We are extremely proud of our dedicated team. We hire only the best and most experienced employees to become a part of our team here at Valley Veterinary Clinic. Our team is filled with highly dedicated animal lovers who are well trained at their jobs. They will do anything possible for their patients and the owners who love them.
Learning and education are very important here at Valley Veterinary Clinic. We strive to have a state of the art hospital with a staff trained in the latest medical advances. Our patients deserve the very best veterinary care.
Basically, our team is full of animal lovers. They make it a goal to treat each patient like their own. They give each patient plenty of love and attention. They are prepared to discuss preventative medicine so that every pet can stay as healthy as possible. They will also do everything that they can to make a sick pet feel better as soon as possible.
If you would like to speak to someone on our team, don’t hesitate to contact us today at (315) 778-4084.
Tasha Yantis, DVM
Dr. Yantis grew up on her small family ranch in rural northern California where she developed a passion for the great outdoors, livestock, and small animals. She was very active in 4-H, sports, and showing Black Angus cattle nationally. Animal medicine was a natural choice as she received her Bachelor of Veterinary Science Degree from the University of Nevada, Reno. Dr. Yantis continued her education at University College Dublin, Ireland where she received her Veterinary Medicine degree. She speaks fondly of her travels and living around the world as an active duty military spouse. Dr. Yantis and her husband Jarred have one child, two dogs (Nara and Grizzly), and one cat (Tank). They enjoy everything outdoors, working on their home in Carthage, and cooking exotic foods from recipes they have collected through their travels.
Jill Wray, DVM
Dr. Wray recently joined the practice in March of 2022 as an Associate Veterinarian after moving to the area with her active duty military spouse. She is originally from West Michigan – near Lake Michigan, so upstate New York is like home to her and recently came from Richmond, VA. Dr. Wray completed her undergraduate degree from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, majoring in biology and chemistry. She went on to receive her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Michigan State University in 2021. Dr. Wray spent many years working in a veterinary office, was a volunteer at her local zoo, completed an elephant internship in Oregon, and even cared for lab mice. Dr. Wray’s professional interests include geriatrics and palliative care, dermatology, and feline medicine. Jill and her husband, Nate, have a cat named Joan and a Golden Retriever puppy named Woobie. They enjoy spending their free time traveling, kayaking, paddle boarding, hiking and finding fun, new wineries, breweries and restaurants.
Marcus Hetzner, DVM
Dr. Marcus Hetzner was born in Nurnberg, Germany and moved to the United States in 1980 with his stepfather, a pilot for the US Army, mother and three siblings. They spent three years in Savannah, Georgia before his stepfather received orders for another stint in Germany. His family returned to the US in 1985, where his stepfather was stationed at Fort Drum, NY where Dr. Marcus subsequently attended Lowville Academy and Central School until he graduated in 1994. From there he attended St. Lawrence University on a full academic scholarship and eventually graduated Summa Cum Laude, with a Bachelors of Science in 1998. After college, Dr. Hetzner worked for the Watertown Eye Center in Watertown, NY while completing more prerequisite classes to apply to veterinary school. In 2000, Dr. Hetzner was accepted at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary medicine, joining the class of 2004. He earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2004 and after graduation accepted a position at Countryside Veterinary Clinic. There he worked as a small animal practitioner and surgeon for the next 15 years. With a desire to grow his surgical practice (with particular interests in orthopedic, ophthalmic and soft tissue surgeries), Dr. Hetzner accepted a position at the Marcy Veterinary Clinic in Utica, NY in January of 2020. He continued his small animal practice there as their head surgeon until 2025. Looking to be back closer to his North Country home, he accepted a position at Dr. Eric Putman’s Valley Veterinary Clinic practice. Dr. Hetzner still resides in Lowville, NY with his wife, Lisa, and his two sons, Alexander and Nicholas. The family is rounded out with two cats, Sealy (domestic shorthair) and Berrus (Sphinx), and three canine companions, Finnegan (Golden Retriever), Remy (Cane Corso) and Riggs (Havanese). Outside of his work as a small animal practitioner and surgeon, Dr. Hetzner finds relaxation in his wood shop, his camp, gardening, traveling, kayaking and spending quality time with his family and pets.
Jennifer Sands, LVT
Jen was raised on her family farm in Antwerp, N.Y. At a very young age, she was very inquisitive about many different species of animals. She developed a passion for working with numerous animals on the dairy farm. She graduated from SUNY Canton in 1998, obtaining an Associates degree in Veterinary Science Technology. Jen began her career at another local veterinary hospital, then transitioned to shelter medicine at the local Jefferson County SPCA in 1999. Jen joined our staff in 2000 and has been involved in many aspects of the veterinary field. She is married to Andrew Sands and they have 2 children. Jorja who loves theater and singing and Owen who loves sports and farming. Jen and her family have their own personal funny farm which includes a goat, sheep, chickens, rabbits, pigs, and multiple cats and dogs. She also fosters many strays and unwanted animals. Feline medicine and dental health are of special interest to her.
