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Meet Our Clinic Team

Dr. Debbie Tegarden, DVM

Facility Veterinarian

Dr. Debbie Tegarden is the Facility Veterinarian at FOTAS Community Spay and Neuter Clinic. An Oregon native, she graduated from Oregon State University’s veterinary program in 2001. After spending the first 12 years of her career practicing in Seattle, she returned to Oregon and settled in the Rogue Valley, where she owned her own veterinary practice and developed a special interest in advanced dental care.

After many years in private practice, Dr. Tegarden chose to refocus her work on giving back to the community. In addition to her work with FOTAS, she provides no-cost veterinary care to pets of people experiencing homelessness through Rogue Valley Street Dogs. She is passionate about accessible, high-quality veterinary care and believes strongly in the importance of spay and neuter programs in addressing pet overpopulation.

Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. Tegarden enjoys hiking, running, swimming, backpacking, and spending time outdoors with Rudy, her rescue dog from Mexico. She especially enjoys hut-to-hut hiking and just about any adventure that gets her outside.

Dr. Carolina Gerritsen Williams

Veterinarian
Dr. Carolina Gerritsen Williams grew up on a small farm in Quito, Ecuador, surrounded by animals of all kinds—and with two veterinarians as parents, her passion for animal care began early. After years of horseback riding and training, she set her sights on relieving animal suffering and advocating for proper care of performance horses. Her move to the U.S. to pursue veterinary medicine led her to discover a love for small-animal practice, where she found her calling.
She completed her bachelors in Biology at the University of Florida and went to Veterinary School at Purdue university. She met her husband in Florida and they ended up moving to Southern Oregon where her husband grew up. 
At FOTAS, Dr. Carolina appreciates the positive, supportive environment and the volunteers who give their time so generously. She values the teamwork and dedication that make high-quality spay/neuter care possible for the community.
She finds deep meaning in knowing that her work prevents suffering—protecting female dogs from life-threatening pyometra, reducing unwanted litters, and ensuring families with limited means can access essential care. One of her favorite memories is of a tiny 2.5-lb kitten who struggled after surgery; thanks to the team’s collective effort and at-home care, the kitten made a full recovery and now lives a happy life.
Outside the clinic, Dr. Carolina enjoys hiking, camping, mountain biking, Britt concerts, and baking.
At home, she shares life with her husband, daughter, and three beloved rescue pets—Pano and Chocho, both from Ecuador, and Frankie, a spirited calico—and she cherishes the memory of her greyhound mix who accompanied her through veterinary school.

Dr. Ann Langer

Veterinarian

Dr. Ann Langer grew up in Minnesota. She graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 1994. She escaped the frigid winters and humid, mosquito infested summers at her first opportunity and now calls the Pacific Northwest home. 

Dr. Langer has menagerie’ of rescued pets. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, movies, crafts, thrift store shopping, water sports, vegetable gardening, listening to podcasts, and simple living. She is always working on some sort of project.  Projects can range from creating a life-size paper mache’ witch for a Halloween party to building a chicken coop or working on home remodel projects. 

After working various roles within veterinary medicine, Dr. Langer discovered her true veterinary love: Providing high quality, high volume spay/neuter surgery for dogs and cats.  She is the founding veterinarian of three spay/neuter clinics in Washington State. She has provided spay/neuter services for many animal shelters in Washington State and Oregon. Helping homeless pets has been the most rewarding. She sees a huge need for spay/neuter services in Southern Oregon and is thrilled to be able to help reduce the pet overpopulation problem in the area.

Clinic Manager

Victoria Wade

Clinic Manager
Victoria began her work with Friends of the Animals in 2023, first as a board member and volunteer consultant helping to launch the Community Spay & Neuter Clinic. She joined the staff in spring 2024 and now oversees daily operations, staff support, volunteer coordination, and the development of protocols that keep the clinic running safely and efficiently.

With a degree in Wildlife Biology, Victoria transitioned into the veterinary field in 1998 after moving from Maine to Oregon. Over the years, she has seen how the rising cost of veterinary care has made basic services inaccessible for many pet owners. That need—paired with her commitment to community welfare—inspired her to help FOTAS build a clinic focused on affordable, high-quality spay/neuter services. She values the dedicated volunteers and the partnerships with veterinary distributors that make this work possible.

