Jen has always loved animals. She became a veterinary technician because it allowed her to be a voice for the voiceless and an advocate for those who can’t care for themselves.

Jen moved to Gainesville, GA after graduating from UGA. She spent 25 years in general practice before moving to specialty for eight more years. She returned to general practice here at All Animals to manage and share her knowledge of veterinary medicine with the other technicians.

Outside of the clinic, Jen lives with her wife, Jessica, and their two cats: Doodles and Sassafras.

Unlike most of her colleagues, Heather didn’t grow up dreaming about a career working with animals. In fact, it wasn’t until her personal vet suggested she look into becoming a vet tech due to how well she cared for her senior diabetic cat that Heather finally gave it some thought. Fortunately for all the patients and clients here at All Animals Veterinary Hospital, Heather followed through, and the rest is history!

Heather attended Ogeechee Tech, where she earned her LVT degree. From there, she went to work at the clinic where she was bringing her own pets at the time. After some time, Heather set out to find a slower-paced practice where quality care was a top priority. She found just what she was looking for at All Animals, and officially joined the team in March of 2024. Professionally, Heather enjoys client education.

Outside of work, Heather lives in Murrayville with her husband and two stepsons. The family has four cats: Winston, Wesa, Logan, and Whiskers. In her spare time, Heather enjoys reading and bluegrass music. An Airforce veteran, Heather served as an airplane mechanic during Desert Storm. She also studied and received her FCC license and earned two medals for exemplary service with her unit.

For Matt, veterinary medicine runs in the family—his father is Dr. Edward Holton, and his twin brother James works alongside him here at All Animals Veterinary Hospital. Matt knew early on that he wanted to do the same thing as his father and help animals to live happier, healthier lives! He couldn’t be happier to gain hands-on experience in the veterinary field here at the hospital while applying to veterinary school.

Matt is a Dawsonville native and a recent graduate of the University of Georgia, where he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in animal and dairy science. He plans on continuing his education at veterinary school in the future! For now, Matt serves in all areas of the hospital and enjoys the great variety that every day brings—on any given day, he might help to birth a litter of puppies or treat an infection in a dairy cow, and that fast-paced environment keeps him on his toes.

In his free time, Matt likes spoiling his own dogs at home. He shares his life with two Australian Shepherds named Taylor and Chloe.

Stacy became a veterinary technician because she wanted to become a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. She adores animals and thought a career working with them would be the perfect fit. It didn’t take long for her to realize that working with animals was her true calling in life!

Initially, Stacy started out in human medicine, but she quickly realized that her love for animals far outweighed her love of people. After working in an emergency room and a morgue, she followed her heart and made her way to the role of vet tech. She joined the All Animals team after having been a client for several years.

At home, Stacy and her husband, Casey, have a plethora of pets, including two dogs (Milo and Dexter), a cat (Lexi), three chickens (Charlie, Harley, and Salt), and two ducks (Remy and Riley). Stacy loves anything Disney and traveling. A self-proclaimed adrenaline junkie, Stacy has done some wild stuff, including jumping out of an airplane.

Ever since Elyse could walk, she remembers following after all the pets her family had. The relationships she fostered with animals during her childhood helped shape er into the person she is today and helped her find her place in veterinary medicine. As a vet tech, Elyse has been able to combine her passion for medicine with her lifelong adoration of animals, and as it turns out, it’s the perfect fit!

After graduating high school, Elyse went on to study human medicine. Four years in, she decided to make the switch from two-legged patients to four, and she couldn’t be happier. Professionally, Elyse has a particular interest in working with felines. There’s just nothing better than seeing an anxious cat start to relax when you treat them with kindness, patience and understanding.

At home, Elyse has one rescue dog named Luna, who is her very best friend; four cats – Sunny, Mama, Cherry, and Jasper; and a leopard gecko named Zesty. In her spare time, Elyse enjoys watching things grow, so she has many houseplants that she tends to. She also recently started her own herb/vegetable garden.

When Dr. Edward Holton’s childhood puppy fell ill, he went along with his parents to the local veterinarian’s office. After that experience, he remembers telling his mother and father that he was going to become a veterinarian himself one day. Dr. Holton’s dream never wavered—now, he’s proud to own and operate his very own animal hospital!

Born in Washington, Georgia, Dr. Holton grew up in Evans and was only 15 years old when he started working for a local animal clinic in Augusta. He would continue to help pets there through his undergraduate career, and was then accepted into the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Holton graduated in 1994 and launched his private-practice journey at a pair of practices in the northern part of the state.

In 1997, Dr. Holton launched All Animals Veterinary Hospital and has been serving the area’s pets and animal owners here ever since. As a vet, he likes complicated medical cases and is particularly fond of general and orthopedic surgery. Dr. Holton also loves to administer preventative healthcare measures—for him, there’s nothing better than meeting a new pet and proactively keeping them healthy!

