Medical Director
Dr Ashley Opyt knows each pet is unique. She works diligently to tailor healthcare solutions for each pet’s specific needs and their family’s lifestyle. She also educates clients about preventive medicine so pets can live a long and healthy life.
Clients feel reassured and supported in Dr Opyt’s treatment room. She uses Fear Free techniques to lower anxiety in cats and dogs. She’s friendly in every encounter. She’s always willing to listen. And she’s available between appointments.
Dr Opyt works occasional shifts at the emergency clinic to keep her ER skills sharp. She stays up-to-date on veterinary trends, technologies, and topics through journals and conferences.
As Medical Director, Dr Opyt leads her team to be their best. She is also passionate about finding creative ways to expand hospital services to meet community needs.
Dr Opyt graduated summa cum laude from Texas Tech University with a degree in Animal Science. She got her DVM from Texas A&M University’s veterinary school. When not treating animals at Firehouse, Dr Opyt enjoys reading and trying new restaurants with her husband. While she grew up with cats, dogs, and a horse, she is now proud mama to a Corgi named Dee.
Hospital Manager
Adan believes in the future of Firehouse and how he and his team can continue to make client experiences better. His daily goal is to help more patients and clients than the day before. He strives for his team to continue to provide top-notch care. A fan of collaboration, he understands the importance of working with his team. Adan joined Firehouse in 2016 as a veterinary technician at the Kyle location. He has a special interest in client and patient relationships, team leadership, and hospital operations.
Adan is Fear Free certified and helps teach techniques to his team. He continues to improve his leadership skills by listening to podcasts and reading coaching books. Adan studied Veterinary Technology at Austin Community College. He has also presented information to students at Texas A&M Veterinary school.
When not working, Adan enjoys spending time with his family. He married his high school sweetheart, and they have two children. He loves college football and NBA basketball, especially the Aggies and Spurs. He also has a passion for American Quarter Horses that he owns, breeds, and trains in different disciplines.
Veterinarian
Dr Roslyn Reavis’ focus is on helping pets live happy and healthy lives. She knows pets can suffer in silence and aims to catch issues early. She loves all pets and has a special spot in her heart for cats.
Dr Reavis makes clients’ lives easier. She uses thorough communication, follow-up care, and pays attention to details. She is trained in Fear Free techniques to calm stressed or anxious animals. Her calm manner (and lots of treats!) help nervous pets.
Dr Reavis’ special interests include dermatology, arthritis, and small exotics/pocket pets. She attends national conferences and local seminars to stay current with new therapies to offer patients the best care.
She graduated Cum Laude with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from St. Georges University in Grenada. She was also inducted into the veterinary honor society Phi Zeta. She is a member of the Comal County, Texas, and American Veterinary Medical Associations. On weekends, Dr Reavis volunteers with Prevent A Litter (PALS), kayaks, and enjoys a nine-pin bowling league. She has two dogs and one cat: Trigger, a Labrador; Leeloo, a Queensland heeler; and Sam, a domestic shorthair cat.
Veterinarian
Dr Staci Hansen aims to make veterinary visits easier for her clients and their pets. Clients value Dr Hansen’s focus on communication during and after appointments.
Her clients also appreciate her help when developing a customized care plan. Dr Hansen offers families comprehensive, yet realistic, plans to suit each family’s lifestyle. As a working mom, Dr Hansen knows how busy life can get!
She is a member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV). She is trained in Fear Free techniques to calm nervous cats and dogs. Dr Hansen stays current on her veterinary skills and knowledge by attending conferences and continuing education seminars.
Dr Hansen received her degree from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. On weekends, she volunteers at Austin Wildlife Rescue and with Girl Scouts of Central Texas. Her favorite hobbies include traveling, baking, and geocaching. Dr Hansen and her husband share their home with their sweet son, three spoiled dogs, two lovable cats, and four adorable guinea pigs.
Veterinarian
Dr Emily McCann revolves her pet care around clear communication with clients. She pairs this with preventive medicine so cats and dogs can live long and healthy lives.
Clients love Dr McCann’s easy-going, thoughtful, and warm personality. Pets love how she works slowly during check-ups, as she learns each pet’s personality. Dr McCann is a big fan of Fear Free techniques for pets, since her dog is timid at the vet. She uses calm touch, lots of treats, and pheromones for cats to help relieve stress in nervous pets.
