Dr. Heather grew up in Manhattan, NY; Oakland, NJ; and Santa Barbara, CA. She grew up with so many animals, ranging from your typical cats and dogs to horses, sheep, chickens, rabbits and rats. Heather’s grandfather was a physician, her grandmother an RN, and her mom an RN, so the medical field must be genetic. It seemed logical to go into the veterinary field, combining medical interest with her love of animals. 

After high school in Santa Barbara, she attended Rice University in Houston, TX and graduated in 1997 with B.A.s in both Biology and German. She then attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in Philadelphia. She graduated in 2003 as a Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD). (This is of equal status to the more common “DVM” degree, but U Penn wanted to acknowledge the fact that the vet school was based on the human medical school and not on an agricultural school, so they kept the “MD” part.) 

Dr. Heather first started working as an equine vet exclusively, but then began working at a small animal clinic to expand her knowledge of dogs, cats, and exotic animals. She also spent time working with PAWS Wildlife Center, caring for injured wildlife. 

Dr. Heather became a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist via the Chi Institute in May 2015 and completed training for Tui-Na there as well in February 2017. In 2022 she finished her Certification for Veterinary Medical Manipulation for horses and small animals (This is the veterinary equivalent to chiropractic). This greater level of expertise in both Eastern and Western medicine allows Dr. Heather to provide her patients with the best of both worlds, and that includes the animals here at Steven’s Animal Sanctuary. She lives on-site and does day-to-day care so is able to adjust their medications and nutrition etc as needed to be able to provide the best possible care. 

Laura comes to us from the human healthcare side.  She worked as a customer care advisor in the emergency room and then owned and managed a chiropractic office for many years. She currently works as a senior advisor for Senior Specialists out of Enumclaw, WA.  She helps people find housing and get appropriate care as they get older.  

Laura lives on the farm and helps with all of the day-to-day chores, taking care of everyone like one big happy family.  She is our main photographer, too!  

For the good part of 20 years Holly was a busy, stay-at-home mom, raising 3 children. Wanting a little something to do on the side once the kids were in school, in 2000 she opened a small art school in Sammamish called “Spill the Paint” and held art classes for children. “Spill the Paint” had resident goats that earned their keep by handling marketing because their pasture was on the main road through Sammamish and everyone knew where the “Van Goat family” lived. It wasn’t long before Polly, the Paint Horse, joined the marketing team which peaked Holly’s interest to start trimming horse hooves professionally because …. well, why not? 

In 2008 she began learning about trimming horse hooves through Jaime Jackson’s organization AANHCP (Association for the Advancement of Natural Horse Care Practices) and was awarded a Certification as a Hoof Care Practitioner in 2009. 

Once her children were pretty much off to college, Holly went to school herself and became a Licensed Veterinary Technician in 2013. She landed her dream job in May of 2016 with Carousel Mobile Veterinary Services.  

Holly boards a few horses at her place along with 3 miniature horses, a herd of goats, a pack of dogs, a clowder of cats, and a flock of chickens. She has a few of our Sanctuary animals over at her place getting exceptional care, including Ned, an old senior horse, and Lola, a senior goat.