About Our Staff
Susan-Hospital Administrator       

I have been with the hospital since 1994.  My job title is Hospital Administrator but
you will often see me outside; building, landscaping, painting, even digging holes! I
also do large quantities of paper work, take care of the inside of the facility, help with
our patients and their parents when needed as well as a variety of other tasks.
Currently, I am studying Acupressure through Tall Grass Institute and have been able
to, under the direction of Dr. Mills,  include this into our massage therapy sessions. I
am blessed to say that I love my job and really enjoy both our clients and the excellent
team of people I work with. My husband and I currently share our lives with three
kitties, a beautiful Australian Shepherd named Cinnamon, an adorable Border Collie
named Tobias, a wonderful funny Dalmatian named Patch as well as an Arabian mare
named Outragus Faith. No that's not a typo, just how they spelled it. :)  I also get to
share my office with the kitties pictured below.
Sebastian-I am a little shy but am getting over  
that gradually. I like people, I just know they can't
ALL be trusted.
My favorite game is Wack a Pup (Similar to
Wack a Mole) I sit on Susan's desk and tap Tobie
on the head as he tries to grab me from under the
desk!
Lately I've been able to hang out in the  kitty
condo at the back of the clinic and hunt for
lizards. Cat heaven!
Last but NEVER LEAST-
Sebastian
Who's Who  

Dr. Brenda Mills  

I started working in the field of veterinary medicine as a volunteer in 1990,
assisting in my veterinarian’s office when I was home from college.  I worked my way
into a paid position, assuming many of the duties of a veterinary nurse over the
course of the next four years.  I graduated from the University of California—Davis
School of Veterinary Medicine in 1998, and started my first job as a doctor three
months after recovering from surgery for a ruptured disc.  I came to Livermore in July
of 2000, and bought the practice from Dr. Robert Hibner in 2002.

The clinic that I started at in 1990 is a small practice with one full-time doctor and one
part-time doctor.  It is the type of place where you commonly refer to a pet’s owner as
“Fluffy’s mom, “and clients come to expect their pet to be treated as an individual.  It
was there that I learned the importance of a veterinarian’s role as an educator.  I also
learned that behavior issues, whether they pertain to the pet’s behavior in the clinic
or at home, are central to the veterinarian-client-pet relationship.  By making our
hospital a “pet-friendly” environment, and by helping Mrs. Smith tame Spunky’s
“jumping up” problem, we can enhance the lives of people and pets much more than
by practicing medicine and surgery alone.  I also believe that any good veterinary
practice should stand on a firm foundation of freeze-dried beef liver.

My behavior experience includes courses in animal behavior and in developmental
psychology at the undergraduate level, required and elective courses in animal
behavior in veterinary school, attending numerous seminars by behaviorists and
trainers, and extensive extracurricular reading.  In addition to offering new pet
counseling and limited behavior consultations, I have taught new puppy classes and
have assisted in instructing classes in the sport of Dog Agility.

I have a keen interest in orthopedics, specifically canine sports medicine, which has
arisen from my own involvement with the sport of Agility.  I take every opportunity
that I can to learn more about lamenesses and orthopedic exams from the local
orthopedic surgeons, from Dr. Mike Gleason, DC (member of the AVCA), and people
like Darryl Millis DVM, who runs the canine physical therapy and rehabilitation unit
out of the University of Tennessee.

In order to enhance our ability to treat and care for all our patients I completed a
course of study in Acupuncture through the University of Colorado. I received my
certification in 2006. This has greatly added to our capacity to treat many disorders
and to manage pain in a non-invasive way.

Otherwise, my greatest joys are new puppy and kitten exams, making cats purr, and
making friends with frightened dogs.
Sabyl - Lead RVT

Sabyl has been with the hospital since 2005. She keeps everything running smoothly
during surgeries and throughout the day. Often that means she will be the person who
goes over treatment plans with our clients allowing Dr. Mills more time to  spend
with our patients. In addition to the countless day to day tasks she manages to
accomplish and keep track of, she also provides our patients with massage therapy
and rehabilitation/fitness therapy.
And Jeremiah
I live in Susan's office and occasionally you'll see
me chasing someone down and yelling at them to
give me treats. I have some physical challenges so
I have ramps that let me get up and down onto the
desk. Mostly I just like to sleep in the cat tree or
my bed.
Kellianne- Veterinary Assistant

Kellianne joined us in June of 2011.  She works with Sabyl and Dr. Mills and is on
her way to attaining her RVT.  She and Alesha share the front office duties and will
be one of the smiling faces you see when you visit. She is a welcome addition to
our team.
Alesha- Veterinary Assistant.

Alesha is the newest member of our team and came to us during her externship.
She did such a great job we didn't want to let her go! She shares front office duties
with Kellianne and will be working with Sabyl and Dr. Mills every other week.