Our Staff
Veterinary Staff | Client Care Staff | Patient Care StaffVeterinary Staff
J. Burner, DVM, MS
Dr. Burner graduated with honors from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and has been practicing veterinary medicine for over 12 years. He completed a one-year internship in cardiology and internal medicine at California Animal Hospital before entering into general practice. Most recently, Dr. Burner practiced in a feline specialty hospital in Orange County.
Dr. Burner has a great deal of experience and interest in ultrasonography, internal medicine and cardiology. He is committed to practicing quality medicine and strives to treat every animal as if it were his own. Dr. Burner moved to Ventura in 2006 with his wife, Kirsten and their "kids"; dogs - River and Kodi, cats - Felicia, Blaze, and Ophelia, their tortoise Stompy and parrotlet Dude. In his off-duty hours, Dr. Burner enjoys surfing, reading, and good food.
Mary Ashley Waikart, DVM
Dr. Mary Ashley Waikart was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina. Dr.Waikart graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine after working in the veterinary field for a number of years.
While attending veterinary school, Dr. Waikart completed numerous externships to compliment the curriculum at UGA including an exotics externship in Rome, Italy; general small animal externship on the island of Oahu in Hawaii; and a referral small animal externship in Colorado. She was also chosen as one of only four veterinary students in the U.S. to work alongside veterinary specialists with dolphins and sea lions at the US Navy Marine Mammal Base in San Diego, California. During her externship at the US Navy Marine Mammal Base, Dr. Waikart fell in love with California and made it a goal to return and practice here. Dr. Waikart recently relocated to Ventura with her beloved dog, Cash (yes, he is named after Jonny Cash!). She has a strong interest in behavioral and internal medicine. In her spare time, Dr. Waikart enjoys surfing, good food, and spending time with her family and friends.
Eric Wright, DVM, MS - Surgical Consultant
Dr. Eric Wright graduated from the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (CVMBS) in 1995. He completed an internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at Southwest Veterinary Specialty Center in Tucson Arizona. Following his passion for quality care and surgery he completed a 3-year residency program at Virginia Tech Veterinary College in small animal surgery and received his Master of Science degree in the process. In 1999, he founded Pacific Veterinary Surgery, a small animal referral surgical hospital in Santa Barbara. In 2003, he merge his practice into and co-founded California Animal Referral and Emergency Hospital (CARE Hospital). He was the Chief of Surgery for five years at CARE before he founded Small Animal Surgical Associates, a veterinary surgical consulting group servicing Ventura County.
Dr. Wright's expertise includes orthopedic surgeries such as TPLO, TTA, total hip replacement, and fracture repair, soft-tissue surgeries such as major abdominal and thoracic surgeries, soft-palate resections, perineal hernia repair, and perineal urethostomy, minimally invasive surgeries such as arthroscopy, laparoscopy and thoracoscopy, and neurosurgery such as invertebral disc herniation, spinal cancer, and spinal fracture repair. He utilizes progressive pain-management protocols that provide complete pain control before, during and after surgery to promote rapid healing for his patients. We at Anacapa Animal Hospital are very proud to have him as an extended part of our veterinary staff.
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Nancy: Receptionist
Nancy joined the Anacapa team in 2006. She is currently attending
Ventura College. In addition to her love of all animals, Nancy is also interested in fashion design.
She has a rabbit at home named "Lola Bunny" who she enjoys playing
with in her spare time. She also enjoys shopping, playing video games
and spending time with her boyfriend.
Shannon: Receptionist
Shannon has learned a lot since she joined the team in August of 2006. She is interested in either continuing a career in the veterinary field, or branching out into cosmetology. She has two pets at home, her orange tabby cat Bonkers and a cocker spaniel named Little Bear. She also likes to shop and spend time with her boyfriend of five years, Richard.
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Brandon: Technician
Brandon was born and raised in Ventura. He joined the team at Anacapa in 2004 after managing animal care for a local PetCo. Brandon currently lives in Oxnard with is wife Tami and their newborn son Zane. At home he already has many children: a beagle named "Bo", an American Eskimo named "Lacee", a chinchilla named "Sexy Mama" and many different species of birds. In his spare time he likes to swim, play video games and hang out with friends.
Michelle: Technician
Michelle joined our team after coming off the road from touring with the band Sugarcult. Her infectious smile brightens up the clinic and is warmly received by the patients she cares for. Michelle started her career in veterinary care working at the Cat Clinic of Orange County where she first worked with Dr. Burner.
She lives in Valley Village and makes the long trip to Ventura everyday to provide TLC to all the patients at Anacapa Animal Hospital. Michelle has been trained as a veterinary technician and is currently attending courses at night to become a California Board Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT).
She has a 12 year old cat, Clementine, whom she adopted from the Cat Clinic of Orange County. She also has two boxers named Tobie and Sage. When she's not at the hospital she enjoys traveling and going to the movies.
Holly: Technician
A Massachusetts native, Holly relocated to the Ventura area with her husband Rey in July 2007. Recent newlyweds, Rey and Holly, were relocated to California when Rey was told he would be stationed at Port Hueneme Naval base.
Holly has always loved animals and obtained an Associate Degree in Animal Care from Becker College. She most recently worked as an ICU technician for an Emergency Clinic in New Hampshire. She has five cats back home (Tiger, Smokey, Blacky, Oreo & Naila) that she misses desperately. Lucky for us, Holly transfers all of that love to the care she provides for our patients. When she's not at the hospital she enjoys spending time with her husband and going to the movies and beach.
Amy: Technician
Amy was raised in Port Angeles, Washington and has lived in California for the last 5 years. She came to Anacapa Animal Hospital after working at two local clinics - Cottage Animal Hospital and Marina Animal Hospital.
Amy has always surrounded herself with animals. As a young child she participated in 4-H and is a skilled back country horseman. She's always had cats and dogs and currently has two cats, Leo and Giuseppe. During her time off she enjoys fitness, hiking, barbecuing and traveling.
Kelly: Technician Assistant/Kennel Attendant
Kelley was born in Oxnard and recently relocated back to Ventura County after living in Honolulu and San Francisco. Kelley has a bachelor's degree in Communications from UCSB and is currently completing her prerequisites for veterinary school at Ventura College.
Kelley loves animals and is the proud mother of a pup named Makai. She also lives with two kitties, Aminal and Shai. In her spare time she loves to go surfing or hiking and playing softball or volleyball with friends.
Rebecca: Technician Assistant/Kennel Attendant
Cara: Technician Assistant/ Kennel Attendant
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