Dr McCann has a special interest in soft tissue surgery and ophthalmology. She reads the latest medical research and literature to stay current on medical issues and to brush up on the latest techniques.
She is a Texas A&M graduate through and through. She earned her bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from A&M. When not treating her patients at Firehouse, Dr McCann enjoys the outdoors with hikes and paddle boarding. She also loves to bake (especially cakes!) in her downtime. She has a border collie named Rhett who keeps her on her toes!
Veterinarian
Dr Lara Wilson is an empathetic doctor who supports each patient and their humans. Her goal is a long, happy, and healthy life for your pet. She collaborates with clients to determine a healthcare plan to achieve that goal.
Clients appreciate her ability to explain complex medical issues. They also love her humor and positive attitude.
Dr Wilson is a fan of supplements and probiotics, routine lab work, and dental care. While she is passionate about all pets, she has a great love of cats and Chihuahuas!
To stay current on medical techniques, Dr Wilson attends many continuing education events. She stays active in the global online veterinary community. She also spends time working in the emergency critical care field.
Dr Wilson earned her pre-vet and DVM degrees from Louisiana State University. She enjoys going antiquing in small Texas towns, cooking, baking, and considers herself an amateur gardener. Dr Wilson has two rescue pets: Frannie, a Chiweenie, and Crouton, a domestic shorthair orange tabby cat. She also has a hermit crab named Beetlejuice.
Veterinarian
Clients appreciate Dr Emma Bak’s collaborative approach to patient care, as well as her warm personality. She educates clients to feel empowered, so they make the best decisions for their pets. She speaks to clients in a language they can understand, and her expertise and friendly disposition help clients feel welcome and comfortable. She understands that each pet is unique and tailors each treatment plan to meet their particular needs.
For Dr Bak, Fear Free is more than a certification. She strives to keep patients comfortable and stress-free during their visits. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, as well as the Texas Veterinary Medical Association. She attends continuing education seminars to learn and grow within the veterinary field.
Dr Bak received both her Bachelors and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from the University of Minnesota. In her spare time, she hikes and practices yoga. She also enjoys exploring Austin’s food and social scene. She shares her heart with her three pets – Fleur, a Siamese mix cat; Albus, an orange tabby cat; and Teddy, a Shih-Tzu/Poodle mix dog.
Client Service Coordinator
Jessica grew up in Abilene, TX with a house full of dogs and cats. She moved to the Kyle area to attend Texas State and graduated with a BA in Anthropology in 2014 but liked the area so much she never left. She currently lives in Kyle with her two best friends, her sister, and their four cats. She enjoys creative hobbies like painting and sewing as well as continued learning about anything and everything, especially history and other cultures.
Jessica has been a proud member of the Firehouse team since 2016.
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Gabriel is a passionate animal advocate. He communicates expectations about treatments and explains veterinarian’s recommendations. He loves educating clients about pet health and explaining home care suggestions. He listens to clients’ needs and questions to find the best solution.
Gabriel is Fear-Free Certified to ensure each pet’s comfort. He is proficient at placing IV catheters and drawing blood. He is experienced with anesthesia monitoring and helping with surgery and dentistry. He loves working with exotics, especially reptiles and birds.
He attended Windward Community College in Hawaii where he received an AS Degree in Veterinary Technology. When not helping animals at the clinic, he enjoys going to the movies, trying new restaurants with family and friends, and relaxing at home. He shares his heart with Bug, an American Pitbull Terrier, and Mowgli, an Italian Greyhound. He loves working with exotics, especially reptiles and birds.
Veterinary Technician Assistant
Mikayla utilizes Fear Free techniques and comforts scared pets to make them feel more comfortable. Mikayla takes her time with all patients, offering treats, quiet time, and breaks to help pets have an easy, calm experience. Clients appreciate Mikayla’s collaborative approach and how she takes time to explain treatment plans and answer all of her clients’ questions.
Mikayla advocates for each patient and enjoys teaching clients about the importance of lab work and prevention (especially heartworm prevention). She loves to continually learn, so she shadows her peers and asks questions to help her better understand new processes and treatments. Currently, she attends Austin Community College, where she is working toward a degree in Applied Science for Vet Technology. While she loves all animals, she is partial to Chihuahuas (and is especially patient for those who are nervous or scared) and horses. When not working, Mikayla likes to try out new restaurants and spend time with her dogs: Nala (Chihuahua), Mamas (Pit Bull), and Lily (Pit Bull).
