Originally from a rural area in the Hudson Valley of New York State, Dr. Piwonka earned her DVM from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Her professional experience began in the fourth grade, when she worked for a veterinarian walking dogs and observing surgeries. She came to Massachusetts because of the “abundance of outdoor activities combined with a fun and progressive community.” Dr. Piwonka joined the team at Windy Hollow Veterinary Clinic in 2010 and purchased the practice in 2014.
WHAT MAKES HER INTERESTING
“Even though I practice veterinary medicine on mammals now, I love birds. I own chickens and parrots. I’ve worked with injured birds of prey, and I started a captive breeding program for threatened species of hawks at Cornell.”
WHY SHE LOVES HER JOB
Dr. Piwonka enjoys connecting with animals and their owners, and combining scientific-based Western medicine with traditional Chinese veterinary medicine.
WHAT SHE DOES IN HER SPARE TIME
Dr. Piwonka loves cycling, running, knitting, and playing with her children. She shares her life with her husband, two children, two cats (McLovin and Edith), a caique (Francis), a leopard gecko (Lightning), and 10 chickens.
OF NOTE
Dr. Piwonka has run two marathons, and the longest day-long bike ride she ever took was 180 miles.
Dr. Thompson grew up in the New York City suburbs. “My mom was a veterinarian, so it was the only thing I ever wanted to do.” After earning her DVM from Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, Dr. Thompson fell in love with Massachusetts and decided to stay, joining the Windy Hollow team in 2017.
WHAT MAKES HER INTERESTING
“In high school and college, I was a competitive horseback rider. I wanted to pursue equine sports medicine until my second year of vet school when I discovered how rewarding I found internal medicine and behavior in cats and dogs (having grown up with animals with some serious medical and behavioral issues).”
WHY SHE LOVES HER JOB
Dr. Thompson’s favorite parts of veterinary medicine include alternative medicine, nutrition, behavior, and internal medicine. She loves the problem-solving aspect of veterinary medicine as well as the emotional aspect of the bond between people and their animals. She strives to help optimize the relationship between people and their pets by taking care of both their physical and mental health.
WHAT SHE DOES IN HER SPARE TIME
Dr. Thompson enjoys dog training, hiking, reading, cooking, gardening, horseback riding, and swing dancing. She shares her home with two dogs—Coda (a certified therapy dog and competitive agility dog) and Sukie (an escape artist), as well as a sassy cat named Heidi.
OF NOTE
Dr. Thompson is slowly trying to learn how to grow, raise, and find her own food. She loves barbecued meats.
Originally from Delaware, Jessi knew she wanted to work with animals at the age of 5, after a veterinarian helped her family’s sick dog. She earned a bachelor’s degree in pre-veterinary and animal science from the University of Delaware. As a certified and licenced veterinary technician with more than 20 years of experience, Jessi joined the Windy Hollow team in 2018.
WHAT MAKES HER INTERESTING
“I’m interested in animal behavior and internal medicine, and I started doing Animal Reiki to help animals adapt to stressful or new situations.”
WHY SHE LOVES HER JOB
An integral part of the surgical team, Jessi ensures patients are well cared for before, during, and after surgery. She is also passionate about educating pet owners on how to take the best care of their pets.
WHAT SHE DOES IN HER SPARE TIME
Jessi loves reading, watching the Red Sox play at Fenway, and visiting thrift and craft stores. She lives with her husband and her little dachshund TillieBelle and her two cats ObiWan and Yoda (who is blind but uses the "force" to torment Obi).
OF NOTE
Jessi loves to sing karaoke, especially in the car on long road trips.
After raising five children while living just south of Boston, Jan and her husband moved to Western Massachusetts, purchased their first pony, and bought a farm. She holds an associate’s degree in veterinary technology, and she joined the Windy Hollow team in 2007.
WHAT MAKES HER INTERESTING
“While working in a veterinary office, I attended Holyoke Community College to earn my associate’s degree in veterinary technology, and I graduated first in my class.”
WHY SHE LOVES HER JOB
Jan has always loved animals and is interested in people.
WHAT SHE DOES IN HER SPARE TIME
Jan enjoys writing, reading, quilting, and knitting. She shares her farm with her husband, four Chincoteague ponies (Layla, Hoochie Coochie Man, Belle Bottom Blues, and Sunshine of Your Love), a PMU appaloosa (Strange Brew), a Briard (Indy), two barn cats (Midnight and Dragonfly), and seven chickens.
