Staff





Lee Allen
Position: Clinic Director

Background: I have almost 20 years of veterinary medical experience. The first nine years were as a veterinary technician where I received training in diverse clinical settings. This training included small animal advanced dentistry, large animal research, and small animal emergency medicine. The next 5 years were spent working as a territory manager in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia for two leading veterinary supply distributors.

I received my BS in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1996. My family resides in North Carolina, and I have one brother and one sister. My brother recently graduated from NC State University and owns the Aquatic Management Group in Raleigh. My sister is a recent Duke University graduate, and she is in her second year at the University of Tennessee’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Hobbies: I am an avid sportsman. My special sport’s interests are golf and tennis. More than anything, I love spending any available moment with my wife, Dr. Kelley Gebhardt. We both are very passionate about outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, kayaking, and mountain biking. It is not unusual for us to drive to the mountains for a quick hike and then return the same day.

Pets: Before I met my wife, I worked very long hours and never had any pets. So, when we met, I immediately fell in love with her two dogs (Ruby and Nugget). Since then, we have added three cats to our family (Meow Meow, Nimbus, and Uno). I never imagined that they would have filled my life with so much joy; especially, when Nugget decides to find the smelliest material possible and roll in it. Can you say stinky? We love our pets so much and life would not be the same without them.



Shoneka L. Barnes
Position: Business Manager

Background: Originally from Wilmington Delaware, I moved to North Carolina in 1992 to attend College. I graduated from North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State University with a BS degree in Animal Science. I have work in the veterinary field for 11 years, 8 of which were in veterinary practice management. I hope to soon become a certified veterinary practice manager and to get a degree in accounting. I really enjoy working alongside veterinary professionals because we share the same compassion and love for all animals. The best part of my job is that I know I am a part of such a great practice where the staff cares about the welfare of all animals, the community, and about each other.

Hobbies: I like playing volleyball, reading good love stories, and watching sitcoms. I enjoy taking naps on the couch with my three dogs, listening to gospel music, cooking out and playing board games with my family. I love to do dinner and a movie with my husband. I also enjoy going to church and laughing at all the funny little things my three year old little boy, Athens, says and does.

Pets: I have three adorable Shih-Tzu K-9 kids. Cosmo is the oldest at 8 ½ years old. Elaine is the next in line and just turned 8 in February. Missy is the youngest at approximately 5 years old. “Cosi” was given to me by my husband for Christmas one year. By mother’s day that same year, we had to get “Lainey” to be his playmate. Unfortunately, it took him about six months before he decided that she was okay. Missy joined our family after suffering from a broken pelvis from being hit by a car. After a month of trying to find her parents without success, she had stolen my heart and became the 6th member of our family.  “Lainey” liked “Missy” right away but “Cosi”, true to form, was not interested in her until Missy’s first heat.



Joanne Gibson
Position: Receptionist

Background: I have been a veterinary technician for 13 years. My last seven years have been in the emergency field. I enjoy the emergency field more than general practice, because it allows me to use my technician skills to the fullest in a fast-paced environment. I attend continuing education classes yearly to keep up with new techniques, medications, and diseases.

Hobbies: I have been married for 11 years and enjoy spending time with my husband and dogs. We have a small camper that we all cram into to explore the great outdoors. I am also active in my community church.

Pets: I have 2 dogs (Dazy and Scooter). Dazy is a two year old mutt that I adopted from an animal shelter. She looks like a cross between a Labrador, basset hound, and maybe beagle too. So she is twice as long as she is tall, but she can tree squirrels and loves to play fetch. Scooter is a Jack Russell Terrier who loves to chase balls and squirrels. 



Stephanie Harden
Position: Veterinary Care Team

Background: I have worked in veterinary medicine since 1995, in both day practice and emergency medicine. After having twins, I have returned to work in emergency medicine to allow me to raise my children and balance my career. I enjoy the excitement of emergency medicine, the thrill of a fast-paced working environment, and the variety of patient cases that keep my skills proficient. Medicine is always changing on a daily basis and it is great to have the ability to learn something new every day. I also enjoy the ability to make a difference in an animal's life and the compassion that I can provide to their owners.

Hobbies: I love spending my free time with my children. I also love cooking, baking, decorating cakes, gardening and escaping to the mountains with my family when I have a chance.

Pets: "Chopper" is my pit bull mix who loves sunning, playing ball, and chasing and licking my boys.He never meets a stranger and loves to walk in the neighborhood to meet and greet everyone.



Carla LaFata
Position: Veterinary Care Team

Background: I am originally from Greensboro and recently moved back to the area after living in Florida for twenty-four years.  After finishing a veterinary technician program in Florida I started working in a general practice and realized the veterinary field is definitely where I am supposed to be.  I have three years experience in emergency medicine.  I love emergency medicine because I love the variety of something new every day and the opportunity to utilize my learned skills. 