Veterinary Technician
Jamie brings her strong work ethic and unconditional love for pets to work each day. She helps Firehouse clients get the best medical care for their pets by asking lots of questions, offering tips on home healthcare and lots of continuing education at her favorite annual conference, the American Pets Alive! conference.
Jamie helps pets feel at ease when they visit Firehouse since she’s experienced in handling even the most irritable pets. She is passionate about Firehouse’s commitment to philanthropy and helping shelter animals since she worked at a no-kill shelter to save as many lives as possible in Texas. Outside of work, Jamie spends time with Kylo, her 4-year-old domestic shorthair tabby cat and Gunnar, her 3-year-old black and white pointer collie mix.
Veterinary Technician
Kelli is a compassionate advocate for her patients. She goes above and beyond to ensure each pet receives the best possible care. Clients appreciate Kelli’s sunny disposition, knowledge, and desire to treat each patient as her own pet. Along with using Fear Free techniques, Kelli also has a patient approach and offers lots of treats. She takes time to answer client questions and teach them about Firehouse’s core values.
Kelli attended Austin Community College’s Vet Tech program and will soon be a licensed veterinary technician. She enjoys learning from her peers and also teaching them. She is skilled at drawing blood, placing catheters, and Fear Free handling techniques. Her interests include physical therapy and pet dentistry. She is also able to get the best pictures of Firehouse’s patients.
A dog-lover, Kelli connects with all patients but has a soft spot for Pit Bulls. She also loves working with cats and rats. Outside of work, she enjoys binge-watching Grey’s Anatomy and going to the river. Her family includes her daughter Rayen, her two dogs, Jetty (a blue-nosed Pit Bull), and Lucy, (a white German Shepherd), and her dog-like cat, Brisket.
Veterinary Technician
Gabe’s calm and helpful demeanor helps him connect with clients and their pets. To help care for patients, he is focused on the details, recognizes if the pet is stressed, and works as fast as possible so clients can return to their life outside the hospital. He is very efficient in working with clients to uncover the details that Firehouse doctors will need for each cat or dog’s visit.
He enjoys learning from his colleagues in the hospital. Gabe truly loves helping pets prevent illness and get better if sick.
Gabe has three pets of his own: Daisy Denise, an English Bulldog; Milo, a chihuahua; and Achilles, a pitbull.
Veterinary Technician
Esterleane was raised in Waco, Texas where she grew up with family pets. She knew at a young age that working with animals was what she wanted to do. In 2012 she moved to the Austin area to attend Texas State University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture-Animal Science. In 2016 she started her career as a client service coordinator in the veterinary field. This allowed her to express her compassion for animals and to be their advocate. The following year she wanted to do more, so she became a veterinary technician in Dripping Springs, Texas. In April 2018, she joined Firehouse Animal Health Center as a full-time veterinary technician.
When Esterleane is not working she spends her time with family going fishing, playing games, watching movies and dancing. She has an awesome dog named Oreo and a goldfish named Shark who she loves dearly. In her spare time, she gets out in the community to support the local groups and shelters.
Veterinary Technician
Margarita Barco brings to her role a passion for animals and a desire to help provide high-quality healthcare for patients. She couples those feelings with the ambition to continue learning and improving in her field. Margarita wants every pet who visits Firehouse to feel safe and happy. She helps provide excellent care by ensuring each animal is comfortable, providing extra love and attention to all her patients, She also helps educate owners on the importance of disease prevention, dental cleaning, and spay/neuter procedures.
Margarita was raised in Lasara, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley where she grew up with family pets and cattle. In 2012, she moved to San Marcos to attend Texas State University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture-Animal Science in 2016. Shortly after graduation, she began her career in veterinary medicine as a veterinary technician and has enjoyed every minute of it. In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, reading, fishing, and going to the river. She has two well-loved dogs: a dachshund named Beans and a Chihuahua named Oliver. Margarita is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Veterinary Technician
With over ten years of experience in the veterinary field, Jen brings a wealth of knowledge and skill to Firehouse. A thorough advocate for patients’ needs, Jen strives to make each visit as stress-free as possible. Clients appreciate her easy-to-understand approach to care, and how she takes time to educate pet owners on the importance of lab work and prevention. She also gives home care suggestions and advice for clients so that they can continue to ensure their pets’ best care outside of Firehouse, such as how to administer medications and other helpful tips.