OF NOTE
Jan’s ponies and her PMU appaloosa are all named after Eric Clapton songs.
Chelsea was born in Florida but moved up to Massachusetts when she was 3 years old. Chelsea obtained her Associates Degree in Arts for Dance and taught dance and acrobatics for about 6 years. Wanting to take a different route in her career and found an online veterinary assistant program. With a scholarship from the military for spouses, she completed that program while working in the field. When she came to Windy Hollow in 2019, she enjoyed her position and education she received while working here she enrolled to become a Certified Veterinary Technician and is currently enrolled in that program.
WHAT MAKES HER INTERESTING
"I love music, and there’s a good chance that I am either listening to some or singing a song that’s stuck in my head at all times."
WHY SHE LOVES HER JOB
She has always loved and cared for animals and since switching careers to the Veterinary world advocating for them is her main goal. She loves making sure that the clients have an understanding on what is happening with their animal and educating them for the best care that is available.
WHAT SHE DOES IN HER SPARE TIME
When not at work, you can find Chelsea reading or studying. But when she can she and her husband will go outdoors with her dixie rescue Denver, who loves anyone who will pet him and her chocolate lab loves to swim and fancies herself the mighty huntress that will swim after ducks but has yet to actually catch one.
A native to western Massachusetts, Gianna has been taking care of animals of all sizes since she was about 15 years old. Growing up in a household where everyone was an animal lover, the family pets were always cared for by her, her parents and her sister during her childhood. The passion of being their advocate and voice is something that continues to grow for her. She joined the Windy Hollow team during the spring of 2022
WHAT MAKES HER INTERESTING
"I enjoy photography whenever I get the chance."
WHY SHE LOVES HER JOB SO MUCH
Being new to the field, she has found more and more things that interest her and keeps her striving to keep learning. From making sure the animals are comforted and cared for to educating clients on the best care they need. Her goal is to continue to get certified as a Veterinary Assistant.
WHAT SHE DOES IN HER SPARE TIME
When every she gets free time you will find her out and about with her boyfriend and her sidekick Ellie, a labmix that enjoys the zoomies in her back yard and swimming in all the fun lakes around Massachusetts.
Mattie was born in Santa Rosa California before moving to western Mass when she was only three years old. She and her mother always had animals to care for, so going into vet med seemed so natural for her. She is currently a high school senior at Franklin County Tech in Veterinary Shop Class. Mattie started here as an intern as a Junior last year. She has stayed with us through the summer and is currently doing her shop hours again this year. Mattie is a great addition to our team as she looks toward her future as a veterinarian.
WHAT MAKES HER INTERESTING
"Mattie has maintained a 4.0 average and looking to be her class’s valedictorian this year"
WHY SHE LOVES HER JOB SO MUCH
She has such a strong passion for all animals and believes in providing them with the best life and treatment. She also loves helping people to give the best care they can for their pets. She loves all animals but has been drawn to exotics and birds, so she tries to be in with those appointments as much as she can.
WHAT SHE DOES IN HER SPARE TIME
When not at work, you can Mattie volunteering her time at Dakin Animal Shelter, horse back riding or hanging out with her 1.5-year-old Frenchie Tater-tot, who is the sassy potato on four legs! She tries to get out to Tater-tot’s favorite place, the beach, whenever she can.
Born in Colorado and raised in Nebraska, Brady visited the East Coast as a teenager and fell in love with “how green everything was.” She eagerly applied to Smith College, and has been in Massachusetts ever since. She started working as a veterinary assistant in high school after becoming involved with the local 4-H dog training club, and she joined Windy Hollow Veterinary Clinic in 2018, then left to pursue her career in horticulture and returned to us in 2022.
WHAT MAKES HER INTERESTING
“I have a special interest in pocket pets and other exotics.”
WHY SHE LOVES HER JOB SO MUCH
Brady’s favorite aspect of her job is getting to know and love each individual animal with all their quirks and different personalities.
WHAT SHE DOES IN HER SPARE TIME
She lives with her husband and helps her sister with her nephews. When she is not measuring out food and cleaning litter boxes, she loves to hike, knit, cook, read, garden, and study herbalism. She also shares her home with her two dogs River and Junebug and her cats Crackers and Nigel.
