Nursing Team

Nursing Team

Mar 29th, 2007

	Gustavo Rayas, RVT Gustavo currently works as a Registered Veterinary Technician at Animal Care Clinic, and has been here since May 2002. Gustavo grew up in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. He graduated with his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in Mexico from the Autonomous University of Baja California. Gustavo is studying now, so that he may eventually be boarded as a DVM in California. He loves living in San Luis Obispo County and is glad that his children have had the opportunity to grow up here. Gustavo has 3 children in college, whom he is always involved with in their activities and schools. Aside from being a busy, working family man, Gustavo is developing a website, http://accuabc.webs.com.
	Nicole Gunkel, RVT Nicole grew up in Northern in Mt. Shasta, California. She graduated from the University of California at Davis earning her B.S. in Animal Science, specializing in Equine Science and Captive & Companion Animals in March 2004. Immediately after graduating she moved to San Luis Obispo and began working as a Veterinary Nurse at Animal Care Clinic. She has had many animals over the years including dogs, horses and raising 4-H lambs. Nicole absolutely loves anything having to do with the outdoors. She especially loves hiking, camping, backpacking, skiing, traveling everywhere and running in adventure races. In 2005, she accomplished her goal of summiting Mt. Shasta (a technical 14,162 miles high). Nicole earned her Registered Veterinary Technician license in October 2006. She aims to continue learning her trade and is interested in anesthesia, leadership, communication and teaching. One of Nicole’s projects has been the making and designing of the Animal Care Clinic website.
	Erin Hickey, RVT Erin joined the veterinary nursing team at Animal Care Clinic in November 2006. She originally grew up in Mt. View, CA and is a graduate of Cal Poly. She earned her Registered Veterinary Technician license in June 2008. Erin loves her 3 dogs, Bean, Tannin and Charlie, her cats Grady and Baldwin, and not to forget her 14 chickens (too many to name here!). She loves to hike with her dogs and also really enjoys gardening, playing poker and cooking. The employees at ACC also really enjoy Erin’s baking skills!
	Melissa Reuter-Wagoner, RVT Melissa joined the Animal Care Clinic Veterinary Nursing Team in July 2006. She grew up near Santa Clarita, California and graduated with a B.S. in Animal Science from Cal Poly in June 2007. We are so happy to have Melissa as one of our Registered Veterinary Technicians. Melissa’s favorite activities include riding her jumping horse, playing with her dog, and traveling. Some of her special interests also include music, ballet, and yoga.
	Tara Pantano, RVT Tara moved to California from Farmington, Connecticut and joined the Veterinary Nursing team in January 2009. Tara graduated from the University of Connecticut. She has earned her Registered Veterinary Technician license in California, after previously being certified in Connecticut, and wants to continually find challenge in this profession. Tara enjoys hiking with her husband and dog, Kona. They also have 2 cats at home, Figo and Bailey. Tara also likes riding mountain bikes, traveling, photography, and is a volunteer with the Marine Mammal Center. Tara says, “I am a self-proclaimed ‘cat person,’ they are just way cooler than people give them credit for!”
	Travis Morris Travis joined the veterinary nursing team in July 2008. Travis is a native of San Luis Obispo, and would eventually like to attend vet school. Travis has an interest in reptiles and currently his pets include 3 cats and 6 snakes. Travis practices martial arts, such as Kendo and Brazilian Ju Jitsu. He also loves to play with his son and teach him about animals. Travis is married to Cate (of our Customer Service Team) and they now have a beautiful baby girl as well.
	Louise Facciolla Louise graduated from Cal Poly with her Animal Science degree in 2005 with a minor in Equine Science. She began working on the veterinary nursing team at Animal Care Clinic in November 2008. Louise came to San Luis Obispo from Loyalton, California. She would like to obtain her registered veterinary technician license in the future. In her spare time, Louise enjoys riding her horse, running, hiking, playing with her cat, Remington, and taking her dog, Avila to the beach.
	Nicole Blevins Nikki, as known here at Animal Care Clinic, has been on the veterinary nursing team since November 2006. She grew up locally here in Paso Robles. Nikki spent her first couple college years in Massachusetts She graduated as an Animal Science major at Cal Poly and hopes to attend vet school. Nikki has a Siberian husky, Kokoyah, and Buddy the tabby cat. She enjoys taking her dog to the beach, running, music, and whitewater rafting. Nikki is also one of a couple ACC workers who are vegetarian, and has never eaten meat in her life.
	Katy Baker Katy started working on the veterinary nursing team at Animal Care Clinic in June 2010. She came to San Luis Obispo from Bakersfield and graduated Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in December 2010. Katy enjoys being active with her dogs Sweet Pea and Riley. Vet school is a goal for down the road, so for now Katy is looking for widening her experiences and doing some traveling. Katy also loves running and hiking and enjoys working in her garden.
	Lyndsey Gange Lyndsey joined the veterinary nursing team in June 2010. She originally grew up in Seattle Washington, obtained her bachelor’s in Archaeology at Western Washington University. Lyndsey is now working toward her goal of earning her Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) license. She is another of our resident cat lovers and has several; Mokii, Nalu and Squeek, as well as a dog named Ziggy. On her own time, Lyndsey enjoys skiing, hiking, going to the beach, yoga, and volunteering with Heaven Can Wait Equine Sanctuary.
