Meet Our Team

Doctors

Dr. Kate Smith, DVM, Leadership Team

Kate Smith aka "Smitty" graduated from CSU, College of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. In spring of 2017 she joined AUC as a veterinarian. However, she has worked at AUC since 2011 as a veterinary assistant and owes her success in veterinary school to the wonderful support of all the staff at AUC. Dr. Smith is a Colorado native and loves cheering for and watching the Buffs and Broncos. When she's not working, she enjoys horseback riding, running, hiking, and hanging out with her crazy special needs cat, Todd.

Dr. James Haught with Molly, a chicken and a baby goat

Dr. James Haught, DVM, Medical Director, Park Hill

Dr. James Haught attended CSU to obtain his undergraduate and veterinary degree. He graduated veterinary school in 2012. Originally James is from Del Norte, Colorado, a rural small farming and ranching community in the San Luis Valley. Prior to joining Animal Urgent Care, he worked in a busy general and emergency practice that saw a wide range of animals from horses to cats. His passion for helping animals and their owners at their most difficult time brought him to Arvada. In his free time, he enjoys volunteering with 4-H/FFA organizations, judging livestock shows, skiing, and competing in herding with his Australian Shepherds, Molly & Pearl.

Dr. Sarah Lovell with Nermal — Sarah Lovell with Nermal

Dr. Sarah Lovell, DVM, Medical Director, Arvada

Dr. Sarah Lovell was born, raised and obtained her undergraduate degree in her hometown of Dillon, Montana. She was accepted into the veterinary program at CSU and graduated in 2014. From the age of 15 until graduating vet school, she worked as a small animal technician.

Upon graduation, Dr. Lovell moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where she worked as a small animal emergency veterinarian at specialty practice. In 2016, she joined the staff of Animal Urgent Care. Her veterinary interests include emergency surgery and trauma stabilization. Her personal interests include any activity that gets her outdoors and spending time with her two yorkies and one cat.

Dr. Bailey Harmon, DVM

Dr. Bailey Harmon was raised on a hobby farm in southern Indiana and graduated from Indiana University with degrees in Biology and Spanish. She then spent three years working in hospitality and traveling to as many new places as possible. After visiting more than 20 new countries, Dr. Harmon chose to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian at Colorado State University. During her education, she developed a passion for emergency medicine and helping animals and their people in their most critical moments. In her free time, Dr. Harmon enjoys traveling, skiing, live music, and spending time with her retired three-day eventing horse, Jenny.

Dr. Lindsay Macdonald, DVM

Dr. MacDonald is a 2021 CSU grad who pursued veterinary medicine after a rewarding career in pediatric behavioral health. Her favorite aspects of medicine include surgery, palliative care, behavior medicine, and pain management. Outside of work, she loves being a mom to one tiny human and a menagerie of pets, gardening, antiquing, and crafting. She and her partner, Josh, live in Longmont and are slowly restoring an old Victorian one inch at a time.

Dr. Hannah Rocha, DVM

Hannah Rocha is originally from Los Angeles, she moved north to complete both her undergraduate and doctorate degrees at UC Davis, graduating from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 2022. Her background in veterinary medicine includes work with large and small animals; she has fond memories of working on a dairy farm and researching stallion fertility. She became passionate about emergency medicine in her final years of veterinary school and recently moved to Colorado to be closer to family. In her free time, Dr. Rocha enjoys hiking with her husband and cattle dog puppy.

Dr. Abigail Turner, DVM

Dr. Abigail Turner completed her undergraduate degree from Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia. She graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in May of 2023. After graduating, she moved to Denver, CO, and joined the AUC team in June 2023. Her veterinary interests include emergency surgery, animal behavior, and rehabilitation. Her hope is to incorporate exotic animals, especially reptiles, into her practice in the future. Outside of veterinary medicine, her interests include rock climbing, hiking with her dog, and enjoying live music with friends.

Dr. Kate Eaker, DVM

Dr. Kate Eaker attended CSU for veterinary school and graduated in 2021. She then completed a one-year internship in small animal emergency medicine at Fort Collins Veterinary Emergency Hospital and Pets Emergency Hospital in Greeley, CO before starting as a veterinarian at AUC in August 2022. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three cats (Meeko, Gus, and Joey), playing board games with family and friends, playing video games, and doing any and all outdoor activities (skiing, hiking, camping, and stand-up paddle boarding).

