Call: 603-431-0020

Meet the Team at Lafayette Animal Hospital

At Lafayette Animal Hospital in Portsmouth, NH, we treat your pets with love and expert care, dedicated to a shared commitment to their long-term health and happiness. Thank you for entrusting our veterinary team with the well-being of your cherished companions.

Meet Our Team Members

Our Compassionate Veterinary Team in Portsmouth, NH

Veterinarians

Arianna Brown-Hendry, DVM

Arianna Brown-Hendry, DVM

Medical Director

Dr. Brown Hendry is a graduate of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, with a Bachelor of Science from Syracuse University. She has excelled in diverse areas of the field, including shelter medicine, high-volume spay and neuter, exotic animal care, and animal-related legal advocacy.

Dr. Brown Hendry’s passion lies in soft tissue surgery, dentistry, emergency care, internal medicine, and palliative care for elderly and terminally ill patients. Her surgical skills, diagnostic acumen, and compassionate approach have made a positive impact on her patients and their families. As a dedicated member of the New Hampshire State Board of Veterinary Medicine, she works tirelessly to uphold the highest standards of care and ethics in the profession.

Dr. Brown Hendry’s unwavering commitment, versatility, and excellence make her a beloved and invaluable asset to the veterinary community.

Dr. Brown Hendry lives in Portsmouth with her family and two dogs, Artemis and Quinn. She enjoys hiking, cooking, trying new restaurants, culinary experiences, and spending time with her family.

Courtney Abbott, DVM

Courtney Abbott, DVM

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Abbott earned her DVM degree University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown, PEI, Canada after completing a Bachelor of Science at Colorado State University. Dr.Abbott is a compassionate veterinarian dedicated to providing exceptional care for animals throughout all stages of life. She works closely with clients to develop personalized medical plans that prioritize their pets’ well-being while aligning with the clients’ comfort and preferences. This collaborative approach fosters trust and ensures that treatment plans are both effective and manageable for pet owners. Dr. Abbott is committed to developing comprehensive care plans that support the health and well-being of animals through all phases of their life. She enjoys dermatology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, and palliative care. Outside of her veterinary practice, Dr. Abbott enjoys spending time with her Shih Tzu, Maeve, staying active through regular exercise, exploring new recipes, and immersing herself in a good book

Jennifer Kirk, DVM

Jennifer Kirk, DVM

Associate Veterinarian

Bio coming soon!

Leadership

Whitney, C.V.T.

Whitney, C.V.T.

Practice Manager

Whitney started at Lafayette Animal Hospital in February 2017 while she finished her Biomedical Science degree at UNH. She joined the team full-time after her graduation in May. She served as Lafayette’s Technician Supervisor until April of 2024, when she transitioned into the Practice Manager position. You will see Whitney all over the hospital – in her office, helping in room appointments, assisting in surgery, or answering calls at the front desk. Her favorite part of her job is client communication – she loves forming bonds with our wonderful clients and their furry companions! When she is not at work, you will find her tending to her many houseplants, using her film cameras, exploring outside, or spending time with her husband and their dog, Josie, and their two cats, Navi and Ein.

Megan

Megan

Office Manager

Megan first started with Lafayette in 2005 working part time while in high school. After attending college she worked for two other veterinary clinics before returning to ‘home’ at Lafayette in the beginning of 2015. Megan can be seen wearing many hats around the clinic but is officially the reception supervisor and a veterinary technician. When not at work she enjoys spending time with her young son and husband, baking, gardening, spending time with her dog Tilly and cat Toby, and spending time in the barn with her family’s horses. Megan enjoys helping clients take the best care of their pets as possible. 

Technicians

Jillian

Jillian

Clinical Technician Supervisor

Jillian was welcomed to team Lafayette in the summer of 2020. She started off as a CSR but within only 6 months, she transitioned to the technician team. Jillian’s aspiration to work with animals began in high school; from there she graduated from Great Bay Community College with her degree in Veterinary Technology. After college, she worked at a dog daycare and boarding facility until joining the team at Lafayette! Jillian has a passion for client communication, and you will find her guiding the team for room appointments and hoarding all the puppy and kitten visits! Outside of work, Jillian spends her time reading, cooking, painting, and renovating her first home with her husband and their diabetic cat, Charlie.

