Walhalla Veterinary Hospital

Dr. David P. Stroud, DVM

Dr. David P. Stroud, DVM graduated from UGA in 1994 and joined the practice that year. He loves spending time with his family.

Dr. Doug Smith

Dr. Doug Smith was raised in the Midlands of South Carolina and graduated from Spring Valley HS. He went into the Navy for 6 years as a nuclear propulsion operator. He graduated from Clemson University then went to UGA Vet School and finished in 1992. He spent most of his formative years on a “pseudo farm” which is where his love for animals took root. After vet school he spent 5 years in both small animal clinical and emergency clinic medicine, and then in small animal private practice for many years. He then worked at Clemson Veterinary Diagnostic Center as a diagnostician until he found us!

He has 2 sons (30 & 27) and 3 step daughters. His lovely wife Crystal works full time in ministry with special needs children of all ages. They have 2 dogs: Clover is a hound cross and Mando is a Corgi cross. Dr. Smith also enjoys working out, sports, motorcycles and reading non fiction. Please give him a big welcome with us!

Dr. Howard Zeigler

Dr. Howard Zeigler grew up in central Pennsylvania, near Harrisburg, wanting to be a marine biologist. After earning a B.S. in marine biology at Florida Institute of Technology and a year of studies in animal behavior at Binghamton University, Howard realized that the world of distant research was not for him. He then changed course and moved to Georgia to apply for veterinary school. Howard completed his DVM at the University of Georgia in 2021. He has lived, worked, and studied in Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, Indiana, and Georgia- and is excited to settle in Walhalla, South Carolina, completing that list.

Howard hopes to leverage his background in marine biology to start seeing more exotic pets, especially turtles. He enjoyed the companionship of dogs growing up. Having had a cat for the last 6 years now, he is anxiously waiting until he has a backyard so that he can have a dog again. He feels that the choice between a Rottweiler, a Greyhound, or a Great Dane will be quite difficult. He is a husband and a father of two children. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, climbing, and canoeing.

Mary Ellen Dillard

Mary Ellen has worked with Walhalla Veterinary Hospital since May of 2011. She is a long-time animal lover that started by rescuing baby possums when she was 10 years old. She and her husband, daughter, 4 dogs, 1 possum and 1 hamster live in West Union. She loves people and finding joy in life, and tries to encourage goodness in the world. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, thrift shopping, painting, gardening and family time.

Helen Flowers, CSR

Helen loves her family. She’s a blessed mom of two college kids, wife to an awesome man, lover of all animals- especially her Jack Russell, Jaxson. She loves meeting all the fur-babies and loving on them all.

Krysta Kokay, CSR

Krysta is grateful for her position at Walhalla Veterinary Hospital because she loves working with people and animals. She is helpful and kind, and she takes pride in her ability to remain calm and positive through work situations. Outside of work, Krysta enjoys crafting and cooking. She spends free time with her husband, son, 3 dogs and pet dragon. She loves her life and family!

Valentina Vargas, Veterinary Assistant

Valentina loves food, hiking, animals, traveling, and hanging out with her fur- babies at home. She is grateful for having the opportunity to work with other people that love animals also, and to be a part of helping these beautiful sentient beings we call our family.

Cristi Snelgrove, CSR

In loving memory, we love you and miss you.

Cristi joined Walhalla Veterinary Hospital in May of 2020. She is a great cook and spoils the staff with lots of yummy treats. She is happily married to a good man, has a step-son that she loves, and also adores her dog-babies- Lil’ Foot, Nemo & Otis.

Madison Brady, Receptionist

Madison is currently enrolled at Tri-County Tech to earn her degree as a Vet Tech. She plans to transfer to UGA to become a large animal Vet Tech. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, loving on her Boston Terrier- Bailey. She loves being outside fishing and hunting.

Meagan Lance

Megan is 29 years old, and married to her husband Nicholas. They have two wonderful boys that they enjoy spending as much time as possible with. She loves fur-babies, and taking care of them!

Chloe Watts LVT, Veterinary Technician

Chloe graduated from the vet tech program at Tri-County Technical College in 2019, and then became licensed. She has a 8 year old son and a 2 year old heeler “son”. She loves being a mom, anything outdoors and she LOVES her job!

Savannah Hamilton, Veterinary Assistant

Savannah graduated from Clemson University with a degree in animal veterinary sciences in December of 2020. She became a part of the Walhalla Veterinary Hospital family in January of 2021. She has two dogs, Folly & Harley, and 5 cats.

Regan Lee, Veterinary Assistant

Regan graduated from Clemson University in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Veterinary Science, concentrating in Agribusiness and a minor in business administration. She has worked with Walhalla Veterinary Hospital for a little over two and a half years. She enjoys traveling with her husband and spending time with her friends, family and her Australian Shepherd, Tate, and her two cats, Finn and Polly.

Samantha Sims LVT, Licensed Veterinary Technician

Samantha is a graduate of Tri-County Technical College with an associate degree in Applied Science with a major in Veterinary Technology. After graduation, she took her national and state boards and became a licensed Veterinary Technician. Samantha joined the Walhalla Veterinary Hospital team in October of 2020. She has two dogs named Sully and Gracie.

Ashley Ritch, Veterinary Assistant

Ash has worked in the Veterinary field for 10 years. She has an education in general biology with a concentration in marine biology. She and her husband recently married, and she’s a dog mom of 2. She hopes to one day be involved with wildlife animal rehabilitation.

Mitch Vansickle, Veterinary Assistant

Mitch has worked with Walhalla Veterinary Hospital since 2013. He loves spending time with his family and fur-babies.

Jamie Dion

Jamie has 21 years of experience in the Veterinary field and can’t imagine doing anything else. She enjoys working in the yard, and wood burning / wood working. She hopes to one have a large piece of land so she can have her own little farm.

Catie Martin