Dr. Victoria Harris, DVM

Dr. Victoria Harris earned her degree from the University of Florida and is a proud “double Gator” having completed both her undergraduate and doctorate degree there. Dr. Harris is passionate about providing fur-parents with individualized care tailored to the unique needs of the family and the pet. She strives to make the veterinary visit less stressful for both owners and pets, and is Fear-Free Certified. Her interests in veterinary medicine include surgery, internal medicine and animal behavior. Outside of the clinic, Dr. Harris can be found enjoying beautiful Colorado while hiking or watching any SEC sports

Dr. Aya Omar, DVM

Dr. Aya Omar is a recent transplant to Colorado. She graduated from North Carolina State and has worked in California and Oklahoma prior to making the move. Aya has always loved emergency medicine and surgery, originally training in Equine medicine but now transitioning to a balance of small animal ER and the horse girl things she loves on the side! Aya loves to climb and get into all sorts of fun adventures with her dog, including living in a van for the last couple of years. Aya is a new addition to AUC and is passionate about learning and growing in small animal emergency and surgery.

Dr. Renate Schlaht, DVM

Dr. Renate Schlaht is a recent graduate from the Colorado State University, University of Alaska Fairbanks 2+2 program (2023). She has a strong background in research and is finishing a Master's degree in One Health from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She loves emergency medicine and surgery but remains passionate about low cost medicine, rural care, and improving access to veterinary medicine. Outside of veterinary life, she loves running, hiking, and skijoring/bikejoring with her three dogs as well as working in her garden or trying to keep her houseplants alive.

Dr. Abbe Yelton, DVM

Abbe Yelton is originally from North Carolina and is a 2005 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. She worked for several years in the Nashville, Tennessee area doing both emergency and general practice. Dr. Yelton has been in Colorado since 2012, primarily working in an emergency setting. She is a recent addition to the team at Animal Urgent Care, working in all three locations. Dr. Yelton lives in Westminster with her long-time partner Scott and their three dogs, Nadine, Paddington, and Lulabelle (aka Lulars). In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, live music, spending time with her friends, family, and dogs.

Dr. Kira Ellsasser, DVM

Dr. Kira Ellsasser is a 2019 graduate from Michigan State University. Originally from the Midwest, she moved out to Colorado after graduation. She has enjoyed a variety of experiences in general practice, urgent care, and emergency medicine. She found her passion in the fast paced and upbeat environment of emergency medicine and enjoys tackling difficult cases. In her personal life, Kira loves fly fishing, hiking, backpacking, skiing, and ski touring with her partner and their four dogs. You can usually find them traveling in their truck camper in their free time.

Dr. Lauren Kuechler

Dr. Lauren Kuechler recently started with AUC after previously working in a GP/ER clinic, then at an ER/Specialty hospital. She has an interest in neurology and ophthalmology. Dr. Kuechler graduated from the University of Illinois in 2021 with her DVM.

Dr. Alexandra Prado, DVM

Dr. Alexandra Prado is originally from Tampa, Florida. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at Johns Hopkins University in 2016, she attained her veterinary degree from Cornell University in 2021. Dr. Prado completed a small animal rotating internship in at VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital in Denver, CO in 2022. Dr. Prado has a passion for wildlife and conservation medicine. She conducted research with the Jane Goodall Institute in the Republic of Congo on chimpanzee rehabilitation and re-introduction as well as studied the reproductive strategies of the naked-mole rat. She also loves running, hiking, and finding the best breweries in town.

Dr. Brittany Senecal, DVM

Dr. Brittany Senecal was born and raised in Aurora, CO. She is a '21 grad from the University of Illinois. In her free time, she loves to read, play videogames, play Pokemon Go, and hang out with her husband Nathan, their baby Zander, and their two dogs, Sadie (Golden) and Grunty/Ella (Pittie).

Kate Parker - Operations Manager Arvada, Park Hill, and Brighton

Kate is the Hospital Manager of AUC. She grew up in Philadelphia, and graduated from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. In 2009, she moved to Denver and began working at AUC. With Dr. Liz's support and mentorship, Kate began to realize her passions were leading her to a managerial role, and she began directing her efforts to learning about practice management. In 2019, the team nominated Kate for the VECCS Practice Manager of the Year Award, which she went on to win. 2019 also afforded her the opportunity to become a partner in the practice. Kate has begun to develop an interest in public speaking with regards to mental health and wellness within the field. Her passion is to cultivate and grow her co-workers into their best selves. Kate lives in North Arvada with two scruffy terrier mixes (acquired through AUC, of course), Tibbs and Milo.