Sydney, C.V.T.

Sydney, C.V.T.

Supervisor of Surgery and Anesthesia

Sydney joined Lafayette Animal Hospital in the fall of 2018 and started off at the front desk. The team quickly recognized her passion for medicine and transitioned her into a technician position shortly after. Sydney attended Great Bay Community College and upon her graduation in 2023, she passed the Veterinary Technician National Exam to become a Certified Veterinary Technician. You will mostly find Sydney taking the lead in our surgical and anesthetic cases, but she has a passion for emergency and urgent care visits as well! When Sydney is not at work, you will find her spending time with her husband and their three dogs – JD, Dozer, and Champ.

Samantha, C.V.T.

Samantha, C.V.T.

Veterinary Technician

Sam graduated from Great Bay Community College in 2014, where she received her associate degree in Applied Science. Shortly thereafter, she passed the challenging Veterinary Technician Exam to become a Certified Veterinary Technician. Sam originally came to us as an intern during her schooling, and then was invited to join our full time staff in May of 2014. Sam has a well-rounded approach to her veterinary technician work because of her kind, and hard-working personality. She is always willing to learn or try something new. Since she has started, she has developed into a skilled veterinary technician, who excels not only in the surgical suite, but also in the exam room.

Sam has two cats of her own, Zayla and Bailey and 2 French Bulldogs named Severus and Salazar. You can say she is bit of a Harry Potter fan! In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, and doing outdoor activities such as hiking or kayaking, and playing with her frenchies.

Melanie, C.V.T.

Melanie, C.V.T.

Veterinary Technician

Melanie graduated from Great Bay Community in 2019 and shortly after passed the Vet Tech National Exam to become a Certified Veterinary Technician. She worked at another clinic for about 3 years before coming to work for Lafayette Animal Hospital in June 2022. She has a strong passion for learning and growing in the field and making others laugh. She never fails to put a smile on her coworker’s faces by dancing around the treatment area. You can always find Melanie with crocs on her feet and a smile on your face. She can’t wait to meet you and your pet! When Melanie is not at work, she spends time with her fiancé and her two dogs, Tuxie and Rosie, and obsesses over Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, and anything Disney. Her future goals in life consist of growing as a technician, starting a family, and getting a season pass at Walt Disney World.

Natalie

Natalie

Veterinary Technician

Natalie joined the front desk team in the summer of 2022 and by the summer of 2023, she was asked to join the technician staff. You will find Natalie helping in room appointments, performing treatments on hospitalized patients, or helping the team stay organized with inventory! Her favorite part of her job is learning new medicine – she likes to learn something new every day. When Natalie is not at work, she is practicing karate (watch out, she’s almost a black belt!) or spending time with her cat, Jack.
Ally

Ally

Veterinary Technician

Ally started at Lafayette Animal Hospital in August of 2024 after completing her B.S. in Veterinary Technology at the University of Tennessee at Martin. You’ll primarily see Ally in room appointments while she continues to learn and grow in the veterinary field. She particularly enjoys working with our feline friends. When Ally is not at work she enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, their dog Zappa, and their cat Oliver. She loves hiking and doing anything outdoors.
Jenna

Jenna

Veterinary Technician

Jenna started with Lafayette in July of 2024. Her love for animals started at a very young age as she grew up with five dogs and two cats. When she was younger, her family was also a foster family for Mary’s dog’s rescue. She then attended a veterinary science class in high school while working full-time at a doggy daycare learning dog behavior. After trying an emergency vet clinic as her first job in the field she came to Lafayette! You can find Jenna in room appointments and also assisting in surgeries. Her favorite part of the job is being there for our clients and helping them make the best decisions for their loved pets. In her free time, Jenna loves going to the gym, hanging out with friends, and spending time with her two cats Maya and Delilah. Jenna’s end goal is to get her certificate for veterinary technician and specialize in something additional.