When he’s not at the clinic, Dr. Holton enjoys staying active in the Dawson County Rotary Club, playing golf, and tending to his herd of dairy cows. He and his wife, Patty, have two twin sons named James and Matt, both of whom work here at the clinic and are pursuing veterinary medicine themselves. The family shares their lives with several pets: Meghan, a Coonhound mix; Pickles the English bulldog; two Australian Shepherds named Taylor and Chloe; and a Standard Poodle puppy who goes by Beaux.

James has grown up at All Animals Veterinary Hospital—he was six months old when his father, Dr. Edward Holton, opened the clinic doors for business. It wasn’t difficult for James to gain an innate passion for the world of animal medicine!

James grew up in Dawsonville, where he frequently went on house calls with his dad and raised and showed cattle. Those experiences only deepened his desire to help as many animals as he possibly could. He attended the University of Georgia and graduated with a degree in animal science. Then, pursued a degree in veterinary medicine at University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine. James has graduated with his Doctorate in veterinary medicine and officially joined the All Animals team as an associate in June 2023.

When time permits between his busy schedule, James enjoys cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs and spending time with his own dogs, Chloe and Taylor, at home.

Long before she was an employee here at All Animals Veterinary Hospital, Dee was a client. When the opportunity arose for her to join the team at the hospital she’d brought her own pets to for so many years, she jumped at the chance! Dee is now a proud member of the clinic’s front-desk team.

Originally from southern Louisiana, Dee moved to Dawsonville in 1996 and has lived in the area ever since. She worked in the human medical field for 18 fulfilling years before deciding it was time for a change of pace—that’s when Dee decided to do something she’d always been passionate about and explore the world of veterinary medicine. She joined the All Animals Veterinary Hospital family in October of 2020 and couldn’t be happier with her choice! Dee’s favorite part of every shift is getting to foster relationships with the area’s pet owners and their four-legged companions.

Away from work, Dee’s interests include staying active in her church, reading, visiting the beach, crafting, and spending quality time with her family. She and her husband of nearly 30 years have two wonderful children, Ariel and Ren, as well as several granddogs.

Shy has always had a deep love for animals, but her journey into veterinary medicine wasn’t a straight path. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Miami, she spent her early years exploring the world around her, inspired by the trainers and marine biologists at SeaWorld. While she started out in retail, Shy quickly realized her true calling was in veterinary care. Once she discovered the world of veterinary technology, there was no turning back. She dove in headfirst, learning hands-on and developing a passion for both patient care and client education.

Shy’s veterinary career took off in Miami, but life soon brought her to Georgia, where she joined All Animals Veterinary Hospital as a technician in 2008. Over the nearly two decades since, she honed her skills at multiple hospitals, leading teams and guiding newer techs through everything from routine exams to life-saving C-sections. Though she eventually retired from her technician role, Shy’s love for the field never waned. When she saw an opportunity to return to All Animals as a customer service representative, she jumped at the chance.

At home, Shy’s life is just as full of love and energy. She and her husband share their home with their son and four rescue pets, including two boxers (Luna and Zeus), and two cats (Moo Moo and Freya). Outside of work, Shy is a creative soul, enjoying painting, wire-wrapping jewelry, and tending to her growing collection of succulents. She also loves traveling with her family, especially when it involves rockhounding for quartz crystals and exploring gem shows.

Animals have always been a part of Layla’s life, from competing with them to having personal pets of her own. To say she loves and adores animals is an understatement, but the reason she chose a career in the veterinary field goes much deeper. Knowing she could play a hands-on role in helping animals live happier, healthier lives has helped Layla find her true purpose in life.

As soon as she was old enough, Layla began to pet sit. She landed her first official job at a horse farm, and then was able to start shadowing here at All Animals Veterinary Hospital before formally transitioning into the role of veterinary assistant. Professionally, she loves holding patients and learning new things. Her favorite part of the day is the afternoon, when she gets to play with the dogs in the kennel area.

Outside of work, Layla lives with her parents and sister. She has several pets, including two Beta fish (Swim Shady and Eclipse), an angel fish (MoonKight), nine crazy, food-driven chickens, and a cat named Sam who is a lazy bum. In her free time, Layla serves as a leading officer in the Dawson FFA chapter and is a youth leader at her church. She is also a National Honor Society inductee.

Growing up in Gainesville, it was a common occurrence for Jennifer to rescue strays and nurse them back to health. Even at a young age, she knew caring for animals was something she wanted to do. As she got older, that desire to help animals grew even stronger and would ultimately shape Jennifer’s career path.

At age 20, Jennifer began working at the Humane Society before moving on to an animal clinic in Gainesville. After a year there, she spent another 23 years working in a general practice animal hospital before joining the All Animals Veterinary Hospital team. Professionally, Jennifer has a special interest in radiology, dentals, and grooming.

Outside of work, Jennifer is happily married with four children and a variety of pets, including three dogs (Rosie, Evee, and Gracie), a cat (Cookie), a rabbit, and twelve chickens. The family is active in 4-H and loves to do outdoor activities together. Jennifer’s other interests include drawing, painting, and making wreaths for any occasion.