but she quickly fell in love with veterinary medicine and joined the vet field in 2021. She has been passionate about animals since she was young and has always known she was going to choose a career path to care for them. Zoe and her boyfriend, James, have three cats together named Charlie, Bo and their newest addition, Twig. She plans to go back to school to become a Registered Veterinary Technician in the future. When Zoe isn't at work, she enjoys unwinding by reading, swimming, playing video games and being a foodie.
MaKenna
MaKenna moved to Wilmington at the end of 2023 after graduating from UNC Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Public Health, focusing in Nutrition. Throughout college, she primarily worked with large animals on farms in Montana, Norway, and Finland. She joined the Paws & Claws family in March of 2024 to continue working with animals while also applying to vet school. Outside of work, MaKenna loves to bike, swim, and run with her Siberian Husky, Blue!
Haley
Haley is from Upstate New York where she attended Cazenovia College. She moved to Leland, NC after receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Management where she specialized in equine business management. Haley plans to further her studies in order to become a veterinarian. Haley has been working in the veterinary field since 2022 and joined Paws & Claws in March of 2024. Haley has one cat at home named Ralph but plans to own many dogs in her future. In her free time, Haley enjoys reading, horseback riding, and learning.
Janae
Janae moved from Orange County, California to Wilmington in 2004. Prior to joining the Paws & Claws family, Janae worked at an animal hospital for 5 years and a dog boarding facility for 4 years. Nothing brings her joy like happy dogs greeting her first thing in the morning! They remind her she is where she is supposed to be. Janae married her high school sweetheart, Carl, and they have two daughters together named Ashleigh and Krysten. They share their home with a small zoo which consists of 3 English Cream Miniature Dachshunds named Cali, Chance and Sebastian, a Chihuahua mix named Roman, and both of their daughter's cats, Binx and Michael, who managed to stay behind when their daughters moved out. Janae enjoys being with her family when she's not working.
Fatima
Fatima, originally from Brooklyn, New York, relocated to Jacksonville, North Carolina three years ago. Adjusting to this change posed initial challenges due to the contrast in environments; however, she has since developed a deep love for North Carolina. Her lifelong passion for animals, nurtured since childhood, has steered her towards her dream of becoming a veterinarian. Joining the Paws & Claws team has provided her with a valuable opportunity to delve deeper into this profession. While this marks Fatima's first job within the realm of animal care, it has only reaffirmed her unwavering dedication to this field. Alongside her career aspirations, Fatima cherishes her own beloved pets, which include three pitbulls named Midnight, Cafe, and Xena, as well as a cat named Cinder.
