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South Des Moines Veterinary Center South Des Moines Veterinary Center

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Meet Our Staff

Dr. Melissa Beyer
Veterinarian/Practice Owner

Dr. Melissa Beyer

Hello! I am Melissa Beyer and I am the owner of South Des Moines Veterinary Center. Veterinary medicine is definitely my passion. I love all aspects of it. My two favorite areas are dermatology (skin) and soft tissue surgery. These may seem like two very different areas, but they continually challenge me and make my job fun. I joined South Des Moines Veterinary Center in 2006 and became owner in 2014. I currently am an active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital Association and the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association.

Away from SDMVC I stay busy with my 2 daughters and husband (Jeremy). Our girls are constantly on the go with dance competitions and Junior Olympic gymnastics meets. Our entire family loves following college football (I am an Iowa State University graduate but an Iowa Hawkeye fan at heart).

Pictured with me are Luke and Doug, our sweet Golden Retrievers. Having a puppy reminds me of all the challenges they bring, but also the unconditional love that comes with them! We also have 2 cats (not pictured) Henry and Burt. Each of our animals have great personalities and I wouldn’t trade them for the world. Our 4-legged kids are family!

Whether it’s helping your pet with vaccinations or performing surgery, I am here to make sure your pet’s overall wellness is the best it can be! I look forward to meeting you and your four-legged family members soon.

Dr. Melinda Austin
Veterinarian

Melinda Austin

Dr. Austin is a lover of all living things - furry, feathered, scaly, and furless alike! She completed her undergraduate studies at The University of Iowa, earning her BA in Journalism & Mass Communication. While working in the corporate world, she began volunteering with wildlife to fill her animal void. In 2013 she became a Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator and made a full-time career change, clinically training as a Veterinary Technician at both a general practice and an ER/specialty clinic. She went on to earn her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State University in 2021. Some of her areas of professional interest include wildlife, zoo and exotic companion animal medicine, integrative medicine, ophthalmology and nutrition.

As a nontraditional student, Dr. Austin believes you can accomplish anything you put your mind to. To help spread this message, client education and mentoring have become some of her true passions. She enjoys volunteering for youth programs and international philanthropic endeavors.

Dr. Austin loves country living with her husband, Jared. Together, they have 3 children; Hayden, 6, Noah, 4 and Evelyn, 2. Their family also includes a Great Dane puppy, a purrfect tuxedo cat, chickens and fish.

When she is not in the clinic, Dr. Austin logs many hours working with the community through her wildlife nonprofit. She also enjoys yoga, spending time outside (especially birdwatching), traveling and pretending she has a green thumb.

Dr. Kate Trevino
Veterinarian

Kate Trevino

Dr. Kate Trevino is a 2017 Iowa State University veterinary school graduate. She grew up in Iowa but lived in California following her stint in the U.S. Marine Corps. Dr. Trevino started her veterinary career in shelter medicine and had special schooling for veterinary forensics. Dr. Trevino has transitioned over to general practice now, and her favorite part is helping owners find solutions to best help their family npets. Dr. Trevino has experience with many different types of animals, and is happy to help you with your cat, dog, bearded dragon, guinea pig, ferret, rabbit, or rat.

Veronica
Veterinary Technician

Veronica

Welcome to South Des Moines Veterinary Center. My name is Veronica! I am a south Des Moines native and I have been with SDMVC since 2017. I am a Veterinary Technician and my favorite part of working here is performing dental cleanings. It super satisfying to see the immediate improvement and know that I am making a difference in that pet’s life.

I have 4 pets of my own (2 dogs and 2 cats). Pictured with me is my dog, River. He’s such a handsome boy! Outside of the clinic I like to be outdoors hiking with my dogs, painting or listening to live music.

Kayla
Veterinary Technician

Kayla

I became a part of the SDMVC team in June of 2024. My favorite parts of being here have been the safe, home-like environment we have here as a team and also getting to know the clients and their pets!

I have a cat named Jager and a fun fact about him is he only has one eye! I enjoy anything outside. If it's an outdoor activity I'm in! Swimming and kayaking are a couple of my favorites. Hanging out with my goddaughter, friends, and family is something I also make sure to make time for.

Ashlynn
Veterinary Technician

Ashlynn

My name is Ashlynn, I have been at SDMVC since May 2020. I left for a year to be a full time mom, but now I'm back and so excited to be part of the team again! I started as a customer care representative and now I am also a Vet Tech, My favorite part of working at SDMVC is the great opportunities to build relationships with clients and patients, while also building strong bonds with my team members.

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my son, Brooks, my cats, Nikka and Nugget, and my dog, Kenya. You can also find me thrifting at local thrift stores or watching true crime documentaries. 

Zach
Veterinary Technician

Zach

I joined SDMVC in 2017 and then I left in 2018 to pursue another opportunity. I rejoined the team in September of 2023. I have enjoyed being back! I love the environment and my coworkers make even the hard days fun. They allow me to be myself, which is great because I love making people laugh.

