“Dr. Jeff Smith is an active member of our community; he was transplanted here but has since put down roots and is a fervent believer in the future of Danville. You may already know him from his service on the board at the Danville Area Humane Society or as a member of the Riverview Rotary Club.

Dr. Smith has animal care in his blood, he was born in Guelph, Ontario, Canada while his father was in vet school there. He speaks fondly of his memories as a boy living in a house with a veterinary clinic attached. He moved to Miami, Florida at the age of 14 and spent his high school working at a veterinary emergency clinic after school. He received his degrees from Auburn University and settled in Danville in 1994. Pet surgery is the main focus of Dr. Smith’s; he accepts regular surgical referrals from area veterinarians in Danville, South Boston, Eden and Martinsville. Dr. Smith has been a leader in our area in the field of veterinary dentistry and also has a special interest in behavioral medicine and helps people solve problems from begging at the table to the most complex fears, phobias, and aggression.

Dr. Smith is very proud of his 3 boys, Zachary, Levi, and Graydon. He is married to the former Angela Keatts who is a Kindergarten teacher at Park Avenue Elementary School.”

Originally from North Carolina, Dr. Taylor is a recent graduate of Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she built a strong foundation in small animal medicine and developed a deep commitment to providing compassionate, high-quality care for pets and their families.

Her professional interests include preventive medicine and diagnostic ultrasound. Dr. Taylor is especially passionate about building trusting relationships with clients and working collaboratively to support the long-term health and well-being of their beloved pets.

Outside of the clinic, Dr. Taylor enjoys watching movies, practicing watercolor painting, and spending quality time with her family, friends, and her sweet guinea pig named Gus Gus. Vet team.

Wayne Schandelmeier is a Licensed Veterinary Technician at Danville Family Vet, bringing a unique combination of dedication, life experience, and a passion for animal care to the team. Originally from Rockford, Illinois, Wayne now calls Keeling, VA, home, where he enjoys farming and caring for his baby goats and horses alongside his wife, Lisa.

Wayne’s journey into veterinary medicine began after his retirement from the U.S. Army in 2015, where he served for over three decades, including three combat tours. He began his military career in 1982 as military police and later became a parachute rigger in 1992. After retiring, Wayne used his education benefits to pursue his lifelong love of animals and wildlife, a passion sparked by caring for his own pets and wanting to learn how to help them.

Aaliyah Craig is a lifelong resident of Bassett, Virginia, where she was raised surrounded by family, animals, and a strong sense of community. Her love for animals began at a young age and has continued to grow throughout her life.

While in high school, Aaliyah interned at a small animal clinic and quickly realized veterinary medicine was her calling. She went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Zoology and is currently applying to veterinary school with the goal of becoming a veterinarian.

Aaliyah’s biggest inspiration is her mom, Tonya, whom she describes as strong, caring, and determined. Family is very important to her, and some of her favorite memories are simple moments spent together at holidays and cookouts.

In her role, Aaliyah focuses on building trust with clients. She wants pet owners to feel comfortable sharing concerns and confident that their pets are receiving the best care possible.

Brandon Dixon is originally from Mt. Airy, North Carolina, and now lives in Danville, Virginia. His passion for animal care started early and has grown into a career that he truly believes he was meant to pursue.

Brandon began working at a local veterinary clinic while still in high school, starting with cleaning kennels. Over time, he worked his way up and gained hands-on experience in all aspects of the clinic, including both small- and large-animal care. That early start gave him a strong foundation and a deep understanding of the field.

Raised by his mother, Sandra, in a single-parent household, Brandon learned responsibility and resilience at a young age. He credits his mom as his greatest role model, admiring her strength and determination while raising two children and working multiple jobs without ever giving up. He also shares a close bond with his brother, Mitchell.

Growing up, Brandon was known for bringing home every stray animal he could find, supported by a mom who encouraged his compassion. Those experiences helped shape his natural connection with animals and confirmed his path in veterinary medicine.