Victoria’s favorite part of her role is meeting grateful pet owners and collaborating with other nonprofits to expand access to care. At home, she is kept entertained by her mischievous indoor cat siblings, Douglas and Stevie, and her mostly angelic outdoor cat, Woodji.
Outside the clinic, Victoria enjoys fishing, camping, cooking, baking, and spending time with her amazing group of friends. Her motivation comes from knowing that every day, the clinic helps ease the burden on families and improves the well-being of animals throughout the community.

Certified Veterinary Technicians and Assistants

Sarah Davis

Certified Veterinary Technician
Sarah brings 13 years of veterinary medicine experience to her role as a Certified Veterinary Technician at the Friends of the Animals Community Spay & Neuter Clinic. Early in her career, the skilled veterinary technicians and veterinarians she worked alongside inspired her to earn her degree from San Juan College and become a CVT. Her favorite areas of veterinary medicine are anesthesia and surgery.

After many years in general practice, Sarah was ready for a new direction and the opportunity to make a greater impact in her community. She especially enjoys seeing the difference affordable spay and neuter services make for animals and their families, as well as the gratitude of the clients FOTAS serves. A dedicated team player, Sarah looks forward to sharing her knowledge, continuing to learn, and working with staff and volunteers to keep the clinic running smoothly and efficiently.

A lifelong Southern Oregon resident, Sarah still lives in the home where she was raised. Outside of work, she enjoys camping and fishing with her daughter, Brooklyn, as well as hiking and reading fantasy series. She also shares her home with two French Bulldogs: Junior, the love of her life, and Georgia, who Sarah jokes “has warrants in three counties and is absolutely feral.”

Katharine Amelia “Kammi” Tisdale

Certified Veterinary Technician

Kammi joined the Friends of the Animals Community Spay & Neuter Clinic in 2025, bringing more than three decades of veterinary experience and long-standing connections within the animal welfare community. A retired but actively licensed Certified Veterinary Technician, her background includes anesthetic induction, surgical preparation, and anesthetic monitoring.

With an associate degree in veterinary technology and 33 years of hands-on work in the field, Kammi is grateful to continue using her skills to support both animals and the people who care for them. She loves being part of a mission-driven team and values the opportunity to keep making a difference even after retirement. Outside of veterinary work, Kammi has also been a flight instructor and is an avid aviation enthusiast. Though she doesn’t currently have pets at home, she adores dogs and has plenty of “doggy friends” in her life.

Katy Bechter

Certified Veterinary Assistant

Katy brings more than 15 years of veterinary medicine experience to her role at the Friends of the Animals Community Spay & Neuter Clinic. Her love for helping animals and people began early while volunteering at REINS, a therapeutic riding center serving children with disabilities.

She graduated with honors from Pima Medical Institute in 2013 as a Certified Veterinary Assistant. During her career, Katy worked at VCA Animal Hospital as an emergency technician and ICU nurse. She also managed the hospital’s imaging department, operating CT, MRI, and ultrasound equipment.

After many years in a hospital setting, Katy wanted to use her experience to make a broader difference in the community. She was drawn to FOTAS because of its work to reduce pet overpopulation and improve the lives of animals and the people who care for them. She enjoys coming to work knowing that she is helping make a meaningful difference each day.

Born and raised in San Diego, Katy moved to Southern Oregon in 2024. She loves the area and enjoys hiking, horseback riding, fishing, and spending time with her daughter, Avery. Although she does not currently have any pets, she hopes to welcome a cat into her family soon.

Supporting Staff

Randi Coleman

Clinic Assistant & Volunteer Services
Randi has been part of Friends of the Animals for over 18 years, driven by a lifelong passion for animal rescue and helping reduce pet homelessness in our community. At the clinic, she supports the veterinary team with daily patient care and helps recruit, train, and guide the volunteers who play such a vital role in our work.
Her background in animal welfare began in childhood, fostering and volunteering at her local shelter. Since then, she has worked with multiple rescue organizations throughout the Rogue Valley while continuing to foster and assist wherever she’s needed.
At home, Randi shares life with her beloved fur,and scaly, family: Scion, Pikachu, Eddie, and Fettuccini the Kenyan Sand Boa. She also loves crafting, Disney, holidays, and any excuse for a themed celebration.

Hailey S.

