Although she’d always had a soft spot for animals, Elyse didn’t know she would find herself working in the veterinary profession one day. When she first applied to be a veterinary employee, she was just looking for something a little different. Now, Elyse’s work is much more than a job—it’s her true passion!

Elyse first joined the Animal Hospital of McHenry family in November of 2011. Her favorite part of the workday is the wide variety of things she gets to do and the multitude of different pet personalities she’s able to interact with on a daily basis.

At home, Elyse has several pets. She shares her life with two cats named Noah and Summer; a rescued mouse who goes by Mousy; and multiple fish.

Karen grew up in Deerfield, Illinois, where she got her first dog at the age of three and began riding horses when she was only four years old. All her life, she’s been interested in helping animals—Karen is thrilled to continue her veterinary journey as a member of the Animal Hospital of McHenry team!

Karen started her animal-care career at a large-animal facility, then became a state-certified large-animal investigator. After working a number of other jobs in various fields, she accepted a position at another local small-animal practice before joining the Animal Hospital of McHenry family.

Karen and her husband have three children and six grandchildren. They share their home with two dogs—a Labrador named James Brown and a mixed-breed named Minnie—as well as three horses and a pony. Karen trained, taught, coached, and showed horses for many years, and is happy to now share her knowledge and love of these wonderful creatures with her grandchildren.

Stacy grew up in a small Wisconsin town, where she spent a lot of time on the family farm. Her passion for animals was apparent quite early—she remembers getting reprimanded frequently for bringing critters into the house! As fate would have it, Stacy’s love of animals has come full circle. Now, she’s able to help pets on a daily basis as a Veterinary Assistant.

Stacy’s veterinary journey began several years ago when she took a reception job at a specialty practice in Buffalo Grove. When her son was born, she took a few years off before getting back into the workforce part-time as a waitress. As her son grew a bit older, Stacy was ready to transition back into day work and knew that a veterinary clinic was the only place for her—that’s when she joined the Animal Hospital of McHenry team. As an Assistant, she’s especially fond of performing dental cleanings and chatting with pet parents during check-ins. Stacy never tires of a cute animal story!

Much of Stacy’s free time is spent reading, a hobby that she’s happy to say has been passed down to her son. The family lives with several pets of their own: Jinx, a rambunctious pit bull who still thinks he’s a puppy; an elderly cat named Cricket who loves giving Jinx the cold shoulder; a pair of crested geckos; and a corn snake.