Carol Howley has been a member of the veterinary community for over 12 years. She knew her calling from an early age was to work with animals and got her start as a kennel technician in her home state of Connecticut. After relocating to Florida in 2001 she decided to take her career to the next level, attending the Florida Institute of Animal Arts. After  graduation she set out to establish herself as a certified veterinary assistant, working for Banfield, the Pet Hospital in Casselberry. In 2003 she made the move to Tuscawilla Oaks Animal Hospital in Oviedo, where she met Dr. Rick and Dr. John and began building a solid working relationship and gaining the experience needed to help her attain her next goal, becoming a certified veterinary technician.

Carol is now enrolled in the Saint Petersburg College, pursuing her AS Degree in Veterinary Technology.   She relocated to Apopka shortly before Park Avenue Animal Hospital opened its doors, and has been a member of the team since 2008. As Lead Technician she oversees the rest of the tech staff, leading by example and ensuring that everyone on the team continues to reach toward the common goal of providing only the best care for both pet and owner. Her personal passion for animal care includes focuses on client education regarding nutrition, rehabilitation and animal behavior, though she is well-rounded and knowledgeable about many aspects of small animal medicine. She loves all animal types, as evidenced by the motley crew of pets in her personal care, including two dogs, a cat, a rat, and a catfish.

Becky Deighan has been a member of the veterinary community since 2000. She joined the Park Avenue Animal Hospital team in September 2009 and we are glad to have her experienced mind and compassionate heart as part of the PAAH family.

Her grandmother’s golden retriever, who only had one eye, helped spark an interest in animal health that started at an early age and followed her into adulthood. Becky is passionate about animal nutrition, believing that proper nutrition and exercise are critical to ensuring a good quality of life for pets of all ages.  In addition to all the pets she loves on at Park Avenue Animal Hospital, Becky has a black lab and two cats at home. In her off time she has a love and talent for the visual arts, and enjoys painting and drawing. She also enjoys fishing and spending time outdoors.

Laana Simmons has been a life-long animal lover. Her passion for animals helped to net her first animal care experiences while she was still in high school, where she volunteered for a local pet shelter. Since then she has worked for kennels, shelters, and animal hospitals, and has been with Park Avenue Animal Hospital since 2008.

Her passion for animals makes her a true asset to the Park Avenue family as she serves as a technician, as well as maintaining the kennel. She strives to make every pet’s visit to the kennel a positive one, with lots of play time and plenty of walks, and cozy sleeping arrangements all in a clean and comfortable environment.  In addition to the pets at Park Avenue, Laana also cares for her own pet, Chi-Chi, a Chihuahua.

Mary Varner has been an animal lover since an early age.  After the birth of her daughter, and playing mommy to her Chihuahua, Luis, Mary decided to pursue a career in animal medicine. She enrolled in the Florida Institute for Animal Arts and graduated in 2008.She has been with Park Avenue Animal Hospital since then.

As animals cannot speak for themselves, Mary dedicates herself to providing a voice and understanding for them.  She is a caring and compassionate technician with a love for life and for her work. She also puts her caring touch to good use with pets in the kennel, helping to keep the environment clean and comfortable and offering lots of extra TLC to every pet that comes to stay. She strives to ensure the comfort and good health of each and every pet as if it were her own.