Hana is originally from Rhode Island but moved to Southeastern Massachusetts at 6 years old. With intentions of becoming an Art teacher, Hana got her start at Boston Arts academy and went on to MassArt college for 1 year. She then switched her major to outdoor education while at UMass Amherst. After graduating from there, she was working in the outdoor industry for over 10 years and realized during the pandemic she needed a whole career change and fell in love with veterinary medicine. Hana joined the Windy Hollow team in the summer of 2020 as one of our receptionists and is working on becoming a veterinary assistant.
WHAT MAKES HER INTERESTING
“Hana still has a passion and talent for drawing so she draws portraits of pets”
WHY SHE LOVES HER JOB SO MUCH
Simply put Hana loves helping people, advocating for patients, and making their days a little bit nicer. Helping them through their questions and making sure the patients as well as their owners are at ease is always her top priority.
WHAT SHE DOES IN HER SPARE TIME
Hana loves exploring the area with herhusband and her dog, Sky as well as hiking, skiing, drawing, knitting, mountain biking, boating, wine tasting and visiting local breweries.
Devon grew up in Groton Massachusetts, but after she graduated from UMass Amherst she fell in love with this area and decided to stay and make a home here. After getting her degree with a concentration in psychology, she found herself working in customer service so she can help people. After about 15 years in customer service, she accepted a job at her first veterinary clinic as the main customer service representative and instantly fell in love with the industry. Having an undying love for animals and people, this was where she felt she fit. This was what she was meant to do. She joined the Windy Hollow Team in 2021 and has been a wonderful and caring addition!
WHAT MAKES HER INTERESTING
"Devon loves scary movies. All of them! She turns one on every chance she gets!"
WHY SHE LOVES HER JOB SO MUCH
She is fascinated with people and their relationship with their animals. With her undying urge to help people and make them comfortable, it has been an easy jump to help people with their fur babies. The satisfaction in knowing that she helped make someone’s day better and helping and loving on their animal is the best feeling in the world to her.
WHAT SHE DOES IN HER SPARE TIME
When not at work, you can find Devon crafting or drawing. However, when she gets home at night she loves to spend time with her husband Nate and her fur babies which include,her 10 year bulldog Einstein, who can be convinced to go on short hikes that are scheduled between her nap times, Boomerang, the 3 year old DSH that is a constant energy source that keeps her sister Nutter, a 6yr old DLH from napping too long.
At a young age, Crystal could be found playing veterinarian with all her stuffed toys and soon found that she was enthralled with the Vet shows and Animal shows on television. With her love for animals and her captivation with the medical field, she took the Veterinary Technician Course at Holyoke Community College. She graduated with an associate’s degree in Veterinary Science as well as mathematics in 2008. After graduating she has continued her career in a few veterinary hospitals locally in Western Massachusetts, accumulating over 15 years of experience before joining the team at Windy Hollow in 2023.
WHAT MAKES HER INTERESTING
Crystal has come to realize that she has a crocheting talent.
WHY SHE LOVES HER JOB SO MUCH
She loves participating in surgeries and being a part of the team that helps make the animals feel better so they can live a long and healthy life. When not in surgery, she is fascinated with the bond between humans and animals and loves helping owners cultivate that.
WHAT SHE DOES IN HER SPARE TIME
Crystal loves spending her time with her husband, her two children and her husky, Boomer (who can never decide whether he wants to be inside or outside). Whether it is on 4 Wheelers, crafting or crocheting as long as she is around family, it is always a fun time.
Born and raised in Westfield MA, Caitlin originally went to Westfield State University for early Childhood education. She taught pre-k for 4 years and decided in 2020 to take the steps for her career change to veterinary medicine. Taking the leap and becoming a receptionist at a veterinary hospital, she realized that this where she wanted to be. Currently she is taking her education further to become a certified Veterinary Assistant. Those classes brought her here to Windy Hollow in the Spring of 2023. She joined our team as a Veterinary Assistant as well as another of our friendly reception staff.
WHAT MAKES HER INTERESTING
Caitlin also does a good deal of horseback riding.