Danielle

Danielle

Veterinary Technician

Danielle joined Lafayette Animal Hospital part-time in December of 2024 while she was enrolled at UNH for her B.S. in Animal Science. She has a passion for technical skills and is found assisting in-room appointments and working with hospitalized patients. During her breaks from school, she joins the team full-time so she can continue to learn as she pursues her next step – vet school! Danielle enjoys spending time with friends and family outside of work, including her two labs, Boaz and Max.
Julia, C.V.T.

Julia, C.V.T.

Veterinary Technician

Julia started at Lafayette in the summer of 2023 as a vet tech student intern. She has since graduated from that program and passed her VTNE to become a Credentialed Veterinary Technician and continues to work at the clinic part-time while completing a bachelor’s in animal science at UNH. Her favorite part of her job is getting to share her love of all things veterinary science with both clients and coworkers—don’t get her started on the etymology of medical terminology! She especially enjoys working up emergency and urgent care cases. When Julia is not at work, she’s likely studying with an oat milk latte or curled up with a book and her dog, Einstein. She is also a co-captain on the UNH Dressage Team and can be found going for a trail ride whenever the sun is shining!

Client Service Representatives

Katherine

Katherine

Customer Service Representative Supervisor

Kat was welcomed onto the CSR team in July of 2023 and has been making us all smile ever since! Her charismatic personality always keeps the team laughing and makes our clients feel comfortable. You may hear us joking about how she is our “personality hire” but at the end of the day, she is a caring, driven team member whose priority is patient and client care. When Kat is outside of work, you will find her scuba diving off the coast, going up North to spend time on Lake Winnipesaukee, and hanging out with her dog, Scout.

Kaitlin

Kaitlin

Receptionist

Kaitlin joined the team at Lafayette in December of 2023, when she started as a full-time veterinary receptionist. After deciding to pursue her dream career in veterinary medicine, she transitioned to part-time work while continuing her studies. Kaitlin is currently enrolled at Great Bay Community College, working toward her Veterinary Technician certification, with the long-term goal of becoming a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. At LAH, Kaitlin can be found at the front desk, greeting clients with a warm smile. However, she is equally passionate about learning and frequently takes the opportunity to observe and absorb knowledge from the technicians and veterinarians on staff. Her favorite part of her role is discovering new aspects of the veterinary field that help her grow both professionally and personally. Outside of her work, Kaitlin is dedicated to her studies and can often be found with her loyal study buddy, Dory, her chocolate lab. When she’s not studying or working, she enjoys trying new activities—she’s particularly interested in exploring horseback riding and figure skating someday.

Donna

Donna

Receptionist

Donna and her husband have been entrusting the staff and doctors at Lafayette Animal Hospital with their beloved pets’ care since our second month in business in 1994! After working as a receptionist in the human medical care industry for 30 years, she retired. Donna has been working at Lafayette Animal Hospital since 2017 as a Client Care Coordinator.

She enjoys spending time with her family and her three Border Collies, Finnigan, River, and Dash, in her off time. Donna also competes (very successfully, might we add) with all three dogs in agility trials. Feel free to check in with her the next time that you are in the office to see what accomplishments her pups have made. She also has a Morgan Horse named UVM Kyros and loves spending time at the barn.

Join Our Team

This isn’t just a job for us, it’s our way of life! We’re always looking for outstanding people to join our team. If you’re passionate about pets, people, and fun, we welcome you to browse our current openings and apply.

Have a question?

Working together to keep pets happy and healthy.

Location

2222 Lafayette Road
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Click here for directions.

Hours

Monday-Friday: 8:00am – 6:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am – 2:00pm *
Sunday: Closed

Contact Info

Phone: (603) 431-0020
Fax: (603) 433-4234
Email: info@lafayetteanimalhospital.com

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