Education

University of Illinois: 
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Chi Institute:
Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Dr. Melissa Behrens

Veterinarian

Dr. Behrens has had a special bond with animals since she was very young. She grew up with cats, dogs, birds, and bunnies as constant members of her household. She loved caring for and training all of her and her family’s pets, including the stuffed variety! As a veterinarian, she feels extremely privileged to be able to work every day doing something she truly loves and to help others who share her passion for these wonderful creatures we call our pets. Dr. Behrens is happily married and has three awesome boys who keep her very busy. Her full house includes a rescued kitty named Scoots who was injured after being hit by a car. She enjoys spending time with her family and lots of outdoor activities, horses, gardening, cooking, and crafting.

Member

AAHA
American Animal Hospital Association
AVMA
American Veterinary Hospital Association
IVAS
International Veterinary Acupuncture Society
AAVA
American Association of Veterinary Acupuncture
VBMA
Veterinary Botanical Medical Association
AHVMA
American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association

Education

Royal Veterinary College
London, England

Dr. Alyssa Auge

Veterinarian

Dr. Alyssa Auge graduated in 2014 from the Royal Veterinary College in London, England. She has worked with a wide range of species all over the world. She has been lucky enough to travel to 13 countries. She tracked lions and their prey through the South African bush and helped care for baboons in a rehabilitation centre. She spent two years in Emergency Medicine saving lives, including many exotic species. Dr. Auge has a special interest in surgery and exotic medicine and is always willing to discuss either subject. She has her own little zoo at home including five dogs, a house rabbit and 2 parrots. Dr. Auge grew up in the Palatine area with her large family who she still spends much of her time with. In her free time, she loves to play sports, go running with her more athletic dogs, and listen to or play music.

Member

ARAV
Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians
AAV
Association of Avian Veterinarians

Education

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
University of Illinois

Chi Institute

Certified in Acupuncture

Dr. Lisa Douglas

Veterinarian

Dr. Lisa Douglas graduated valedictorian at the University of Illinois. She has a rich background in animal care including holistic medicine and has been in the field for over 30 years. She attended the Chi Institute where she was certified in acupuncture. She loves witnessing the human-animal bond. Dr. Douglas lives with her husband (who is also a vet), two children, her lab mix, and four rescue cats. She is a die hard Cubs fan and all of her pets are named after Chicago sports figures. She also enjoys the outdoors, especially the beach.

Gaby

Veterinary Technician

Gaby has been with Animal Hospital at the Shores since before Day 1!  

Working alongside our wonderful doctors, she strives to make your pet’s health and comfort top priority.  Gaby grew up in Chicago and started her career in veterinary medicine in her high school days.   Moving to the northwest suburbs and continuing her path in veterinary care allowed her to gain knowledge in many areas of pet care.  She has many interests including Surgery and Dentistry as well as Preventative Care.  Working closely with patients and their family has allowed Gaby to better mentor and lead our AHATS team towards their best quality care.  She has several rescued pets that have found her over the years.  She currently has an amusing kitty named Charlie and a handsome American Bulldog/ Pitbull mix named Brutus as well as a goofy one-eyed Border Collie mix named Penelope Piglet. 

Education

Bachelor of Science
Eastern Illinois University in Zoology


Karen

Veterinary Technician

Karen has a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Illinois University in Zoology. When she graduated she started working in a facility that imported Ostriches. She started at a veterinary hospital shortly after leaving that position, and she has been working in the Veterinary field ever since. For almost 20 years, she has worked at veterinary hospitals in the capacity of Client Service Relations, Technician, and Manager. She had a short break (10 years) to stay home with her children when they were little. Once they started school she realized she missed working in the veterinary field so when her former boss offered her a job she jumped at the chance to get back in to veterinary medicine. Karen really loves talking to clients and being able to help their pets! Karen joined the practice in August of 2019. She had worked with Dr. Behrens previously, and was excited to join her practice, and learn more about Interative medicine. She lives with her husband David, and their 3 children Justin, Ashley and Keira . They have 4 pets; Ohren, an 8 year old white German Shepherd, Lana, a 3 year old tabby cat, Porter, a 3 year old English Spot mix rabbit, and Jak, a 10 year old Bearded Dragon. She likes to taking care of her family, reading, walking her dog and hanging out with friends by the pool in the backyard.

Michelle

Certified Veterinary Technician

 Michelle has been passionate about the field of Veterinary Medicine since she was young. She received her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Illinois. In 2018, she received her license in veterinary technology in Texas. Her biggest passion is traveling the world and assisting in high-volume spay and neuter clinics in Tonga, Guatemala, and Peru. She has two senior kitty cats. She loves hiking, camping, doing home improvement projects, and attending concerts in her free time.

Marielle

Veterinary Assistant

Marielle’s dream of becoming a veterinarian is getting closer! She has been accepted to vet school! Marielle has had several pets over the years, but currently has a dog named Denali. She first realized her passion for helping animals when she brought her bunny to Animal Hospital at the Shores. Dr. Auge taught her how to take its heartbeat.  She says, "My favorite time of the week is when I get to come to work and learn new things about animal care!"  When she is not at work or school Marielle plays Hockey and Lacrosse and loves to water ski. 

