Staff
Maia Morrison is a Registered Veterinary Technician who began her career in the animal care field here at Terra Linda Veterinary Hospital in 1999. Her primary responsibilities with us include assisting with surgery, client education, performing dental cleanings, taking radiographs, and obtaining lab samples.
Maia enjoys the hands-on nature of her work as well as the opportunity to put her training and skills to good use in the care of our clients' pets. "The love of working with animals is what all veterinary staff has in common," she says. "The love and the devotion between owners and their pets is priceless, and being able to share that bond with them is very special." When not helping care for our clients' pets, Maia enjoys caring for and spending time with her 16-year-old Palomino Quarter Horse. When she has free time, she can also be found outdoors camping, bike riding, or just going for hikes.
Veterinary Assistant Allan Alvarez began his career in the animal care field here at Terra Linda Veterinary Hospital in 2007. Since then he has developed his skills and handles a number of responsibilities that include dentistry, grooming, radiographs (X-rays), lab sample collections and kennel management.
Asked what he finds most rewarding about his work with us, Allan says it is interacting with the clients and their pets. "I like how we feel like a family here, not only with my coworkers, but with our clients as well," he says. "I also enjoy assisting Dr. Davis with surgical procedures and performing dentistry on our canine and feline patients."
Allan's love for animals does not begin and end with his work at the Hospital. At home, he has a 2-year-old Emerald Basilisk named VuDew, two cats named Cocoa-Nut and Banana, a Mini Dachshund named Hot Link, a Labrador mix named Fudge, a Russian Tortoise named Crush, a Parrotlet named Squeegee, and two Alligator Lizards that are known as "The Slithers."
When not working or caring for his own pets, Allan enjoys bowling, snowboarding, paintball, reptiles, breakdancing, Parkour & Freerunning, tending bar, and video games.
Animal Care Technician Becky Carnahan began her work in the animal care field in 2007 and has been with Terra Linda Veterinary Hospital since March, 2010. She brings to her work a BS in Physical Anthropology with a Minor in Biological Sciences from the University of California at Davis.
Her primary responsibilities include assisting doctors during office visits and procedures, kennel management, maintaining a clean hospital, and supporting the front office staff. Prior to her work with us, Becky bathed and groomed dogs and cats being placed for adoption at the Marin Humane Society. She also worked with the California National Primate Research Center in Davis providing mental stimulation to research Macaques and Titi Monkeys.
Becky says that her work provides her with a number of opportunities to assist the doctors with a variety of procedures that she finds exciting and engaging. She adds, "I also like that we are a small, close-knit staff. I feel that the small hospital setting allows us to work more cohesively as a group and lets us get to know our clients and their pets more personally."
At home, Becky has a 9-year-old shorthair Tabby named Jinx, a 9-year-old Seal Point Siamese cat named Kenya, and a 9-year-old longhair Calico cat named Scooby. When not working or taking care of her cats, she enjoys running, weight lifting, biking, hiking, boxing, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends.
Office Manager Lauren Lerios is perhaps the fulcrum upon which all of our activities depend and turn. She has been with Terra Linda Veterinary Hospital since August, 2008, and her primary responsibilities include greeting clients and their pets, fielding all client telephone calls and requests, appointment booking, boarding and grooming reservation booking, assisting with patient care and medical procedures, filling prescriptions, feline and canine diet management, inventory control, billing, accounts receivable, and staff management.
With so much to do, Lauren says that she loves interacting with our clients and their pets the most. She also finds the environment here at Terra Linda to be one of continual learning. As examples, she cites being able to observe our skilled doctors perform various surgical procedures as well as the opportunities for hands-on learning by working with the Hospital's Veterinary Technicians.
"Being on a team with Dr. Davis is exciting, interesting and most of all, rewarding," she says. "Nothing feels as wonderful as seeing that one patient that was seriously ill, who everyone is rooting for, rally and make a full recovery and then leave our doors with a wagging tail or purring in its owner's arms."
At home, Lauren has a rescued, 3-year-old Chihuahua mix named Nibbler and a 2-year-old Abyssinian Satin Guinea Pig named Ninny. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the San Francisco Bay Area, photography, cooking, the outdoors, working on her deck garden, journaling, drawing, painting, hiking, swimming, and spending time with friends and family.