Dr. Hillary Maedel
Dr. Hillary Maedel dreamed of being a veterinarian when she was just four years old. You could often find her using her plastic stethoscope and bandaging a very understanding cat named Amelia, who became the inspiration for Dr. Maedel’s career. She began working at veterinary hospitals as a teenager and worked with all types of animals and veterinarians through college. She received her B.S. in Biology from Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia and then earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University in 2012.
Following graduation, Dr. Maedel practiced in Kentucky and Indiana before moving to Florida with her family in 2015. Over the course of her career, she has practiced in small hospitals in rural areas to large multi-doctor facilities in large cities. This has given her a unique perspective on the level of medicine and compassionate care that she can’t wait to bring to Furry Friends!
Dr. Maedel currently serves as President of the Pinellas County Veterinary Medical Association and on the Executive Board of the Pinellas Animal Foundation. She excels at dermatology, internal medicine, and dentistry, though she is passionate about all aspects of preventative care and family medicine. Outside of work, Dr. Maedel enjoys spending time on the water with her husband, Andrew. They have two fluffy goldendoodles, Leeloo the Supreme Being and Lizzie Q Nugget, and a tiny, feisty tortie named Captain Hobie Cat.
Owner, Medical Director, Veterinarian
Jonie
Jonie was born and raised in Missouri before moving to Florida in 2008. She inherited a love of animals & the outdoors from her father. "Some of my favorite childhood memories are playing in the backyard with my dog, Buster, & going fishing with my dad". She started her career as a dog groomer for 12 years before deciding to transition to the veterinary care team. She lives in St. Petersburg with her husband, daughter, 2 dogs, & 8 chickens. In her spare time, Jonie enjoys yoga, camping, cooking, & making soap.
Nurse
Bryan
Bryan is originally from Texas and has been in St. Petersburg for over 9 years now. He has always enjoyed helping animals and understands the dedication and hard work it takes to help improve the lives of both pets and their families. He has been in the veterinary field for over 13 years. When not working he loves fishing, watching football, and spending time with his 2 beautiful daughters, 2 dogs, and 2 cats!
Nurse Manager
Andrew
Andrew is originally from Jacksonville, Florida and has lived in Saint Petersburg since 2015. He loves fishing with his two golden doodles and giving treats to his savage kitten. He also has a fish tank with two needy seahorses named The Sea biscuits. Prior to transitioning into the veterinary field, he managed large projects and a sales territory in the heavy equipment field. He has an MBA and helps out around the hospital to make sure your pets feel right at home.
Operations Manager
Taylor
Taylor is a certified veterinary assistant from Nashville, Tennessee. She has an adorable lab-boxer mix, Dallas, and two sweet, lively pitbull mixes, Bear and Harley. Her love for animals and veterinary medicine started when she was just 3 years old. Since she could have a job, she has worked and volunteered at multiple veterinary clinics, daycares, and kennels. A future goal of hers is to one day be in a place in life where she is able to afford a family of three big dogs and one small dog to rule the house.
Nurse Assistant
Jessica
Jessica was born and raised in California and has been in the customer service/administrative field since 2005. In 2012 she graduated from Cal State Northridge with a BA in Psychology. After graduating she helped her husband run their family owned financial services business but realized her passion for with animals when her two cats adopted her. She has been working as a veterinary receptionist since 2016. When she is not at Furry Friends Vet she is spending time with her family and her two 007 cats.
Receptionist
Amanda
Amanda was born and raised here in St Petersburg, Florida. She has had a passion for animals for as long as she can remember. She has worked in the veterinary field since 2016. She has 2 dogs, a boxer/lab mix named Brutus and a pitbull named Roxy, and two turtles name Tiny Tim and Giant George. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband, baking and spending time with her dogs.
Receptionist
Katrina Savopoulos
Katrina was born and raised in Virginia and moved to Florida for school in 2013. She has been in the veterinary field since 2017 working as a nurse, kennel technician, and receptionist. She has four furbabies including two Australian shepherd named Bear and Kai, and two cats named Lil Bit and Belle. In her free time, Katrina enjoys paddleboarding, scuba diving, and cooking.
Nurse
Dr. Missey Mueller
Dr. Missey Mueller is a 1999 graduate of the Ohio State University and has been serving the lovely pets of the Tampa Bay Area for nearly 18 years. She has a special interest in soft tissue surgery and enjoys working with both local and international shelters and rescue organizations to help with spay and neuter programs as well as outreach in underserved communities. In her free time, she enjoys SCUBA diving, boating, gardening, traveling, and spending time with her husband and adorable pets Luna (a rescued street dog from the Dominican Republic) and Haggis (her hilarious Scottish Fold cat).
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Mary Volkers
Mary Volkers knew from a young age that Veterinary Medicine was always her calling. She grew up in a small town in Western New York and graduated from Cornell University with her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. Veterinary school took her to Canada where she graduated with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Prince Edward Island in 2003. After a small animal rotating internship in Rochester, NY Mary headed west to Wisconsin where she lived and practiced until she moved her family to St. Petersburg, FL in 2020.
Dr. Volkers, as a Fear Free Certified Elite Professional, is passionate about providing high quality care while minimizing fear, anxiety, and stress for her patients. She loves all things small animal veterinary medicine related with special interests in dentistry, surgery, behavior and senior care. Dr. Volkers treasures collaborating and building relationships with her clients to provide the best care possible for their furry babies.
Outside of work, Dr. Volkers enjoys spending time enjoying Florida with her wife, Kaila, and their furry children. Currently, they have 4 cats -Juniper Fluffycat, Myles Bentley, Rune and Jordy, as well as her wife’s guinea pig named Prim.
Associate Veterinarian
Nicole Nuss
Nicole has been in the veterinary field since 2010 and comes to Furry Friends after spending time at other general practices and a local emergency/specialty veterinary hospital. She loves having been a part of a spectrum of veterinary care, having helped everything from cats and dogs to birds and snakes. She loves going home to her own family at the end of the day, lovingly nicknamed “The Circus”. She is a devoted wife and mother of two children, as well as a mother to a number of animals. She has two dogs (her English Bulldog is often referred to as her third child); five cats; several tarantulas; and a bearded dragon. She has always been interested in the care and husbandry of exotic animals, and strives to help others see the beauty in all creatures.
Office Manager
Nikki Neville
Hailing from Flint, Michigan, Nikki discovered her passion for working with animals at a young age. Following her dreams and the call of the mountains, she made the bold move from Michigan to Asheville, NC in 2007 to pursue her education. Graduating with an Associates degree in Veterinary Science from AB Tech in 2013, Nikki wasted no time diving into her career in the field.
In 2014, Nikki ventured further south, settling in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she has since made her mark in several prominent practices in the area.
Nikki's approach to animal care is marked by her dedication to ensuring their comfort and well-being, employing Fear Free techniques to create positive experiences. She thrives on cultivating strong bonds with clients and earning the trust of their beloved pets. She also enjoys dentistry, surgery and client education.
During her downtime, Nikki enjoys a variety of hobbies including cooking, biking, indulging in board games, and nurturing her plant collection. At home, she is surrounded by her loving family which includes her charming husband, Tim, her two senior boys, Shay and Winslow (both delightful pit bull mixes), and a Betta fish named Trina.
Nurse
