Staff
DR. CRISTINA VALAS
Born in Madrid, Spain and lived there until the age of 11, when the whole family of 6 children moved to the United Kingdom. She was educated in a Catholic boarding school in England until at the age of 17, when the family made another move to the United States.
At 17, she started her career at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY where she majored in Biology/premed and minored in Business Administration. In summer of 1988, she followed her now husband Rory to his native land, Massachusetts, and became a radiology technician at South Shore Veterinary Hospital in Weymouth until she started Veterinary School at Tufts in the Fall of 1989. She graduated from Tufts in 1993, worked at Slade Veterinary Hospital and Westboro Animal Hospital before starting The Family Pet Hospital in 1998.
Married to Rory Valas, a franchisee law attorney in Boston, and is presently living in Ashland with her husband, her two daughters, Cassandra (17) and Natasha (12), her son, Justin (9), her 2 dogs, Hunter and Peluche, and two persian cats, George and Sadie.
DR. MEAGHAN LAINER
Dr. Meaghan Lainer joined our family in January 2009. Born and raised in Salem, Massachusetts, Dr. Lainer loves to travel but remains true to her New England roots. She has traveled to many exotic places including, St. Kitts, Puerto Rico, Italy, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, India, and Sri Lanka, along with many places throughout the US.
Dr. Lainer attended UMass Boston and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts, where she also received extensive surgical training. She did her last year of clinicals at Virginia Tech where she expanded upon her surgical training. Her main interests include internal medicine and soft tissue surgery. She has performed many advanced surgeries and had many challenging and critical medical cases throughout her career.
Dr. Lainer is married to Dr. Gary Lainer, also a veterinarian who founded The Lainer Animal Hospital of Canton. They live in Canton with their beautiful golden retriever, Punkin, and their two cats, Mr. Sensi and Grise (Itty Bitty). Her other interests include hot power yoga, relaxing on the beach, going to Montauk, L.I., traveling, reading and enjoying her beloved pets. She just finished her 200 hour yoga teaching certification and soon will be a part time yoga instructor.
Dr. Lainer strive to provide the very best, high quality medicine for your pet; and has always treated her patients as if they were her very own pet! She looks forward to continuing to provide top quality care for each pet entrusted to her.
KATHLEEN RAYBUCK
Kathy joined our staff in May 2009, as executive director. Kathy has been managing vet hospitals for over 12 years after teaching kindergarten for 15 years. She was born and raised in Akron, Ohio but moved to Greensboro, NC in 1985. She moved to New England in May 2007. She has one son, Joshua, who is a police officer in Greensboro. She now lives in Shrewsbury with her husband Drew, stepdaughters, Ashley and Allison and two dogs and a cat. You will always see Claire, her poodle mix, at the office with Kathy as our "official" greeter when you arrive. Kathy invites you to stop by and meet the staff and she looks forward to serving our clients in the fullest.
CARLA SAUER
Carla is our most senior veterinary technician. She has been a member of our family since August 2007. Carla was born and raised in Massachusetts and has recently become a resident of Plainville. She lives with her husband Chris, her beatiful toddler daughter, Lillianna, her dogs, Pickles, a Boston Terrier and Trigger, a boxer, and one guinea pig, Doche! In her free time she enjoys game nights with friends, attending Bruins games and spending time with her family (both human and furry). Her love of animals helped her to reach her lifelong dream to become a veterinary technician. You can be sure that when Carla take care of a your pet that they will have the most dedicated care possible and the care you will ALWAYS get at The Family Pet Hospital!
COLETTE CARPENTER
Colette is on of the first people you will see when you come into our hospital! She is our senior client liason and joined our hospital in May of 2009. Originally from Massapequa, NY, Colette moved to Massachusetts for undergrad and grad school. She has lived here for several years currently residing in Westborough sith "Sully" her 5 year old rescued French Bulldog. During her free time she enjoys hanging out with her family and friends and spending time at the beach. Colette welcomes you to stop in anytime or call with questions or concerns and she will ensure you are well taken care of!
VENUS FELIX
Venus joined our staff in January 2010. She previously worked in the high tech industry for many years traveling across the United States and abroad before deciding to follow her heart into the veterinary field. She comes to our family from Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine where she trained in large animal and then specialized in anesthesia. She is currently enrolled in Purdue University pursuing a veterinary technician degree.
She enjoys time on the beach with her husband Kevin and their husky mix, Kachina. On weekends you will most likely find her riding her American Saddlebred horse, Romeo; either joying trails in the woods or competing in hunter paces across New England. Be assured that when your pet is in her hands, they will be treated with great love and kindness.
EMILY SCHOENBORN
Emily has been a member of The Family Pet Hospital staff since July 2009. Initially, her position was client liaison/vet assistant, but with hands on training she has evolved into one of our veterinary technicians. She grew up in Connecticut but fell in love with Boston while earning a Bachelor of Art in Psychology from Merrimack College. She decided to follow her passion for animals after living in the "real world" for one year. She lives in Newton, MA and enjoys hiking, reading, and desserts of any kind! She is thankful every day for the opportunity to love and care for your pets.
The Family Pet Hospital
300 Eliot Street
Ashland, MA 01721
(508) 231-1223
familypet@comcast.net
