JENNIFER LOWE

Jennifer has lived in the Union Hill area her whole life, growing up a few miles away from the clinic. She went to Hickory Flat elementary, Dean Rusk Middle School, and Sequoyah High School. She has been with us since October of 1993, so you can say she has grown up with us! We have watched her buy her first new car, have a clown ministry, get married, buy her first house and start her family. Jennifer says that her job with Union Hill Animal Hospital was/is a GIFT FROM GOD. Her Mom had always told her not to get in the car with strangers……..well there was this one day in September of 1993 when she did just that. She showed up for a scheduled interview with the founder of Union Hill Animal Hospital, Dr. Stephen F. Lee, and discovered he had forgotten about the interview. So when he said just get in the truck and we will talk on our way to pick up some horse equipment, she did hear those words of her Mom but felt comfortable and safe from the beginning. The ride in that truck led to a great but short friendship. Dr. Lee was diagnosed with a second brain tumor early in 1994: he fought hard but he lost his battle on November 7th, 1994. In July of 1994, Dr. Lee and his family decided to sell the practice. After numerous inquiries, the clinic was purchased by Dr. Diane Castle in October of 1994 and another great friendship started. Dr. Lee’s only request was that Dr. Castle keep the staff, so the joke is that Jennifer was sold with the practice. Jennifer is very active in her Church; she headed up a clown ministry, puppet ministry, and led the youth group for several years, prior to falling in love and starting a family of her own. Jennifer met her husband, Mark in September, 2000 through her brother, Lamar. Mark and Jennifer were married in April of 2002. Mark is a deputy sheriff in Pickens County and he is a good ole country boy. They had their first daughter Emmaline in November 2005 and their 2nd daughter Annslee in July of 2008: you can always find pictures of the girls on the front counter. The girls also like to hang out at the clinic with their extended family (Grandma Di, Aunt Meghan, and Aunt Trish). You never know when they will greet you at the door. After 20+ years with Union Hill Animal Hospital Jennifer still feels that this job is a GIFT from GOD!

TRISH MCCABE

As far back as Trish can remember she has had a love for animals. Around the age of 5, she can remember following a neighborhood cat whom she finally caught and made friends with even though she was scratched in the process. A parade of dogs and cats found their way into her house as she was growing up. Trish has been a veterinary tech with Union Hill Animal Hospital since 2006 and feels fortunate to be able to enjoy a lifelong love of animals as a career. Her job entails a variety of clinical tasks including performing medical tests, treating medical conditions, assisting in surgical procedures, and most important of all, helping to comfort the patients (and their parents!). Trish was born and raised in Decatur, Georgia, and lived there until 2016, when she finally moved to Cherokee County. Along with her 3 dogs (Ash, Otis, and Cupcake), 2 cats (Pickle and Olive), and 2 bunnies (Peep and Smokey), she also lives with and cares for her 92 year old mother. She is the youngest of four children by seventeen years. She has a very large family with 12 nieces and nephews and over 30 great nieces and great nephews and most of them also love animals. When Trish is not working she teaching dog agility and taking nose work with 12-year-old Ash. Until one has loved an animal, a part of one soul remains unawakened - Anatole France

ASHLEY SOSINO

Ashley has always liked the outdoors and enjoys many activities including bike riding with her brother Brandon. Ashley grew up in Cherokee County and attended Holly Springs Elementary, Dean Rusk Middle and Sequoyah High School. She then enrolled in the veterinary assistant program at Animal Behavior College (ABC). She started volunteering at Cherokee County Animal Shelter and then at Union Hill Animal Hospital, where she was eventually hired as a veterinary assistant. Ashley enrolled in the Penn Foster Veterinary Technician program when she realized being a veterinary technician is her ultimate goal. On the weekends Ashley also works at a breeding and show kennel where she cares for, feeds, cleans, and grooms 9 German shepherds and 2 corgis. She is interested in canine genetics and reproduction and tries to learn as much as possible from the kennel. Ashley helped whelp her first litter of puppies when one of the kennel’s shepherds gave birth to 9 puppies on December 2, 2017. One year later, she adopted one of those puppies, Champagne, and Caviar aka “Charli”. Ashley also pet sits for many Union Hill clients in addition to her other two jobs. Ashley recently became engaged to Sean, her boyfriend of nearly two years. They are planning a wedding in February 2020. They met at their taekwondo school, where they train together several times a week in pursuit of black belts. She is striving to learn as much as she can in veterinary care and truly enjoys all of the clients and patients of Union Hill.

JUDY MCKEE

Whoever said “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” has never met Judy. Born and raised near the beach in Jacksonville, FL, she was often found in the water, riding her horse, Buck, or “gigging' for frogs in the creek. The neighborhood critters always seemed to find their way to her house. Being the daughter of an English teacher, she and her brother Bruce always understood the importance of getting an education and she made her way to the University of Florida where she followed in her mother’s footsteps and received a BA in Developmental Psychology and Elementary Education. It was there, on her 19th birthday, that she was introduced to Bill. Judy and Bill began dating and got married right after graduation. They moved to Stone Mountain, GA, where she began her teaching career. They had three children that became their pride and joy. Judy decided to become a stay-at-home mom and instill the same values of education and respect in all of her children as her mother had in her. All three children went on to successfully complete college. Their youngest child, Tim, followed in both their footsteps into the business world as well as horse training. Their middle child, Colleen, followed in Judy’s footsteps with a passion for teaching and organization. Judy’s eldest child, Meghan, became a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Many of you may not know but Dr. Meghan McKee Smith is Judy’s daughter. She and Bill have now been married for 40 years and spend their free time gardening together and spoiling their grandchild, Maridith. She also has her hand full with maintaining the flowers and landscaping for the clinic as well as chasing her dachshund, Cali, around. Cali was paralyzed in her back legs during the summer of 2017 and she was able to recover due to Judy’s devotion and hard work along with acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, laser therapy, and physical therapy. When Dr. Smith came back to the practice from vet school, Judy took the opportunity to get back into the working world with a position at the front desk. Despite her fear of computers, she enjoys talking with clients and helping ensure they and their pets have as comfortable an experience as possible. Judy truly is a case of “teaching an old dog new tricks.”

AMBER

KIM HEDRICK