Back row, left to right:  Lori Ashe with Toot, Mollie Johnson, Heidy Drawdy with Nikko, Bonnie Smith with Doodle Bug.

Front row, left to right:  Kim Cessna with Gertie and Georgie, Kit Thomas with Lucy, and Dr. Janet Ackerman.

Lori Ashe has over 30 years of grooming experience and can turn your scruffy pet into a runway model! Her work is beautiful. Lori also teaches our Spring and Fall Obedience Classes here, and makes learning fun for both the dogs and their owners. Her family includes Potbellied pig, Mia Ham, Nina, Toot, the Papillon, "B" the Golden Retriever, Grady the Lab, Rudabaga the cat, 4 horses, Carl & Pugsley, the squirrels, two chickens, step-daughter, Hannah, and last (but not least!) husband Duane. They live in a farmhouse in Whigham, and participate in Rendezvous events where people relive the lifestyle of Colonial times. Lori is also training her dogs and pig (yes, really!) to perform in Agility trials, and doing splendidly.  Nina, who was recused from abandonment as a puppy, and Toot are both well on their way to achieving Agility Champion titles with both AKC and UKC, and Grady is following close behind in their pawprints.

Mollie Johnson joined our team in December 2006.  She works part time and you can usually see her smiling face every Saturday at the front desk.  Mollie has a kind heart when it comes to being pet friendly, and has adopted many stray and orphaned dogs.  Her family has 3 dogs, Maci Doll, a Pekingese, Mae-Belle, a Boston terrier, Gertie, an Old English Bulldog, and her new best buddy, Georgie, along with two kittens named Si and Am.  She understands that your pet is really a part of the family and will be dearly loved and cared for by the AMC staff.

Heidy Drawdy has been an animal lover for as long as she can remember.  In her words, "there are few things in life better than a fuzzy kitten or the smell of a puppy's breath".  Heidy has been training dogs since she was 13; now she's training her 7 year old granddaugter's dog to track "mistress".  Heidy has worked as a veterinary assistant for over 20 years.  She truly loves the work.  She and her husband, Michael, team up and spend much of their time volunteering and assisting law enforcement by using their Georgia licensed and nationally certified K-9 dogs to do Search and Rescue work.  Kids in her family love coming over to pet the horses, feed the goats, have the bird talk to them, and play Hide-and-Seek with the dogs.  Never a dull moment!

Bonnie Smith is one of the voices on the phone when you call. She is our receptionist some days, and the bookkeeper on others. Her husband, Rickey, works at Wells Fargo Mortgage. Daughters Jennifer and Kerri are still close by. Each have sons of their own,  and grandsons Justin, Jakson, and Jaken are the lights of Bonnie's life! Occasional orphaned birds, puppies, or kittens are her extended family. Doodle Bug is her most famous pet; he came to our office after being abandoned and near death in a dumpster. Bonnie's TLC saved him, and he has turned into a happy, healthy member of the family. Doodle is featured on a few other pages here on our website.

Kimberly Cessna joined our team in November, 2007, with many years of prior experience at other veterinary hospitals and the Humane Society.  Kim has three children- son Richard, and two daughters, Georgia and Jessie, and a grandaughter, Karena.  Both girls have grown up in 4-H, and shown livestock for many years.  Kim and her husband, Matt, have a menagerie of pets that include Koda, Barbie and Tilley (dogs), Schatzie and Jackie (cats), and 5 ponies that she offers for birthday party pony rides and painting.  The kids love it!  Kim also spends time working horses, trail riding, and teaching lessons.

Kit Thomas started as a volunteer, then officially joined our team in July, 2008.  She is a Cairo native and gives new meaning to the term "cat lover".  She currently resides in the country with her family of chickens,  ducks, turkeys, a turtle named Shellford, peacocks, a ferret named Millie, and Chihuahuas Mollie & Moe, and Blue Heeler, Sadie.  And there are more!  Cats Mattie, Siamie, Scottie, Creeklin and Survi round out her "family".  Kit is a  great asset to the team with her positive outlook and friendly disposition.

Dr. Janet Ackerman opened the hospital in 1986, with the goal of promoting the health and well-being of companion animals and horses. Jared, her older son, is attending ABAC, and is majoring in Diversified Ag. He & his brother, Dustin, have both been active in 4-H, both with hogs & steers to show, as well as Shotgun competions. Dustin will soon be attending Valdosta State college.  The family has two cool horses, Buddy & Lacey, (who love to go trail riding), two dogs (Nikko & Lucy, both rescue dogs), and Rascal the cat. Outside the office, Dr. Ackerman also enjoys canoeing, hiking, home improvement projects, wildlife photography, and scuba diving.

 Not pictured, but important, too!  is Connie Blackman, our "on-call" receptionist.  Connie works with the State of Florida in the Department of Health, Children's Medical Services on weekdays, and at Animal Medical Center Saturday mornings.  Connie is originally from Havana, Florida, lived almost 25 years in Tallahassee, then relocated to Cairo in November, 2006.   Although she is new to Cairo, her father was born and rasied here and one of her uncles was a life long resident of Cairo. Presently her pets include two dogs--a happy Mini-Schnauzer mix named Scooter and an energetic Springer Spaniel named Caileigh, along with two cats, Buddy and Harry.  Most of her pets were saved from a Humane Society or adopted from AMC.  Connie's hobbies include scrapbooking, greeting cards, and riding her motorcycle. 

Here we were in 2007-

Back row, left to right- Connie Blackman, Kimberly Cessna, Dr. Ackerman, Bonnie Smith, Mollie Johnson, Shane Palmer, Katrina McClain, and Lori Ashe, with Toot, Cody, Nikko, and Nina.

And, here's the Way We Were, way back in 1998:

Back row: Amber Evans, Dr. Ackerman, Penny Hicks Middle: Joanne Saxe, Bonnie Smith, Tammy Hall, and Debra Fortier; Front: Obid the Greyhound, Dustin Clark & Seiger