	Zachary Stout Zack joined the veterinary nursing team in July 2008. Originally from Bakersfield, Zack moved to San Luis Obispo to attend Cal Poly. He is an Animal Science graduate and would like to attend vet school some day. Zack is interested in most physical activities and it is very likely to come across him playing volleyball at Pismo Beach or throwing the ball to his dog, Isaac Newton in Avila.
	Alex Stone Alex has been a part of the ACC lodge team since February 2008 and now works as a veterinary nurse. Originally from Newbury Park, California, he currently attends Cal Poly and aspires to one day attend veterinary school. He is also employed at the Cal Poly Vet Clinic as well as the Equine Center. Alex has a Labrador Retriever named Buddy. He also loves to play sports with friends, especially baseball, and dabbles with the guitar. Alex also enjoys spending his summers in Idaho either working for the Forest Service or riding along with large animal veterinarians.
	Sharon Caddy Sharon started with the veterinary nursing team in September of 2009. Sharon grew up in Paso Robles before moving to Chico where she graduated from Chico State in 2009 with a B.A. in Geography and a certificate in GIS. She is now working and concurrently taking classes at Cuesta College with hopes of eventually going to vet school. Sharon is glad to be living near family again with her cat Stevie, and rabbits, Laverne and Shirley. Some of her hobbies include hiking, skiing, traveling, swimming, drawing and music.
	Morgan York Morgan is a local from Santa Margarita, CA. She started working in veterinary nursing and lodging at Animal Care Clinic in December 2009. Morgan is studying Animal Science at Cal Poly and hopes to eventually go to vet school. Morgan has several pets including 2 dogs and her Quarter Horse, Rio. Some of Morgans hobbies are horseback riding, hiking, camping, spending time with family and friends and laughing. Morgan also loves working with kids and has been a volunteer in her church’s Sunday school classes for a few years.
	Bethany Lara Bethany came to us originally from Littlerock, California and is a graduate of Cal Poly with a bachelor’s in Animal Science. Bethany currently works in our lodging, customer service and veterinary nurse teams since March 2010. Her goal is to become a Registered Veterinary Technician and to work at an exotic animal park. Bethany has 2 dogs, Rascal and Ray. She also loves to dance, watch movies, hang out with friends, and perform theatrically.
	Jessica Combs Jessica is currently a student at Cal Poly working towards her Animal Science Bachelor’s degree, originally from Shingle Springs, California. Her goal is to go to veterinary school and start her own mixed animal practice. Jessica joined the Animal Care Clinic team in August 2011 to be trained to work in all areas of the hospital. When not in school or at work she enjoys spending time with her Siberian Husky, Kaiya, snowboarding, hiking, bicycling, horse back riding, going to the beach, and playing her guitar and bass. Jessica also creates metal works and silver rings through lost wax casting.
	Woody Lindsey Woody is a California native, from El Segundo. Starting at Animal Care Clinic in August 2011, he can be found working in all areas. Woody is currently attending Cal Poly as an Animal Science student with hopes of attending veterinary school in the future. Aside from school, Woody enjoys hiking and camping. Keeping him busy at home are his manx cat, Carlton, sulcata tortoise cat Buhda, and Aussie/American Eskimo, Rufus, and Josie his Jack Russel/Corgi mix.
	Kristen Patterson Kristen has been with Animal Care Clinic, trained in all areas, since August 2011. She is currently attending Cal Poly, majoring in Animal Science, and wants to attend vet school after graduation. Kristen has three dogs at home in San Diego, where she grew up, including a Great Pyranese (Babe), a pug (Wally), and a Shih Tzu (Maggie). Kristen is another active girl! She loves to play soccer, run, rock climb, hike, camp, horse back ride, go to the beach or almost anything else outside. Kristen also is a member of the Cal Poly Vet Science Club and a sorority, and volunteers at Woods Humane Society.
	Zachary Spangler Zachary joined the Animal Care Clinic team in August 2011, and is another one of our hard-working Cal Poly students. Zachary is working a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science with hopes to eventually attend vet school. He has a beagle named Sam that likes to hang out with his parent’s beagle Abbey. Originally from a very small town in California, Grimes, Zachary is very active between school, work and other activities! Zachary volunteers at Samana Farms horse stable with some of the rescue horses on weekends or can be found outside doing anything from mountain biking to hiking and backpacking. Skydiving is a new adventure that Zachary is also looking forward to doing!
	Tyler Ziton Tyler began work with Animal Care Clinic in August 2011. You may find him working at any area of our hospital. Tyler came out to California all the way from Orlando, Florida in order to attend school in San Luis Obispo. He is currently at Cuesta College and hopes to eventually transfer to Cal Poly. Tyler is very active. He is an avid tennis player and also likes to snowboard, fish, run, hike, bike, and swim. Accompanying Tyler in California are also his two Cavalier King Charles spaniels, Ru and Opie. Another interesting thing about Tyler is he has a pretty cool and unique middle name, Battle!