STAFF
VETERINARIANS
Dr. Clinton Brown
Dr. Brown is originally from Iuka, MS, where he knew he wanted to work with animals at a young age. Dr. Brown attended Mississippi State University, where he obtained a BS in Agricultural Business and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.
After graduation, Dr. Brown moved to Birmingham, AL, and worked as an associate veterinarian at a small animal practice. Wanting to move closer to home, Dr. Brown moved to the Shoals area in 2015. He joined Shoals Area Veterinary Emergency in March of 2020. Dr. Brown enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine and surgery but is particularly interested in canine reproduction.
Dr. Melissa Pounders-Hale
Dr. Melissa Pounders-Hale joined Shoals Area Veterinary Emergency Hospital in March 2022. You may recognize her from past visits-she worked at SAVE previously from 2015-2018 (She was Dr. Pounders then) and some relief periods in 2020. Emergency medicine keeps calling her back, and she is happy to call SAVE home again!
In 2006, Dr. Pounders-Hale graduated from Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine and has 16 years of experience as a practicing veterinarian. She has worked in small animal clinics in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee as both a general practitioner and an emergency veterinarian. Dr. Hale has special interests in ophthalmology and endocrinology. She lives on a farm with her husband Andrew and many animals, including cattle, donkeys, chickens, guineas, quail, dogs, and cats. In her spare time, you might find her in the garden, or the kitchen-she loves to cook!
Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell
Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell is originally from Tuscumbia, AL. She attended Mississippi State University where she received a bachelors degree in Animal and Dairy Sciences and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. She joined SAVE in 2023.
After graduation, Dr. Mitchell moved back to the Shoals area, originally working at a mixed animal clinic before making the move to emergency medicine in April 2023. Her special interests include radiology and toxicology. Outside work, Dr. Mitchell enjoys running and spending time with her dog, Opie!
SUPPORT STAFF
Amber Jackson, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician & Office Manager
Amber joined SAVE in July 2017. She obtained her Veterinary Technology degree from Jefferson State Community College in 2008 and became licensed in AL. Since 2006, Amber has worked with private clinics and the Florence Animal Shelter.
At home, she spends time caring for animals at her nonprofit farm animal sanctuary. She advocates for rescuing and adopting animals in need. Her hobbies include hiking with her dogs, kayaking, listening to live music, and animal rescue work. Amber enjoys utilizing her years of veterinary experience and training by helping animals in an emergency and critical care setting by providing efficient and quality care at SAVE.
Ashley Mays, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician & Office Manager
In 2015 Ashley began in Veterinary medicine and then started at SAVE Hospital in 2018. She was promoted to Office Manager in 2021. Ashley graduated from Jefferson State Community College in 2019, obtaining her LVT license.
She moved here in 2015 from Double Springs and now resides in Muscle Shoals. Ashley spends her free time with her mom, playing games with friends, or with her dogs, Oakley and Boss. Her favorite part of working at SAVE is providing comfort to the patients and clients when needed.
Kaitlin Foster, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Melissa Bauer, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Melissa has worked in both private practice and ER medicine since 2003. She obtained her Veterinary Technology degree from Snead State Community College in 2005 and became a Licensed Veterinary Technician in AL. We were so happy to have her start working at SAVE in 2020.
She believes that the best part of ER medicine is being able to help critically ill patients. Outside work, she enjoys singing and spending time with friends, family, and her two kitties, Leo Sheldon (a buff-colored, longhaired tabby) and Meeko Pascal (a seal lynx point Himalayan).
Tia Wear
Veterinary Assistant
Tia started working at SAVE in May 2020 and joined full-time in 2022. Tia began as a receptionist and later began assisting the technicians and the doctors. Tia is from Florence, AL. Tia grew up around animals and loves helping those in need.
Tia’s favorite part about her job is that you learn something new every day. Tia is proud to be a veterinary assistant because she gets to ensure her patient receive the best medical care. Some of Tia’s hobbies are firefighting, razor riding, and spending time with her two pups (Cash and Tobi).
Reilly Tsilis
Veterinary Assistant
Reilly joined SAVE in 2021. She says her favorite part of the job is assisting with surgeries (mainly c-sections), helping owners through stressful situations, and caring for different patients.
Reilly has three cats ( Poppie, Thelma, and Louise) and a dog named Lt. Dan. Her hobbies are painting, gardening, watching scary movies, and kayaking with her family.
Catherine Shea Laman
Veterinary Assistant
Catherine Shea has been working in Veterinary Medicine since 2016. She graduated from the Jefferson State Veterinary Technician program in May of 2023 and will take her National exams soon to receive her License. It is certain Catherine Shea will always greet you with a smile.
Besides working at SAVE, she also fosters animals including her foster failure pup Norman. Norman is featured with her here.
Katelin Lovett, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Katelin is a Tennessee native that joined SAVE in May of 2023. She graduated from Columbia State Community College with a degree in Veterinary Technology.
Her hobbies include reading, gaming, sewing, crafting, and enjoying time spent with her family.
Katelin enjoys working in emergency medicine because there is always something new to learn and enjoys giving quality care and attention to both patient and clients during their most difficult times.
Alexis Hayden
Customer Care Representative
Lexi is originally from Florida. She relocated to Alabama in 2017 and now lives in Killen with her Husband John. She has three dogs, Paulie, Bashful, and Tarzan. She also has two cats, Sam Winchester and Captain Jack Sparrow. She joined us as a customer care representative in 2021 but she is also a familiar face from Tennessee Valley Animal Clinic.
Lexi is a jack of all trades. She is an author, housekeeper, painter, re-seller, holiday decorator, gardener, scrapbooker, and tv binger. She loves musicals and cooking (especially her ethnic Cuban/Colombian food.)
Brie Pruitt, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Brie started at SAVE in 2020 shortly after receiving her license in 2019. She currently lives in Lawrenceburg Tennessee with her four cats, Lilly, Bowie, Chicken Nugget, and Axel Rose.
She began teaching Veterinary Technology in 2022 at Columbia State and was named advisor of the year for the academic year 2022-2023. She enjoys traveling, reading, 80’s music, and has an especially soft spot for cats with Cerebellar Hypoplasia also known as wobbly cats.
