Sophia has worked at Rhinebeck Animal Hospital since May of 2024. She said, 'I enjoy working in an environment where you can tell how passionate everyone is about what they're doing, and how much everyone cares about pets.'.

Sophia has a cat named Lola. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, and playing video games.

The owner and hospital administrator of Rhinebeck Animal Hospital, Dr. Louis Tumolo, Jr. has cared for pets here as a general practitioner since 1970, when the hospital was a mixed farm and companion animal practice.

Office Generalist and Veterinary Technician Lisa joined the staff at Rhinebeck Animal Hospital in December 2010. She says, 'I love this hospital because we have a great team that truly cares about our patients.' Lisa holds her veterinary technician license in the state of New York.

At home, Lisa has a Sharbo named Zoey and a Dachshund/Jack Russell mix named Emma. She spends her free time with her family and puppies. Lisa also enjoys hiking and kayaking.

Born and raised in Rhinebeck, Dr. Weckesser has known ever since the sixth grade that she wanted to be a veterinarian and spent most of her childhood summers working with cows and goats in preparation for 4-H shows. She is quite invested in Rhinebeck Animal Hospital as she was mentored by Dr. Tumolo as a veterinary assistant before going to veterinary school. She enjoys developing a bond with each pet that comes into the hospital and likes challenging herself with new experiences and new cases.

Dr. Julianne Porter is a general practitioner who joined our staff in July 2013. She has been working in the animal care field ever since she was 14.

Dr. Noah Shulman is originally from Pittsburgh, PA. He had many pets growing up and worked on dairy farms treating sick cows and barn cats in Pennsylvania before becoming a veterinarian. It was during his time on the farms that he developed his passion for veterinary medicine.

Ally has been a veterinary assistant on the RAH team since 2020. She enjoys the friendly, welcoming environment, and remarks that 'every day brings something new; the job is never boring'. She loves working with a wide range of pets living in the area, 'from dogs and cats to parakeets and pigs'. 

Ally has three dogs at home; two are pitbull mixes (Leo, and Finn), and the third is a Miniature Pinscher/Chihuahua named Mr. Buttersworth (or Butters, for short). She loves teaching her dogs tricks, such as 'high-fives', rolling over, 'sitting pretty', and 'army crawl'. Leo and Finn even give each other hugs! She also recently adopted a kitten named Fig Newton.

Ally spends her free time hiking with her dogs, kayaking, reading, and playing video games. She aspires to one day be a licensed technician.

Lexi has been a veterinary assistant at Rhinebeck Animal Hospital since January of 2023. She is currently enrolled (and has almost completed) in the Veterinary Technician program at SUNY Ulster. She has had a passion for working with animals since she was in sixth grade and worked on a farm.

Lexi has a lab-mix named Theo and a bearded dragon named Pearl. She and Theo will be starting dock diving. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and going fishing.

In June of 2024, Bri joined the Rhinebeck Animal Hospital team. She said, 'I love getting to work with animals every day, especially the exotic pets. The staff is so friendly and helpful.'.

When Bri was younger she spent many years in 4-H, participating in various clubs. At home, she has a rescue dog named Fred. She enjoys reading and riding her motorcycle.

Licensed Veterinary Technician Agathe joined the team at Rhinebeck Animal Hospital in June 2015 and has been a part of the animal care field for eight years. She is a licensed veterinary technician in the state of New York, and holds an associate's degree in veterinary medicine. Agathe's favorite part of working at Rhinebeck Animal Hospital is the group of veterinarians and staff she works with on a daily basis.

She says, 'Everybody here is compassionate! We all love what we do and we all help each other in difficult situations.'

At home, Agathe has two dogs named Lyla and Annabelle, and a rabbit named Grims. In her free time, she enjoys horseback riding, hiking with her dogs, gardening, and shopping.

Senior Client Relations Specialist Sandi has provided client service to our dedicated clients and their wonderful pets since 2004. She has been a part of the animal care field for over 25 years. Sandi says, 'We are a team dedicated to providing the best patient and client care possible. I'm proud to be a part of such a dedicated, empathetic, and knowledgeable group of doctors and staff.' 

Sandi enjoys spending her free time outdoors with her family. She also volunteers for activities her daughter is involved in.

Josh is part of the veterinary assistant team at Rhinebeck Animal Hospital. He brings with him many years of experience in pet care at shelters and daycares as well as aspirations of one day running his own dog daycare.

Regarding his role at RAH, he says, 'Working [here] is a great experience! The staff is very caring and compassionate, and they have been very welcoming.' He also adds that 'It is very gratifying seeing the positive impact that we make on the lives of both the animals we care for and their pet parents.'

