Supporting Staff

Melissa Cain

Melissa graduated from Burlington County College with a focus in business management and public relations.  It wasn’t long thereafter that Melissa’s career shifted into veterinary medicine.  Over the next few years, Melissa worked at two different animal hospitals sharpening her public relations knowledge while gaining experience and training in veterinary medicine.  Melissa joined the family at Gloucester County Animal Hospital in 2005.

Melissa’s love of pets now includes three Great Danes, Harper, Waylon and Isabelle, her special needs Dane, four cats, Lynx, Toasty, Missy and Eggnog. She is an avid equestrian who owns and shows her paint, Bentley.

Sara Kennedy

Sara’s love of animals and her career choice in the veterinary field came to no surprise to family and friends. She joined the family at Gloucester County Animal Hospital in 2008.  Sara and her husband Rich share their home with Toby, their Australian shepherd and a thoroughbred paint mare, Patience.  Sara received her Associates Degree in Veterinary Technology at Camden County College in 2008.

Stephanie Kircher

While working at the University of Pennsylvania Department of Medicine, Stephanie devoted her time to cat rescue.  Her career shifted to veterinary medicine when she joined the family at Gloucester County Animal Hospital in 2012.

She shares her home with 4 cats, Lola, Binx, Forrest and Tipsy and her rabbit, Roo.

 Debby Lafferty

For the past 20 years, Debby has been working with children in an educational setting.  She currently works as a teacher’s aide/substitute teacher for kindergarteners. In 2011, Debby joined the family at Gloucester County Animal Hospital.  You will be pleasantly greeted by her at the front desk when you walk in our door.  As with all our staff, Debby has a huge soft spot in her heart for animals! Inspired by her father’s compassion for injured, stray, or homeless animals, as a young girl, Debby had some unusual pets such as a rooster, chipmunks, a crow, and pigeons!

Debby lives with her husband, 3 children, a chinchilla, and one great big bunny! She considers herself very blessed to be able to work with the two things she loves most in this world – children and animals.

Alyssa Lehman

Alyssa grew up on a farm in Gloucester County, leading to her love of animals.  She graduated from Gloucester County College in 2014 with an associate’s degree in biology.  In 2016 she graduated from Rutgers school of Environmental and Biological Science with a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a minor in equine science.  She will be continuing her education in the fall of 2017 at Penn Vet to become a veterinarian.

Alyssa joined the Gloucester County Animal Hospital in 2014. She is owned by 2 border collies, Valentine and Bjorn.

Ashley Prem

Ashley’s love for animals started very young when she announced to her family at 2 years old that she wanted to help animals for a living.  Since then nothing has changed.  Her love for animals has turned into her profession and she splits her days between wellness and emergency medicine.  Ashley joined the family at Gloucester County Animal Hospital in 2016.

When Ashley is not working, she spends her free time with her boyfriend and her two rescue dogs Moqui and Hercules.

Ruth Rizzuto

Ruth moved to South Jersey from New York to begin a career teaching Special Education. Over the years, her interest migrated into veterinary medicine where she worked part time and during her summer breaks. Ruth joined the family at Gloucester County Animal Hospital in 2004 and worked alongside the technicians and assistants.  Ruth also assists Dr. Trail in the office with billing.  She lives with her cats Oliver and Maisie.

 George Wiest

George started working with animals as a daycare provider at Doggie World Daycare in his hometown of Philadelphia. From there he worked at the Mathew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania as a veterinary assistant. George joined the family at Gloucester County Animal Hospital in 2009 assisting the technicians

George’s interests include fishing, exercising, playing hockey, and spending time outdoors whenever possible.  He is owned by 2 crazy Jack Russell Terriers:  Trouble and Tonka and his cat, Little Blue !

Nicole Zuchowicz

Choosing a career at a young age can be a tough decision. Nicole initially chose accounting but after working in the field for 7 years, she no longer felt it was the right choice. Called “Nurse Nicole” by her loved ones as she grew, she was always happiest when there was an animal or person was in need that she could care for. Since taking care of animals has always been her passion, she started volunteering at the Animal Adoption Center in Lindenwold. Soon after she decided to follow her heart and enrolled in the Veterinary Technician Program at Camden County College. Happy with her career change, she is excited to be a part of the Gloucester County Animal Hospital team.