Clinic Receptionist
Hailey brings several years of veterinary medicine experience to the front desk at the Friends of the Animals Community Spay & Neuter Clinic. She was inspired to join FOTAS because of her strong belief in the importance of spaying and neutering both pets and community cats, and the positive impact accessible veterinary care can have on the community.
As the friendly face clients see when they arrive, Hailey helps keep the front end of the clinic running smoothly. She greets clients, checks pets in and out, answers phones, emails, and voicemails, and reviews discharge instructions with owners to help ensure every visit goes as smoothly as possible.
Her passion for veterinary medicine and animal welfare makes her a valuable part of the FOTAS team. What Hailey loves most about FOTAS is being part of a clinic that provides affordable spay and neuter services with the help of dedicated volunteers, donors, and community support. She enjoys being involved in an organization that truly makes a difference for animals.
At home, Hailey stays busy with her four pets: Oso, her “bossy old man” Pomeranian; Odin, an energetic Boxer; Tito, a playful young Pitbull; and Cowboy, a Flamepoint kitten.
Outside of work, Hailey enjoys baking, interior design, and spending time renovating her new home.

Volunteers

Mary Kay Rudolph

Surgical Recovery Volunteer
Mary Kay has been part of FOTAS since 2021, shortly after moving to Oregon and discovering the organization through the shelter. She began volunteering with cats, adoption counseling, vaccine clinics, and even the original spay/neuter trailer before joining the surgical recovery team—where she now cares for pets post-operatively, monitors their recoveries, and supports the medical team wherever needed.
Her lifelong passion for animal welfare spans decades of volunteering, advocacy, and supporting national and international animal organizations. Before retiring, Mary Kay spent over 20 years in higher education and served as Vice President of Academic Affairs at Santa Rosa Junior College, where she oversaw programs including veterinary technology.
At home, she and her husband share life with Lucy, a rescued Formosan Mountain Dog who enjoys weekly “spa-day” bath sessions complete with snacks and classical music. Outside the clinic, Mary Kay loves hiking, reading, travel, and is an enthusiastic St. Louis Cardinals fan.
Her favorite motto: “Surround yourself with animals and people who are kind to them.”

Laurie Goetz

Volunteer Animal Handler & Recovery Assistant
Laurie Goetz has been part of the Friends of the Animals family since 2022, beginning her journey at the shelter as a volunteer dog walker and cat handler before joining the Community Spay & Neuter Clinic team. She was inspired to get involved by a simple desire to give back—donating her time to enrich the lives of dogs and cats who are less fortunate.
At the clinic, Laurie assists with intake, helping pets feel safe and comfortable as they arrive for surgery. She also plays an important role in recovery, monitoring animals as they wake up from anesthesia and ensuring they return to their kennel or carrier calmly and comfortably. Her favorite part of every clinic day is reuniting pets with their families—a moment she describes as priceless.
Laurie grew up on a small Oregon farm, riding horses from the age of five and spending nine years in 4-H. She has worked for the same local commercial contractor for more than 32 years and has donated platelets to the Red Cross for six years, totaling an incredible 45 gallons.
At home, Laurie shares life with Pumpkin, her 17-year-old orange calico, and Jenny Athena, a 3.5-year-old Australian Shepherd and beloved “foster fail” adopted through FOTAS.
A fun fact about Laurie—she plays the piano and loves bringing music into her life. Known for her dedication and loyalty, she brings warmth, compassion, and a deep love for animals to everything she does at FOTAS.

Eve H.

Volunteer – Medical Support
Eve began volunteering with FOTAS in June 2025 after moving to Oregon, bringing with her four years of experience from a Humane Society in Idaho and a lifelong love of animal care. She assists the medical team in a wide range of roles, including animal handling, surgery packs, laundry, recovery, surgery prep, and anesthesia support. Eve especially enjoys greeting animals during morning drop-off and helping them recover comfortably after surgery.
Growing up on a farm, Eve cared for animals of all sizes and once dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. After retiring, she returned to that passion through volunteer work and is now a vet tech student, expanding her medical knowledge to better support the animals she loves.
At home, Eve shares her life with Otso, her Border Collie, and two cats — Peanut and Acorn. Peanut, adopted from FOTAS, has grown into a playful giant who now outweighs Acorn by two pounds.
Eve has a strong interest in animal behavior and takes pride in helping calm nervous or frightened animals. One of her favorite quotes is by Ernest Hemingway: “A cat has absolute emotional honesty…” — a sentiment that reflects her deep respect for the animals in her care.