Jen utilizes Fear Free techniques to keep patients comfortable while in her care. She tries to learn something new each day, and shares her knowledge with her coworkers. Jen is quick and efficient with her patients, and she has experience working with a variety of animals, including: livestock, birds, snakes, rodents, and fish, among others.
When not working, Jen enjoys relaxing at home with her pets: Nero, a Siberian Husky/Irish Wolfhound mix; Legacy’s Untamed Kilo (Kilo), an AKC registered Siberian Husky (who is related to “Dewey” from the movie 8 Below); and her two cats, Zorro, a black domestic short hair, and Mustachio, who has half a mustache.
Veterinary Technician
Pamela is an empathetic, patient, and kind advocate for all animals. Clients can be assured that their pets will be showered with a lot of love and treats while in Pamela’s care, as she strives to make each pet as comfortable as possible. Clients also appreciate Pamela’s strong work ethic and how she patiently listens to all questions and concerns in order to ensure pets get the best care. She likes to read peer-reviewed journals and follow veterinary organizations in order to stay up to date on her skills.
Currently, Pamela is finishing her Wildlife Biology degree. She has two pets of her own: Soren, a German Shepherd, and John Paw, a domestic shorthair cat.
Veterinary Technician Assistant
ReeAnn’s motivation to assist every patient’s needs comes from the connections she makes with clients and a desire to ensure that every pet feels safe and comfortable. She utilizes Fear Free techniques and adjusts her techniques based on patients’ body language and individual needs. Her strong work ethic and dedication makes her an intricate part of the Firehouse team. Clients appreciate her welcoming demeanor and thorough approach to patient care.
ReeAnn recently received her Bachelor’s in Animal Science with a concentration in pre-vet from Texas State University. She plans to follow her passion for animal health and safety by attending vet school. As a technician assistant, she hopes to learn more about animal welfare and facilitate the needs of patients at Firehouse while continuing to grow within the veterinary field.
When not working, ReeAnn enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking with her Poodle mix Remi and her rescue dog Molly. She has a passion for nature and exotics pets; she has owned a Ball Python and hopes to own another soon.
Veterinary Technician Assistant
Bio coming soon!
Veterinary Technician
Bio coming soon!
Veterinary Technician
Elizabeth treats each pet who comes into Firehouse as her own. Clients love that she is informative and transparent. She wants people to feel comfortable with their pets’ care. Elizabeth enjoys teaching clients about animal welfare and ways to keep their pets healthy and happy.
By using a Fear Free approach, Elizabeth is able to handle nervous, scared, or upset patients. Her approach also helps them become more comfortable and confident at future vet visits. She strives to give each patient the best possible care and ensure each client has a positive experience.
Elizabeth enjoys studying about canine behavior and has an interest in obedience training. She studied marine biology before deciding to join the veterinary field. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors: hiking or taking her dogs to the park, or curled up with a good book. She volunteers with a pug rescue and dedicates her free time to rescue events, as well. An ardent dog-lover, Elizabeth shares her heart with her dogs: Gunner, Lucy, and Kona, as well as her two cats, Sasha and Rita. She recently adopted a blind pug, Violet, and has gained valuable experience with training and treating blind dogs.
Client Service Coordinator
Candice’s warm, friendly personality helps clients and patients feel welcome and safe. She is an active listener who not only hears client concerns but finds solutions for their needs. She is adept at reading patients’ body language and adapting her care to help support their needs. She helps out in all areas of the hospital, assisting with appointments when needed to make patient care go smoothly.
Candice joined the Firehouse team in 2015; after a brief break to attend school, she is excited to be back. Hard-working and outgoing, she supports her colleagues and helps teach them new skills. She is the “mama bear” of her Firehouse team. To keep her skills current, Candice enjoys attending online professional development classes.
After graduating from Avenue Five with her esthetician license, Candice opened a spa in Kyle, TX, where she works on the weekends. She has five children who keep her busy. When not working, she likes to travel with her family in the RV, go boating, and spend as much time on the water as possible. She owns two Pit Bulls – Buster and Chief.