Closed on Friday, November 24th.

Staff

Shantel

Practice Manager

A proud New Yorker, Shantel attributes the city’s indefatigable spirit to shaping her resolute and courageous character.

With a decade of management experience, ranging from the fitness industry to veterinary medicine, Shantel has developed an impressive acumen for leadership. It was during her stint in veterinary emergency care that she discovered her true calling. Helping people and their beloved pets has become her unwavering mission.

Shantel is deeply committed to delivering unparalleled customer and clinical experiences. Her management style is centered on the well-being and accomplishments of our team. She aims to foster a work culture marked by unity, transparency, openness, and joy. Her vision for our clinic is one where the ambiance is not just inviting but infectious. To her, the pinnacle of success is witnessing a satisfied family share their positive experience with their community, reinforcing the bond of trust and care.


Jennifer

Lead Client Services

A native of the Lower East Side, Jennifer always thought she wanted to be a pediatrician. Then, when she was 18, she got a job at a cat hospital in Brooklyn. From then on, she knew she wanted to work with animals.

Having grown up surrounded by pets – her childhood home was full of dogs, hamsters, fish, rabbits, and guinea pigs – she first pursued a vet tech degree at Mercy College before realizing she actually preferred the clerical and client service side of things.

Her favorite parts of her job at Abingdon Square include interacting with pets of all different personalities and getting to know our clients and patients on an intimate, family level.

When she’s not working, Jennifer can be found spending time with her husband and two amazing daughters. Her furry family includes two 1 year old energetic and adorable Bengal cats, Loki & June.


Markita 

Client Services

Markita was born and raised in Forest Hills, Queens. Her first pet ever was an orange tabby named Hector, and she knew from a very young age that she wanted to work with animals in some capacity. She learned much of what she knows from her sister, who has been a veterinary technician for more than 15 years. Markita also spent time training with a low-cost mobile veterinary program before finding her way to ASVC. Her excellent communication skills and ability to connect with clients has made her the perfect fit as a receptionist here at Abingdon Square Vet. She loves educating clients on puppy and kitten care, and greeting them with a smiling face every day that she comes to work! At home, Markita lives with three cats (Penelope, Dexter and Chase), one Pitbull named Hatch, three bearded dragons and a leopard gecko. When she isn’t working, she enjoys taking Hatch on long walks and dining out. 


Maria

Client Services

Things have changed for Maria, who grew up in the Bronx and Spanish Harlem. As a kid, she says she had trouble keeping her pet goldfish alive, but now she gets great joy from helping animals—and their people—every day.
 
Maria began her career in animal welfare when she started working at an animal shelter many years ago. She says her favorite part of being in this field is educating clients and helping them build better relationships with their pets.
 
Outside of work, Maria is a writer who has penned poems and short stories since she was a child. She is currently studying communications and digital marketing and when she does have free time, she enjoys spending it with “the best dog in the world”, Sherlock.


Meagan

Client Services

Meagan originally hails from a small town in Idaho, where she grew up surrounded by pets of all kinds—dogs, cats, horses, llamas, ferrets, and a host of other small critters. Her passion for animal care was sparked at an early age when she and her grandmother began caring for a colony of feral cats. Many years later, the colony is still under grandma’s care—and Meagan enjoys visiting with them on trips back home.

Meagan is passionate about educating clients and strives to provide the support needed to make caring for a pet a little less intimidating, especially for first time pet parents! Her own pet family includes a Corgi/Jack Russell mix named Potato, and three cats named Nicki, Fanny, and Jay. When she’s not at work, Meagan loves exploring the city and spending time at the beach or the pier when the sun’s out.


Christie

Lead Veterinary Technician

Christie was born and raised in New Canaan, CT, to animal-loving parents—which meant she was surrounded by a variety of pets: cats, dogs, hamsters, birds, and even an iguana.

Christie herself became a horse fan and was an equestrian from ages 5 to 25. While she initially pursued photography in college, the chance to sit in with a veterinarian while he was caring for her horse ignited a passion for veterinary medicine. She has since worked her way up from kennel assistant to lead veterinary technician and has over seven years of experience in that position. She’s also developed a strong interest in veterinary dentistry and hopes to specialize in that area one day.

Christie shares her home with two cats named Tyrone and Beans as well as her dog Biggie Smalls. Although she no longer owns a horse, Christie still enjoys horseback riding as much as possible and when she has free time indulges her passions for eating and sleeping. 


Jenny

Veterinary Technician

Born and raised in Texas, Jenny has really always wanted a career as an international assassin—but says no secret government agency has contacted her about the job. (We think she’s kidding…or at least we hope so!) 

Lucky for us, Jenny settled on a less-lethal profession in animal care and has nearly a decade of experience, education, and certifications in the veterinary field. She says she loves giving back to the community by providing excellent patient care, educating clients, and helping keep pets healthy. Her special interests include nutrition, dermatology, and anesthesia. 

Outside of the clinic, Jenny enjoys cooking, video games, wine tasting, picnics, and spoiling her grouchy old orange tabby cat Thelonious. 


Jessica

Technician Assistant

Jessica grew up in Maryland and Florida wanting to be a veterinarian. After receiving training in animal handling and as a veterinary assistant, she made the move to New York. Prior to landing at Abingdon Square, she most recently worked at Manhattan AMC. She says her favorite part of working in the veterinary field is using gentle techniques to handle pets and the love that she feels from our pet patients when we help them.

When she’s not working, Jessica enjoys cooking and spending time with her three dogs and pet chinchilla.


Ashleigh

Kennel Assistant

Ashley was born in the Bronx and grew up with kittens and fish. As a child, Ashley wanted to be a special education teacher for children with autism because her brother is on the spectrum. But years later, when she adopted her own cat as an adult from a shelter in upstate New York, her life was changed for the better — and that’s when she knew she wanted to work in the veterinary industry. Ashley went on to spend years volunteering at local shelters before earning her animal care certificate. At ASVC, Ashley enjoys helping our doctors and technicians to provide truly compassionate care to the pet patients we see. She shares her home with her cat, Hermione, and enjoys cooking, reading and watching movies and TV shows in her spare time. 


Marcello

Kennel Assistant

Marcello was born in Greenwich Village, where he grew up with cats, dogs, fish and a lizard. He loves being close to animals, as well as being involved in medical treatment for them. This no doubt grew out of his experience with pets as a child and is why he has always wanted to be in the veterinary field. He has worked in Oswego and interned in Manhattan and Westchester.

Marcello shares his home with three cats, and in his free time, he loves to read, study, work out and socialize with friends.


Andrea

Kennel Assistant

Growing up in Puerto Rico, Andrea always knew she wanted to work with animals in any capacity she could. She pursued that dream, attending the Universidad del Turabo and Edic College and then working in the field in both Puerto Rico and here in New York. Andrea says she enjoys every aspect of veterinary medicine, and that being near animals all day is the best part of the job.
 
When she’s not working, Andrea is a homebody who enjoys hanging out and playing with her two cats and listening to music.