Lisa

Veterinary Assistant

Lisa was a client of Animal Hospital at the Shores for many years before joining the team. She has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and worked for many years as a Registered Nurse before deciding to follow her love of animals and shift her focus. Working with the doctors and staff at the animal hospital has been a great experience that enables her to continue to care, advocate, teach with the animals and their people as she did as a nurse. She loves that she can continue to grow and learn every day. Outside of work, Lisa has a husband, four grown kids, and their families, which include three grandkids she loves spending time with. Many animals have also been part of her family, including the six dogs and one cat that share her home and heart.

Nick

Veterinary Assistant

Nick’s first love has always been animals. As a child, he always found himself gravitating toward the four-legged friends in his house as opposed to the human ones. He always knew his future would be filled with all sorts of animals but didn’t know in what capacity. After finding his way to Animal Hospital at the Shores in his early 20s, he knew that was where he wanted to be, but life wanted to take him on a different journey first. Spending a few years in retail management, Nick felt something was always missing. When a spot opened at the AHATS he knew it was meant to be!



Even with 4 animals at home, surrounding himself with more everyday sounded like the perfect plan. Nick currently resides in Volo with his dogs Sadie & Kajtek, and two twin polydactyl cats named Ernest (Ernie) Hemingway & Timothee Chalamet (yes, that’s really his name.) Outside of his four-legged babies, Nick also has two goldfish named Henry & Tiffany (like the diamond). A family full of rescues is just how Nick has always pictured his household.



Working at the Animal Hospital at the Shores has given Nick the chance to work with animals every day caring for them in the same way he cares for his own. After finding his way back, Nick has no plans of leaving and wants to grow and develop his skills as much as he’s able to.

Katie

Customer Service Representative

Katie joined Animal Hospital at the Shores in 2022. She loves all animals, big and small! Katie has had a diverse group of animals as pets. She has two guinea pigs and two dogs, a Newfoundland and a Newfie mix. Growing up, she had hermit crabs, hamsters, dogs, and fish, and she hopes to have a bunny someday!

Katie loves traveling to new places. She has been able to travel outside the country a couple of times, and her favorite place so far is Sweden, where she visited her family. She hopes to be able to go again one day. Closer to home, she loves walking in the woods, and seeing a waterfall is a bonus!

Katie loves working at AHATS and has made friendships she will cherish forever. She hopes to continue growing and learning and is eager to see what the future holds.

Hannah

Customer Service Representative

Hannah has been an animal lover since she could walk. She grew up with dogs, cats, fish, lizards, snakes, frogs, turtles, parakeets, and a hamster! She even rescued two mourning dove hatchlings that had fallen from their nest and had been abandoned. Once they could fly and eat independently, she successfully released them back into the wild. It’s a few years later, and they still return to visit! Hannah and her fiancé, Christian, have four cats: Mercury, Venus, Luna, and Pumpkin. She hopes to have a small farm with cows, chickens, ducks, and maybe a donkey, too! She also wants to adopt and spoil senior pets. Previously, Hannah worked in an animal shelter and a doggy daycare, but working in the veterinary field at AHATS has been the most rewarding, where she learns something new every day. She loves providing excellent customer service to our clients and patients and will do anything to help others. Hannah likes to read, craft, and spend time with her loved ones in her free time.

Ashley

Customer Service Representative

Ashley’s love for animals and her interest in medicine led her to start at AHATS as a kennel assistant in 2021. After about a year of helping with patients behind the scenes, she switched to working at the front desk as a customer service representative. She enjoys working with our clients while seeing our adorable patients as they enter and leave the clinic. Her favorite thing about working up front is seeing people's unconditional love for their pets! Ashley has many pets at home, including a rabbit named Porter. Although she loves all animals, there is a special place in her heart for all small animal exotics. Outside of AHATS, Ashley is a college student and a dance teacher. She spends time with family and friends when she is not working at dance or in class.

Jenna

Customer Service Representative

Jenna joined Animal Hospital at the Shores in November of 2016. This is Jenna’s first job in the Veterinary field and she loves every minute of it. Jenna learns something new every day when she is at work and hopes to continue to expand her knowledge. Even though Jenna does not have a dog of her own, she hopes to have one in the near future and cannot wait for that day! Jenna has always dreamed of having a Husky but loves all breeds.Jenna has loved animals since she was a little girl, and joining the Veterinary field has been an exciting step for her! Since working at Animal Hospital at the Shores, Jenna has loved getting to know clients and patients and seeing all the cute animals that come in the door. She enjoys helping people and really loves her job at the Animal Hospital at the Shores!

Robert

Kennel Assistant

Robert has enjoyed working at the Animal Hospital at the Shores since 2023. He has a passion for animals of all shapes and sizes. 
He has cared for reptiles, birds, rodents, cats, and dogs! He currently has an elderly guinea pig named Spud. Robert assists Dr. Auge during her exotic animal appointments and loves it. If he could own any animal, it would be a pig! Robert loves music, photography, space, and hiking outside of work.

Oliver

Kennel Assistant

Oliver is a passionate animal lover and is happy to play an active part at the Animal Hospital at the Shores. He joined our staff in 2023 and is studying for his Veterinary Technician certification through Penn Foster. Oliver has two lovely kitties, Sylvie—who has one eye, and Gómez, who he has raised since he was a kitten. Oliver also has two ferrets that he loves dearly, Butters and Toaster. He has a passion for exotic animal husbandry and hopes to help spread awareness for the proper care of animals. You can find Oliver watching horror movies and relaxing with his animals outside of work.