Staff

Staff

Staff

Our staff is a caring group of dedicated individuals who bring multiple talents to the practice.
	Donna Schafetz A veterinary assistant extraordinaire, and the person who knows everything about the practice, Donna has been with us since 1995. A 1983 graduate of Centenary College's Equine Program , she has worked in many parts of the equine industry. From grooming, riding, and training Arabian horses, foaling standardbred mares and prepping yearling sales prospects, to assisting Olympic riders and veterinarians and other demanding jobs, Donna handles everything and everybody with skill and professionalism. Donna has also been on the Sussex County (New Jersey) Horse Show Committee for more than twenty years, spending her vacation days there in August each year, and using her many talents to help run a very sophisticated show. Even though Donna does the work of three people she says her job here at the practice is a "cakewalk" and looks forward to learning something new every day.
	Diane Yovanovich Our knowledgeable receptionist and creative scheduler Diane has been involved with horses since she was five years old. Her varied experience in the horse world includes polo, show hunters and fox hunting, racehorse training and breeding, sales prepping and horse show management. Her other interests include cooking and baking, gardening, knitting and needlepoint, and classical music. Long known for having Pembroke Welsh Corgis, her present family includes two young, athletic Corgi boys, one old, perfect Sharpei girl and two large cats.
	Sidney Hoblit Our wonderful bookkeeper Sidney, with us since 2001, has over twenty years experience as a licensed veterinary technician with a specialty in diagnostic ultrasound. She has experience training and competing with horses in hunter and jumper events, and for the last eighteen years has been active with her dogs in agility, obedience, and coursing. Her family currently includes one cat and nine sighthounds! With broad experience as a sales and business manager through owning and operating her own pet food and health products business (Hoblit House in West Grove, PA), she keeps this practice running smoothly financially through thick and thin. With her wide knowledge of canine nutrition and integrative medicine, she is an excellent educator and a knowledgeable resource for our clients.
	Ellie Downing Our practice manager Ellie and her husband Mark have lived in Lincoln University, PA since 1990. They have three children and three grandchildren. She has a associate's degree in Management from Goldey-Beacom College and graduated from West Chester University with a bachelor's degree in Marketing. Ellie worked for the DuPont Company for more than sixteen years and came to us from a position with the Avon-Grove School District. Having grown up with animals, she now owns a Jack Russell Terrier, a Staffordshire Terrier, and a Maine Coon cat. She enjoys boating, knitting and crocheting, making candy, and scrapbooking.
	Reary Morris Reary joined us at Always Helpful in January of 2008, after 18 years of galloping thoroughbred racehorses. She is now focusing on helping animals live a better quality of life. Also, she thought it was time to keep her feet on the ground. Of course, that didn’t last long; this picture was taken here at Fincastle Farm, in front of the vet clinic. Coming to us with a background in racing and eventing, Reary, a licensed thoroughbred trainer, has also assisted many top trainers. Reary has always been an avid believer in holistic and alternative therapies. Through first hand experience, working with many champion horses, she knows how to help equine athletes reach their full potential. Reary enjoys tennis and horseracing. She has a wonderful son, Johnny, who is beginning his studies at West Chester University and a precious princess—her dog Lilly. Reary works with us part time, helping out with our Maximum Horse Power Seminars.
	Susan Meyers Our Veterinary Receptionist Assistant Susan has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Adult and Occupational Education from the University of New Hampshire, a state where she lived for 18 years before moving back to Pennsylvania. She has taken many classes to become both a Certified Herbalist and Reiki Practitioner. She brings experience in a variety of fields, including Retail Associate at a Natural Food/Pharmacy store, Permanent Substitute/Teacher's Assistant at an Agricultural High School, Veterinary Assistant, Kennel Technician, and in more recent years, Part-time/Seasonal Gardener at a few private gardens, including Misty Meadows and Longwood Gardens. During the past 15 years, she has been using holistic therapies and natural products for herself, family and a variety of pets (horses, cats, dogs). In her spare time, she enjoys taking and leading plant walks, yoga, horseback riding, growing and teaching others about medicinal/edible plants, reading, and spending quality time with her family and friends, including her graceful cat, who is called Oreo Oregano since he enjoys walking through nature's herb gardens.
	Frolic Shoemaker 5/19/1996 - 10/3/2009 The world’s cutest face belongs to Frolic, a 1996 model rough-coat Jack Russell Terrier. His job is to remind us to have quality time with each other, to pay attention to little things, and to listen to the quiet voices inside that tell us the right thing to do.
	Oscar WildeCat Oscar is actually a senior executive and co-owner of the practice, having moved in and acquired his interest in 1997. He is the official “greeter,” the ambassador of unconditional love, and a fearless dog trainer. His interests and activities include breakfast, snacks, dinner, and shedding.