Hobbies: I enjoy spending time with my family in Raleigh and Burlington.  Above all else, I love to watch my son pitch for the Grimsley High school baseball team.  I am so blessed to have such a great kid. 

Pets: I am also the proud mother of two dogs.  Gator, a Pit Bull mix, and Ziggy, a Jack Russell Terrier.  We all love to go for long walks in the park. 

Susan McCormick
Position: Veterinary Care Team

Background: I graduated in 1988 with a degree in Veterinary Science Technology from SUNY Delhi in Upper New York. I am a transplanted Northerner from Connecticut who moved to North Carolina in 1992. I have worked in many aspects of the Veterinary Medical field over the years including both small and large animal, day practice, the NCSU Veterinary School and emergency work.

Hobbies: I am in Nursing School at NC A&T which takes up most of my hobby time but, I also love to read novels and taking my dogs to the local parks.

Pets:   I have two dogs, Kodiak "the old man", and Roxie. I also have two cat roommates, Sissy, who was hand raised and is spoiled rotten. Gracie is my gracious older feline. They are all rescues of various sorts.  The older ones were planned, but the younger ones were accidents. I haven't told them that since I wouldn't want to hurt their feelings. 



Heather Peeler
Position: Veterinary Care Team

Background: I started out in the veterinary field with an internship at a local animal hospital during my senior year in high school to see if it was the path I wanted to take. After high school, I attended NC State as an animal science major and got heavily involved in the agricultural side of animal care. There wasn’t a college year that I didn’t live out at the state fair since I was busy showing animals and helpingout with several booths. Since working a few different jobs, including being a bus driver for NC State’s Wolfline and a R&D intern at a Pfizer lab, I have finally found my niche in emergency medicine. I love coming in every night to a new challenge.

Hobbies: My hobbies include horseback riding, soccer, reading, and cross-stitch.

Pets: I’m currently at my pet limit with two dogs and a horse. I got both of my dogs from an animalhospital I worked at. Addy is my Boxer mix that came in as a parvo puppy and saw me for the push-over I was. I took her in, treated her, and now she’s my comic relief. Tyson is my chocolate lab that I adopted after he had orthopedic surgery to repair a broken leg. He is decidedly the anti-lab because he is so laid back and would much rather stay inside than go out and play. That leaves my horse, the love of my life (shhh, don’t tell my fiancé). He is a 15 year old Quarter Horse gelding who is my partner in crime. Chances are, if I don’t answer my phone, I’m at the barn.



Audra Shaver
Position: Receptionist

Background: I have had a strong connection with animals my entire life. It has blossomed into a passion of mine & has molded what career path I have taken thus far. In my short time in the veterinary field, I have been given wonderful opportunities to work with some incredible doctors. I started my career at Cobb Animal Clinic, a day practice here in Greensboro. My time there was a great learning experience that made my transition to emergency medicine a smooth one. The staff here at Happy Tails Veterinary Emergency Clinic is one-of-a-kind & I am truly honored to be a member of such a diverse & talented team. I have already learned so much!

Hobbies: I love traveling & have been to many places around the world. The beach is one of my favorite places to go! My mother lives in Pine Knoll Shores, NC which is the perfect weekend get-a-way. The NC Aquarium is just down the road, and watching the fish can be very relaxing and something I look forward to when I visit. I also enjoy camping, hiking, tennis - anything outdoors really. I love taking my dogs to my father’s house in King, NC. They have unlimited space to run andplay! Seeing the joy in their eyes when we drive up his driveway brings a big smile to my face. Rhino
and Cairo love playing with my Dad’s dogs, Bosco (a Saint Bernard) & Maggie (a Border Collie mix). We adopted Maggie when I was 13. I think I developed my love for animals from her sweet demeanor and personality. Another love in my life is ballet. I have been dancing since the age of five. I graduated from Virginia School of the Arts, concentrating in ballet, & I will forever have a passion for it.

Pets: I have two dogs, Rhino and Cairo, as I’m sure you have assumed by now… Rhino is my Weimaraner (shown above) and the love of my life. He is the first dog I’ve (personally) ever owned and will always hold a special place in my heart. He has a vertical jump that rivals Michael Jordan! Cairo (shown above) is my newest addition. My boyfriend and I recently adopted him from the Guilford County Animal Shelter. He is a Catahoula Leopard Dog mix. When we saw his floppy little ears, we fell in love and the rest is history. He runs the dog park like a sheep yard. I don’t knowwhat I would do without them in my life.