At home, Josh has 3 cats named Couscous, Midnight, and Mr. Met, as well as a bulldog mix named Lady. He enjoys the outdoors with hobbies such as hiking and kayaking, or simply hanging out with friends and his pets.

Shawn has been with Rhinebeck Animal Hospital since July 2010. He says, 'The hospital staff and the veterinarians not only love their jobs but also care deeply about the animals in their care and they keep them purring and their tails wagging.'

At home, Shawn has a Dachshund named Dobby and a domestic shorthair named Binx. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, gardening, swimming, camping, and hiking.

Thomas is the hospital manager at Rhinebeck Animal Hospital. He earned a BS in Business Administration in Philadelphia and spent time in retail before becoming the hospital manager in 2000. He thoroughly enjoys working with the progressive RAH team that is dedicated to superior patient care and client service. 

In his spare time, Thomas enjoys hiking, biking, sailing, and photography.

Licensed Veterinary Technician Amber joined the RAH team in 2018. They hold an Associates of Applied Science degree in veterinary technology from SUNY Ulster and a Bachelors of Science in Chemistry with ACS from Marist College. Amber is a licensed veterinary technician in the state of New York.

They enjoy their work at Rhinebeck Animal Hospital, remarking 'Everyone here truly cares about the clients and their pets. There's also a strong feeling of teamwork, and support is always available when needed.'.

At home, Amber has several pets: three cats named Kit-kat, Columbia, and Zagreus, 2 unnamed hermit crabs, and several hundred worms! In addition to their work and educational pursuits, their hobbies include reading, playing board games, and getting outside whenever they can.

Staff Operations Manager Chris has been a part of the Rhinebeck Animal Hospital team since 2006. He is proud to be part of a hospital that is always trying to improve and do what is best for the pets and their parents. 

At home, Chris enjoys spending time with his wife, photography, working out, hiking, and watching the Mets. 

Jae joined Rhinebeck Animal Hospital in May of 2024. He has three years of experience with animals as a pet trainer and farm caretaker. He says, 'Everyone here is so friendly and caring. We all have a passion for animals and that shows throughout our work.'.

At home, Jae has a cat named Zinc, a dog named Piper, a bearded dragon named Ladon, an axolotl named Felsen, six crested geckos named Molok, Kanaloa, Selkie, Kelpie, Siren, and Eska, and a betta fish named Erik. He also has millipedes and isopods. He breeds mollies, guppies, snails, and millipedes. He enjoys listening to audiobooks and taking road trips.

A native of Rhinebeck, Dr. Greg Tumolo has cared for pets as a general practitioner at Rhinebeck Animal Hospital since 2006. He loves both the scientific and compassionate aspects of veterinary medicine, and enjoys using the latest scientific and medical techniques to help improve the quality of life for pets and their families.

Licensed Veterinary Technician Tierney started working for RAH in August 2022. She graduated from SUNY Ulster in May 2022 with an AAS in Veterinary Technology. Tierney is a licensed veterinary technician in the state of New York. When asked about why she likes working at RAH she replies, 'I love working at RAH because we all work together to provide the best possible care to all of our patients. I look forward to coming to work each day and continuing to learn from my passionate and dedicated colleagues.'.

At home, Tierney has 3 cats, Duncan, Daisy, and Tiger Woods. In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga, hiking, being outdoors, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.

Associate veterinarian and general practitioner Dr. Janette Relyea has cared for pets at Rhinebeck Animal Hospital since 1991.

She says, 'I enjoy meeting client and their pets, as well as being able to work with the knowledgeable staff at our veterinary hospital.'

At home, Dorothy has two dogs named Jonesie Marie and Sage Elizabeth. She also has three grand dogs named Luke, Bo, and Loner. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her granddaughter, Drew Hazel.

Bookkeeper Cindy has been a part of the Rhinebeck Animal Hospital team since 1995 and has been working in the animal care field for over 30 years. She says, 'Our hospital practices the best medicine. We have new doctors fresh out of veterinary school and doctors with a lot of experience. We also have a great support staff.'

At home, Cindy has two pit bull mixes named Tator Tot and Tootsie Pop. Both dogs know a few tricks, like sit, come, shake, and speak. Cindy enjoys spending time with her family as well as traveling and crocheting.

Makayla has been working as a veterinary assistant at Rhinebeck Animal Hospital since October 2018.

 
“I like working here because I love animals and being able to care for them. The staff here is also very kind, and they create an enjoyable working environment.”

