Lynn came to work at Riverbend in 2005. “For as long as I can remember, I have loved animals. And I am inspired every day by the relationship between them and their people. I am a registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Boston College but have found veterinary nursing to be the perfect celebration of the partnership. It is truly an honor to be able to work with these creatures who teach us how to live fully and who bring such joy to our lives.”

Lynn has spent the last 22 years working all areas of the veterinary field, “from wellness to emergencies…from the front desk, kennel, barn, and shelter to ICU and surgery…from dogs and cats to deer and dolphins…from nose to tail and from birth to death.” Animal behavior, nutrition and pet loss are areas of special interest to her.

“Following the heartache of the losses of my beloved dogs and horse, our clients at Riverbend held me afloat with their kindness and the generosity of sharing their pets. For this I am forever grateful. I am overjoyed to have recently adopted my next canine soul mate, sweet Izelle, a little Kentucky girl.”

Besides her deep love of animals, Lynn enjoys hiking, biking, adventures, good food and music with family and friends.

Sam grew up in the Pioneer Valley, where she earned an Associates degree from Holyoke Community College and a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science from the University of Massachusetts/Amherst. She earned her certification as a Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) in 1994. She has worked at Rowley Animal Hospital/MSPCA in Springfield, as well as two other practices in the area. Sam joined Riverbend in 2009 as a surgical technician.

Her passion for animals began with horses. She is an avid trail rider and has two beautiful Quarter Horses. She and her husband, Rick, enjoy riding motorcycles together. They share their home with a handsome Rottweiler and an endearing house cat.

Melinda Harris is a Certified Veterinary Technician as well as a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner. She came to Riverbend in March 2012 after working for five years at Southwick Animal Hospital.

A 2005 graduate of the Veterinary Technology program at Becker College, Melinda went on to study at the University of Tennessee. She graduated from their program in 2009 as a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner. She is also a member of the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians.

In 2012, Melinda helped us launch the Canine Rehabilitation Program here at Riverbend, where our post-orthopedic surgery patients go through a rehabilitation regimen with her. She also specializes in pain management and improving quality of life in her work with arthritic dogs, overweight dogs, and geriatric patients.

Melinda is also trained to perform laser therapy on our patients. Our post-surgery patients receive laser therapy, as well dogs and cats with soft tissue strains and sprains or inflammatory lesions (such as chronic ear infections or lick granulomas).

Melinda lives in Granby with her husband, son, two dogs (one of whom is a Bright Spot Therapy dog), two ferrets, and four leukemia-positive cats. Melinda enjoys indoor and beach volleyball, cycling, running, CrossFit, crafting, and the beach.

Kristin Neal re-joined our staff in June 2013. She is a certified veterinary technician in our surgery department, having completed her Veterinary Technician Certification at Holyoke Community College.

Kristin has worked in the veterinary field since 2006, at Windy Hollow Veterinary Clinic and then here at Riverbend in our wellness department. In 2009 she began work at Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society in their high volume spay/neuter clinic. She later moved to their Leverett Adoption Center, where she was the site supervisor and an adoption counselor. We are thrilled to have her back with us here at Riverbend. Kristin also squeezes in a few weekends to work at Camp Unleashed in the Berkshires.

Kristin is married and has two amazing children, as well as horses, dogs, cats, chickens and a frog. Her interests outside work include horse riding and training, dog training, and hiking with her dogs. She has a strong interest in client education and animal behavior, and she is dedicated to improving quality of life for animals and the people who love them.

Kiley Turner joined our staff in June 2015 and works primarily in the wellness department. A versatile technician, she is cross-training in the surgery department and works occasionally at our front desk.

Kiley grew up in Shelburne Falls, where she belonged to several 4-H groups. She raised and showed sheep, and developed a lifelong love of riding horses.

Kiley began her studies at the University of New Hampshire in their Pre-Veterinary program. While in school, she worked as an animal care assistant at the Dover Veterinary Hospital. After two years in New Hampshire, she returned to the valley and completed the Veterinary Technology program at Holyoke Community College. She earned an Associates degree in Veterinary Technology and her certification as a Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT).

Prior to coming to Riverbend, Kiley spent nine years at South Deerfield Veterinary Clinic, working her way up to head veterinary technician. During this time she worked with all varieties of large and small animals and with wildlife.

Kiley also works part-time as an Artificial Insemination Technician for Genex, artificially inseminating dairy and beef cows on-site at farms in western Massachusetts. She has helped farm owners identify problems in breeding programs and decide on solutions to increase conception rates.

Currently living in Goshen with her fiancé and two dogs, Kiley spends her free time gardening, hiking, and riding. “I have a great community of family and friends nearby, and am lucky enough to spend a lot of time with them.”

Since joining us in June 2015, Erin Garvey has worked primarily in the medicine department at Riverbend. She is also cross-trained to work in surgery and dentistry.

In 2004, Erin completed the Veterinary Technician program at Holyoke Community College, earning her Associates degree. With an interest in nutrition and its role in health and medicine, she also studied those topics while at HCC. In 2013, she earned certification as a Certified Phlebotomy Technician from STCC.

Erin began working as a Veterinary Technician at the MSPCA Angell Animal Medical Center in Springfield, training in all areas of the hospital (emergency, ICU, wellness clinics, pharmacy, radiology, surgery, discharge). Next, she worked as an Internal Medicine Veterinary Technician under Dr. Claire Weigand at VESH in South Deerfield. From 2010-2014, Erin worked as a Veterinary Surgical Induction Technician in the spay-neuter clinic at the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society in Springfield.

Erin has four American Pit Bull Terriers, her favorite breed. She lives on the Sleeping Giant Farm with her dogs and chickens. In her free time, Erin enjoys spending time in or on the water (swimming, sailing), working on her farm, and playing with her dogs. She loves to cook and is an active strength athlete. And most importantly, she is the very proud mom of a college student.

Even before she learned to speak, Jen’s family would joke that she could talk with the animals. As a youngster, she started volunteering at the Long Island Game Farm, and as a teenager she worked in several veterinary clinics. Through the years, Jen turned her passion for helping animals into her profession.

Jen began her career as a veterinary technician in a small animal hospital on Long Island, advancing quickly in the field and finding her way to emergency medicine. She has worked as an emergency and critical-care veterinary nurse and head technician at hospitals in New York, Hawaii and Massachusetts. In May, 2015, Jen began working in Riverbend’s surgery department. She brings a wealth of knowledge and a fun, animated spirit to her work here.

Jen is a Licensed Veterinary Technician through the state of Delaware and a Certified Veterinary Technician in Massachusetts. She has also studied at Bancroft School of Massage Therapy in Worcester and is a Certified Animal Massage Therapist.

When she’s not helping Riverbend’s surgical patients, Jen spends time with her husband and son as well as her horses, dogs, cats, chickens and a tortoise named Leonardo.