Amie Orvis, LVT
Amie was born and raised in the Thousand Islands area. She attended SUNY Canton College and graduated in 1999, obtaining an Associates degree in Veterinary Science Technology. Upon completion of the state board licensing exam, she became our first employee in September of that same year. Along with her mother and grandmother, she started feeding orphaned kittens and puppies as well as care for wildlife and farm animals. Learning compassion for all animals at a very young age. Family involvement with 4-H as well as raising and showing horses competitively continued to fuel that spark. Client education, companion animal behavior, environmental enrichment, and the human-animal bond are very important areas of interest for her. Outside of working at the clinic, Amie enjoys time with her husband and their 3 children, and working on her family-owned hobby farm.
Brigid Harwood, LVT
Born and raised in Watertown, Brigid graduated from Keuka College in 2011 with a Bachelor’s in English Literature and Minor in Marketing. Brigid decided to apply to SUNY Canton’s Veterinary Technician Program, as it had been her childhood dream to work with animals. Graduating from this program in 2015 allowed her to begin working as an LVT at Valley Veterinary Clinic in October 2015. Brigid enjoys her new and rewarding career and has learned that she particularly enjoys assisting in surgery and has an interest in the dentistry program. When not at work, Brigid enjoys exploring Thompson Park with her two miniature American Eskimo dogs, Dexter and Snowflake. Her other interests include learning how to properly cook without a microwave, doing fun NNY activities with her family, and reading a variety of science fiction, fantasy, classic literature, and poetry.
Kortni Derouin, LVT
Born and raised in upstate New York, Kortni had always been surrounded by animals and immediately knew she wanted to care for and work with them one day. She graduated from SUNY Canton in 2019 and with an Associate’s in Veterinary Science Technology and soon became a licensed veterinary technician. Kortni joined our practice in July 2019 after graduating and started her lifelong dream of working with animals. She is currently working on her Bachelor’s in Veterinary Science Technology, with an anticipated graduation in May of 2020. Kortni has a Lab/Shepherd mix named Willow, and a cat named Pumba, who each have an outgoing personality and always keep Kortni on her toes. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and spending time with her animals.
Colette Knoblauch, CVT
Colette was raised in Sugar Land, Texas where her love of animals began with her mom being a vet, she was basically born into the industry. Growing up she raised livestock, worked with horses, and even got a welding certification. She moved to Atlanta in 2019 and met her partner Jon. She continued working with animals doing emergency work while going to school earning her bachelor’s degree in communication from Kennesaw State University. Soon after Jon’s military career brought them and their two dogs; Tatum, a Rhodesian ridgeback, and Belle, a golden retriever, out to Fort Drum. She joined the team June 2022 and is getting to continue what she loves to do which is helping animals. On her off days she loves to take her dogs on big outdoor adventures, such as hiking and paddle boarding, as she is on a mission to show her dogs everything this world has to offer, attempting to crochet a blanket, and finding new restaurants, breweries, and wineries to try.
Brooklyn Davis, VT
Brooklyn was born and raised in Chaumont NY where her love of animals began early on in her life.
She graduated from Lyme Central School in 2012 and from the Veterinary Technology program at Alfred State College in 2015, after which she began pursuing her dream of working with animals.
She quickly grew a passion for rescuing and fostering homeless cats and kittens, two of which she adopted and are now a permanent part of her family, along with a former SPCA resident Alfred the lab mix.
Kaydehn Kessler, Veterinary Assistant
Kaydehn, was born in Watertown, NY and attended Watertown High School. Her education at the Bohlen Technical Center for Veterinary Practices
steered her to our clinic for her senior internship. Kaydehn joined our practice in August of 2015 after completing her high school education.
She and her husband, Aidan Kessler have 1 child, Aaron, and their 3 dogs, Akita and Bolt, both huskies and Klyde a hound mix. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her husband, son and friends as well as being outdoors.
Megan Martin, Office Manager
Megan was born and raised by her grandparents in Smithville, NY. She attended and graduated from Sackets Harbor High School. She developed her love of animals at an early age having grown up with many strays her grandmother would take in and care for. Megan joined the staff at the local Jefferson County SPCA were she was able to develop her compassionate nature for animals. She was very involved at that time with Dr Charlebois’ mobile clinic at the SPCA and joined his staff in 2008 as our main receptionist. She and her husband Andrew have 2 Siberian huskies, Romeo and Willow, and 2 cats, Jack and Ransom. She enjoys scrap booking and reading in her spare time. Megan also keeps our staff organized and on schedule going the extra mile to have a smooth running clinic.
Ashley Hoffman, Receptionist
Ashley was born and raised in the desert of Las Vegas, Nevada. She graduated from Pima Medical Institute with an associates in Animal Science and Husbandry. She has had the privilege of working with all animals from cats and dogs to tigers and wallaby’s. Her favorite hobbies include hiking and camping with her husband and her fur daughter Lucy. Her husband’s military career has brought her out here to the North Country where she is now our head receptionist helping to take care of not only our patients, but their parents as well!