At home, Makayla has two cats named Hubcat and Clementine. She also has a dog named Dakota. In her free time, she enjoys writing, painting, photography, drawing, and hanging out with her friends. Someday she hopes to publish books of her work and open a cat cafe.

Ashley is a Client Care Representative at Rhinebeck Animal Hospital. She enjoys getting to see all of the different animals that come in every day and commends the effort the staff puts into giving the best care and service to clients and their pets. Her love of pets motivates her to pursue a veterinary technician license in the near future.

At home, Ashley has two cats named Ruby and Jade.  In her free time, she enjoys traveling to visit her family and friends, hiking, swimming, and exploring many places in the Hudson Valley.

Client Care Representative Megan joined the RAH team in July of 2022. She previously was working at the Dutchess County SPCA. When asked about her experience working here she said, 'I like working at RAH because everyone is so friendly, and you can tell everyone shares the same passion for caring for animals. Everyone is always so positive and fun to be around!'

At home, she has 2 pit-bull mixes Hudson and Maverick, a German Wirehair Pointer puppy named Aurora, and a Calico cat named Angel. Megan is currently training her puppy Aurora how to bird hunt. She is certified in dairy animal care, horse handling, as well as beef and swine quality assurance.

In her free time, she enjoys kayaking, walking her dogs on hiking trails, and spending time with her family. Megan hopes to continue to contribute to the quality care of animals, whether at work or in her personal life. She has a bachelor's degree in animal science with a minor in agricultural science and wants to continue helping educate others in terms of agriculture and animal welfare.

Jennifer's animal companions include Katie, a German Shepherd; Ben, a Chocolate Lab; a Persian cat named Sophia, and several chickens. Much of her spare time is spent catching up on chores, reading, gardening, and planning mini-vacations.

Maeghan is a part-time Veterinary Assistant on the Rhinebeck Animal Hospital team. Her passion for animals is reflected in her rich history of animal care, spanning positions at animal shelters, ranches, and farms. Ultimately she aspires to anything that will 'help improve the lives of animals'.

She says she 'love[s] working here because the staff cares about your animals as much as you do, and how you, as the owner, feel'.

Maeghan's furry family includes a 'gorgeous' Staffordshire terrier named Rosie, and two kitties named Snoop and Wiz.

In her free time Maeghan enjoys being outdoors; hiking, swimming, and climbing, often bringing Rosie along.

Jessica began working at Rhinebeck Animal Hospital in January 2015.

Jessica likes working at the hospital because 'everyone here is friendly and they make newcomers feel welcome. The hospital also provides very thorough training to its staff.'

At home, Jessica has a cat named Chloe. She enjoys reading, writing paranormal romance, playing World of Warcraft, spending time with her family, and going on nature walks.

Dr. John Van Demark is a general practitioner at Rhinebeck Animal Hospital. He joined our practice in September of 2014, and has a professional interest in exotic companion animals.

Client Care Representative Danielle joined the Rhinebeck Animal Hospital team in July of 2018 and brings with her a love of animals and a constant desire to learn. When asked about her role, she says 'I enjoy working at RAH because of the welcoming and friendly environment. Everyone that I work with is very helpful and kind.'

Danielle has 2 dogs named Sunni and Kanele, and a cat named Kali. In her free time, Danielle enjoys sewing, making crafts, writing, and reading.

Veterinary Assistant Nicole joined our team in March of 2016. She loves seeing and interacting with all types of animals.

Nicole says, 'I love coming to work every day! I am always learning something new from the amazing doctors and technicians here. One of the best parts about this job is getting to interact with all the dogs and cats.'

Nicole has a border collie named Aspen, two calico cats named Portifina and Luna, and 6 silkie chickens. Aspen and Nicole spend their time trick training and dock diving. Aspen currently knows over 30 tricks! Nicole loves being outdoors, hiking, kayaking, and playing video games.

Licensed Veterinary Technician Andrea joined the staff at Rhinebeck Animal Hospital in August of 2012 and has worked with or volunteered with animal-related businesses since she was 13 years old. She is a licensed veterinary technician in the state of New York.

'I enjoy working with animals every day. I am passionate about caring for them and doing everything I can to better their lives.' Andrea said. 'Rhinebeck Animal Hospital is a great hospital to pursue my career. I have learned and accomplished a lot here.' Andrea has an elderly rescue kitty named Zoie.

'Living in the Hudson Valley, my hobbies change with the weather. In the summer I love hiking, playing softball, camping, gardening, spending time on or near the water, or anywhere outside with my family and friends.'.' Andrea said. 'In the winter I enjoy outdoor sports like sledding, skiing, and building igloos while playing with my son, Bridger in the snow.'