Heather Smith
Position: Receptionist

Background: I am originally from Pennsylvania.  I joined the Navy and was stationed at MCAS Cherry Point for three years.  I met my husband there, and we have been married for 12 years.  We have 2 little girls that we adore!!!!! I worked as a receptionist for an emergancy vet clinic for almost 3 years before deciding to stay home with my girls full time.  I have worked with Dr. Gebhardt in the past, and when this opportunity to work with her again at her own clinic came along, I jumped at it.  I enjoy working with animals, and the best part of the day is when you get to see a patient that came in sick go home with his tail wagging!!!!!!!

Hobbies:: I love to spend time with my family.  My husband and I are addicted to the Discovery Channel, we cannot get enough!  I also enjoy going to the gym, I try to go every morning.  It's a great stress buster!!!!!  I love to read, but just don't have the time to do it anymore, maybe as the kids get older I will find time.

Pets: I have 3 pets.  My husband gave me my 2 cats ,Bosco and Matilda, as gifts when he was in the military.  He thought they would keep me company while he was gone on deployments.  It was nice to have them around during those lonely times!!!!!  They are getting a little up there in age, but both are still pretty playful.   Bailey is our dog. We adopted him from the animal shelter 6 years ago.  We don't really know what breed mix he is, but he looks like a small St. Bernard.  He loves to be with the family and is really great with our little girls.



Andrew Tapp
Position: Veterinary Care Team

Background: I gave up a career as a starving artist and began working in veterinary medicine in 2004, when I got married to my wife, Anna. I made the switch to emergency medicine in 2007. I graduated from St. Petersburg College and became registered with the state of North Carolina in 2008.

Hobbies: I enjoy gardening, playing music, reading, and watching and playing soccer.

Pets: I have two cats, two dogs, and three fish. Ace, our black and white cat, rules the neighborhood. Mossy, our solid black cat, was nearly hairless when we adopted him. Now his hair has grown back and he is happy to follow us around the house. Augie, our labrador-bloodhound mix, loves to lick everything that moves. Leia, our pitbull, is the only survivor of a litter of 12 puppies.



Brenton Tucker
Position: Veterinary Care Team

Background: I am currently majoring in Biology at UNC-Greensboro and plan to finish my undergraduate degree by the spring of 2012. From a very young age I knew I wanted to work with animals. I’ve always had a special bond with them. I started my Veterinary career at Cobb Animal Clinic in 2004 as a veterinary technician. While I greatly enjoyed my time there, I felt there was just something missing. An opportunity to work in veterinary pharmaceutical research at TransTech Pharma, Inc. presented itself to me in 2006 and I was ready for a new challenge. I feel that working on the research side of things helped to round out my knowledge and experience in this field. My work in research was great, but much different than general practice and I missed that interaction with patients and clients. I began looking into emergency medicine and found Happy Tails Veterinary Emergency Clinic. I had always heard great things about the Tail and wanted to get my foot in the door quickly. I made the transition to emergency medicine in January 2010 and the rest is history. I am surrounded by skilled technicians and wonderful doctors that practice great
medicine.

Hobbies: I love anything outdoors. I exercise regularly and try to stay as healthy as possible. I play basketball as much as I can. Spending time with family and friends is also very important to me.

Pets: I have two beasts that reside with me, Rhino and Cairo. Rhino is a beautiful blue Weimaraner and Cairo is a Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog mix. Rhino is a wild man when he goes outside, but inside he curls up to the size of a small house cat and just wants to be held. Cairo is one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever known. My girlfriend and I adopted him from the Guilford County Animal Shelter when he was four months old and he has been perfect. He has the most expressive ears I’ve ever seen and an appetite unmatched. They are both great dogs. I also have an orange and white cat, Marko, which lives with my mom, sister and brother. Unfortunately, our pups don’t quite know what to do with cats, so we don’t chance it. Life is not complete without these companions.



Wendy L. Wiseman
Position: Veterinary Care Team

Background: Born in Michigan and raised in Pennsylvania, I moved to North Carolina in 1989. I have work in the veterinary field for seven years. Six of those years were devoted to working in emergency medicine. The best part of my job is knowing that I am a part of such a great practice where the staff cares about the welfare of all animals, the community, and about each other.

Hobbies: I am happily married to my best friend, Ben. We share three beautiful children, Josh, Bethanne and Glenna. We are also volunteer firefighters in our community. In our spare time, we spend time with friends and family or are in the mountains for some relaxation and camping.

Pets: We have three dogs and one cat. Our oldest dog is Mickey, a black and white 18 yr. old Chihuahua, prefers napping for recreation these days. Our boxer, Bell, is the comedian of the pack and is always looking for ways to entertain us. Simon is our more serious dog and is always by our daughter's side. Nibbles, our cat, is always purring in our ears and loves to wake us by tapping on the blinds.