In his role, Brandon values one thing above all else: trust. He strives to build that trust with both clients and their pets by providing consistent, dependable care and always putting the patient first.

Amy was born and raised here in Danville, Va. Animals have always been a huge part of her life.

Growing up, her dad hatched chickens and ducks every spring. She knew from the time she was a little girl that taking care of animals was a passion of hers. When she turned sixteen, she was offered a job here at Family Vet cleaning up and taking care of the animals. It was her dream job and she was so excited to be given the opportunity to live out that dream.

Sarah is originally from Lawrenceville, Georgia, and made the move to Pittsylvania County in the summer of 2021. Having already held a leadership role at a pet care facility in Georgia, she was eager to stay in the veterinary field and reached out to join our team as soon as she decided to relocate. Transitioning from a big city to a slower-paced area gave Sarah the opportunity to embrace small-town culture and become part of a close-knit community — something that’s very important to her.

In February 2023, Sarah welcomed her son, LJ. Becoming a mother has brought a whole new sense of meaning to her life — everything she does now is with him in mind. He’s her greatest motivation, and she approaches both work and life with a renewed sense of purpose and love.

As of June 2024, Sarah proudly serves as the Office Manager at Danville Family Vet. Her passion for leadership and team development has only grown over the years, and she’s dedicated to creating a supportive, purpose-driven environment for both clients and staff.

Growing up in Danville, Karen always considered this town her home no matter where her life and family have taken her. As a little girl she had a great love for all animals, whether it was her daddy’s bird dogs (especially one named Doc) or her grandpa’s farm animals. Now it’s her little spoiled Oscar, the Shi-poo who comes to work with her every day.

After she married her sweetheart Floyd, they moved to Texas where they lived on a cutting horse ranch; it’s here that she fell in love with horses and eventually adopted a wild Mustang.

While living in Texas, they were blessed with their first son, Jacob, and three years later after moving back to Danville, they were blessed again with their second son, Justin. Both boys have always loved animals including their Rottweiler, named Roper. He was their constant companion until the day he passed. Another love for both boys has been baseball, they have traveled all over, beginning with little league, and eventually they graduated from Tunstall High School and received degrees from the University of Virginia. Jacob continued his baseball career with the Atlanta Braves system and Justin with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Karen is very proud of both boys and their accomplishments.

Kacper Tolwinski is a dedicated pet hotel assistant at Danville Family Vet. Born and raised in Europe, Kacper has always had a deep love and appreciation for animals, which led him to pursue a career in animal care. After moving to the Danville area during middle school, he quickly established himself as a hardworking and passionate member of the community.

Kacper holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Averett University, which has equipped him with strong analytical and problem-solving skills that he applies to his work at the pet hotel.

Eli Boliver is originally from State College, VA, and now lives in Danville. Though still in high school, Eli is a valued part of the Danville Family Vet Pet Hotel team, where he brings enthusiasm, curiosity, and a genuine love for animals to everything he does.

Raised in a family with deep roots in the Danville area—his mom’s side has been here for generations—Eli grew up surrounded by family, faith, and the outdoors. Some of his fondest memories include spending time in the woods with his cousins and building his very first LEGO set with his mom, moments that taught him creativity, patience, and the value of quality time.

Eli has been homeschooled most of his life, and though he hasn’t fully chosen his career path yet, he’s exploring his interests and learning what he loves along the way. His goal at Danville Family Vet is to create a comfortable, welcoming experience for every pet and pet parent, forming the kind of connection that helps each animal feel safe and cared for while they’re away from home.

Mallory Kueng Betterton is our expert pet stylist. She was formally trained at the Nan Hall School of Dog Grooming and can work miracles with all breeds. From the fancy show cut poodles to the shi-tzu puppy trim, Mallory operates a full service spa.

Mariah is originally from Maryland, but landed herself in Gretna in 2010. She joined the Family Vet team in 2024, making her appearance as a groomer! She grew up around many animals, but spent most of her time learning and riding horses.

She finds the most rewarding thing about being a groomer is when all animals and people can feel a sense of comfort with her.