WHY SHE LOVES HER JOB SO MUCH
Caitlin has been taking her own pup to training classes and has a first hand experience with the body language and cues that pets have between them and their owners. After being intrigued by this, she now can apply what she has learned from that to her current position and in turn help the patient feel more secure while in the appointments. She enjoys talking to the owners and interacting with the pets whether in reception or as an assistant. She loves nothing more than helping both the pet and the owners feel better about pet health.
WHAT SHE DOES IN HER SPARE TIME
She can be found hiking or just being outdoors with her Cocker Spaniels, Maverick, who is her puppy shadow and Cocoa, the 10-year-old, who is obsessed with food. She also adores relax time with her kittens as well. Piper and Raven, who were once barn cats that now live the life of luxury and her newest adoption Mango who is currently just taking it all in. When she can, Caitlin loves to visit the Cape with her family and do DIY projects.
Daniel comes from a family with science and medical background. His parents, who both have their doctorate in microbiology, instilled the love of science and medicine on their children at a young age. He has a sister who is a traveling nurse in California and his brother is in medical school in CT. It is not any surprise that Daniel would pursue a career in medicine as well. At a young age he has been passionate about caring for animals and learning more about nature. So, when it came time for undergrad, he moved from Westford, MA to Amherst to attend UMASS with a concentration in animal science and pre-veterinary medicine. He began his animal career experience learning animal behavior and some of the veterinary aspects while working at a dog day care and dog training facility. Wanting more of the hand-on veterinary experience he joined our staff at Windy Hollow in the summer of 2023.
WHAT MAKES HIM INTERESTING
Daniel has a knack for reading animal behaviors. He picks up the cues very quickly and helps the animals feel very comfortable in a room with him.
WHY HE LOVES HIS JOB SO MUCH
In pursuit of a Veterinary degree, he wanted to get the entire experience of veterinary medicine. He enjoys all the aspects of the job including, communicating with the clients about their animals, to reporting patient histories to our wonderful doctors and performing lab work. Working as an assistant right now has only fanned the flames of getting his doctorate.
WHAT HE DOES IN HIS SPARE TIME
When he is not hanging with his rescue pup, Cooper, who is an 8-year-old mutt with DNA results that indicated he was a German Shepherd (even though he has short stubby little legs), you can find him outdoors doing something. Whether it is sports like basketball or baseball to fishing and snowboarding.
Born and raised in Massachusetts, Haissa grew up watching veterinary and animal shows and knew at a young age she wanted to be like them and do what they do with animals every day. With that drive and ambition, Haissa chose UMASS to study pre-veterinary medicine out in Western Mass. Her studies brought her to Windy Hollow to get hands on experience and joined our team in the Fall of 2022.
WHAT MAKES HER INTERESTING
She truly enjoys making people laugh.
WHY SHE LOVES HER JOB SO MUCH
Haissa is on the path of continuous learning. She enjoys learning the practicality of veterinary medicine. She knows that the foundations and basics come in the clinic settings and loves working with people and their pets. She enjoys learning from the doctors and helping her fellow technicians with appointments. Her desire for learning new things like laser therapy, phlebotomy and radiology puts her on the right track in her studies to become a veterinarian.
WHAT SHE DOES IN HER SPARE TIME
When she is not studying or enjoying time at home with her family and her family yorkie Lily, who loves greeting people with her toys, she like to spend time in the sun at the beach with friends.
Western MA has always been home for Rachel. Raised in the hill towns among creatures big and small, she grew up with an affinity for animals. She received her BS in Animal Behavior at UMass Amherst in 2017, and has used her degree to explore a variety of dog training. She first joined Windy Hollow from 2018 to 2021, left for a couple of years to pursue service dog training, then was excited to return to the team as a receptionist in the fall of 2023.
WHAT MAKES HER INTERESTING
Rachel loves reading fantasy novels- the more difficult the names and places are to pronounce, the better.
WHY SHE LOVES HER JOB SO MUCH
Veterinary medicine combines Rache’s respect and care for animals with her desire to help people. She is passionate about the mutual reliance and support to be found between human and pet, and is constantly in awe of the uniqueness of that bond.
WHAT SHE DOES IN HER SPARE TIME
Unsurprisingly, Rachel spends most of her time with her dog, Jinx. They enjoy hiking, and putting Jinx’s nose to the test in Scent Work activities. Rachel also enjoys reading and rock climbing.