I have many four legged children of my own. A cat named Paisley, a crested gecko named Gizmo, a rat named Trouble, and a bulldog named Phil, Outside of work I enjoy live music, so I attend many concerts and I spend a lot of time with friends and family.

Chelsey
Practice Manager

Chelsey

Hi! I’m Chelsey and I have been at South Des Moines Veterinary Center since 2015. I have worked in all areas of South Des Moines Vet Center’s Health Care Team. From daycare to client care. I’ve done it all. I am currently the Practice Manager but you will still find me holding on to some of our wiggly patients, drawing blood or even monitoring anesthesia. I love all of the new things that I get to learn on a daily basis. My favorite part of working at SDMVC is teaching and educating clients. Sharing what I know is what I’m here for!

Outside of work I enjoy exploring new places, watching football (go Packers and Hawkeyes), being creative with projects around the house and spending quality time with my friends and family. Be sure to ask me about my 4 legged family – Nelson (cat) and Frankie (bulldog) the next time you’re in.

If I weren’t in Veterinary Medicine I would either be a Planetary Scientist (sending rockets in to space) or a paleontologist (digging up dinosaur bones).

Maren
Pet Care Lead

Maren

Hi! My name is Maren and I am very excited to be the Lead of the South Des Moines Vet Center Pet Care Team. I’m originally from Utah. I joined the Pet Care Team September of 2021 and am loving it. My favorite part of my job is spending time with all of the amazing pets we have here and building relationships with them and their owners. I feel extremely lucky to care for each of them.

When I’m not at the clinic, I enjoy playing with my own cat named, Honey, my perfect puppy- Squeaks (pictured with me) and my Guinea Pig named, Bambi (I rescued him). My favorite animal related movie is, Fox and the Hound. Squeaks was actually named after the caterpillar in this movie!

If I weren’t in Veterinary Medicine I would be an entomologist, because I love buggies!

Feel free to say, “hi” the next time you’re at the clinic. I look forward to meeting you!

Lola
Pet Care Team

Lola

My name is Lola and I am a member of the Pet Care Team. You will typically find me with the daycare dogs and boarding animals. I love my job and working with all of the 4 legged fur babies. Outside of work I attend high school. I also have a passion for horses (check out the pic of my own horse and me). I also am a member of the Des Moines Derby Bratz. If you see me around, ask what my call sign is for roller derby!

Delaney
Pet Care Team

Delaney

My name is Delaney and I am a member of the Pet Care Team.  I love being able to care for our daycare patients and boarding crew.  I try to make sure that I treat each of our boarders like my own. 

Sydney
Pet Care Team

Sydney

I joined the SDMVC Pet Care Team in July of 2024. I have had the best time interacting with all the pets that come here for Daycare and Boarding. I have enjoyed learning all their unique, fun personalities.

At home, I have 4 dogs, 2 cats, a bearded dragon, and 9 chickens! I love hanging out with them all. I enjoy taking my beardie on car rides and walks. My cat, King, and I have become the best of napping buddies. 

Lili
Pet Care Team

Lili

I have been with SDMVC since May of 2024. I love getting to know each animal's individual personality. Also, that our whole team is always willing to answer my questions.

At home I have a rabbit named Princess, 2 cats named Kash and Daisy, and a dog named Maddie. Outside of work I am apart of 9 different leadership teams and I was crowned Polk County Fair Queen!

Rocio
Client Care

Rocio

I joined the SDMVC team in December 2023 as a client care representative. I really enjoy a lot of aspects of SDMVC but my favorite is my coworkers and the bond we all share as a team. I am also fluent in English and Spanish so I love being able to help be a translator/interpreter for our spanish speaking clients to ensure they understand their pet's care and medical needs.

Outside of SDMVC I like catching up with Mother Nature and enjoying all of her wonders. Also, spending time with my dog, Tano, and cat, Morty.

Jayna
Client Care

Jayna

I have been with SDMVC since December 2023. I have really enjoyed being here, especially the team oriented environment and how supportive all of my coworkers are. Getting to know and work with all the pets has been a huge plus as well.

I have 3 four-legged kiddos, Dallas and Remi are my dogs and Twix is my cat. Hanging out with them is one of my favorite ways to spend my spare time. My other favorite way is to hang out with my friends at any automotive related events!

Lin
Groomer

Lin

Hello! My name is Lin and I am a groomer at South Des Moines Vet Center. I have been with SDMVC since July of 2018 and have been grooming for over 7 years. One of the best parts of my day is getting to know each of the pets I get to work with. I enjoy making each dog and cat that I groom look as good as they feel. I even keep my own pets (Iggy, Pep and Zeke) looking their best! Outside of work, you will find my watching a good horror movie, playing video games or cooking. Make sure to give me a shout when your pet needs a good spa day here at SDMVC!