Meet Our Team
Dr. Mary Kay Hilmoe, DVM is a 1985 grad of Iowa State University. She completed a preceptorship and three years at Northwest West Veterinary Hospital before joining our team at The Family Pet. Dr. Hilmoe has provided more than twenty years of excellent, compassionate care to Seattle area pets and has many loyal clients. Dr. Hilmoe is interested in internal medicine, geriatric medicine, and preventative healthcare. Dr. Hilmoe lives with her husband, two human kids, two cats, and one dog in Seattle. She enjoys practicing karate, reading, and walking the dog. Dr. Hilmoe is also an active member of her church and serves on a local professional organization.
Dr. Lexi Mentzer, DVM grew up in Southeastern Michigan where her family is still located. Before becoming a veterinarian, Dr. Mentzer organized a cat foster and adoption program as well as a feral cat rescue. These experiences led to Dr. Mentzer's interest in feral cat trap spay and neuter release and population control as well as in feline behavior. Dr. Mentzer went to Michigan State University for veterinary school and joined the team at The Family Pet in 2007. Dr. Mentzer's primary focus is on preventative geriatric medicine. Dr. Mentzer lives with her boyfriend and three furry companions - Fang, Potato Oblivious, and Wensley Brown. Dr. Mentzer enjoys entertaining her cats, gardening, bicycling, reading, and baseball.
Dr. Carrie Schneider, DVM attended high school and college in both California and New Zealand where she earned many academic and athletic awards. Dr. Schneider graduated Magna Cum Laude from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1991. She has worked primarily as a surgeon over the years but has worked in many different fields. Early in her career she was a Veterinary Officer in the US Army Medical Corps obtaining the rank of Major. Dr. Schneider was Chief of Veterinary Services and Preventative Medicine (for humans) at United States Military Academy at West Point and was Official Veterinarian to the US Army mascot mules. There she obtained leadership training from the United States Surgeon General. She was later stationed in Augsburg, Germany as the leader of a rapidly deployable medical unit supporting troops and military working dogs in war zones and running clinics throughout her Bavarian territory. Dr. Schneider has also worked as a veterinarian for Hill's Pet Nutrition, PAWS, and the Bellevue Humane Society. The majority of her career has been spent as a relief/locum veterinarian at 30 different veterinary hospitals in the Seattle area - most notibly Capitol Hill Animal Clinic. In 2005 she purchased The Family Pet where she currently divides her time between practicing medicine and surgery, business management and single parenthood. Her professional passions are surgery and nutrition. She devotes her free time to her young son, Carter and her Golden Retriever, Cowan. She enjoys outdoor sports especially skiing and hiking, gardening and kid-centric activities. She states that her goal for The Family Pet is for it to be a positive place for everyone - patients, clients, and staff. This means the best quality of care that we can provide, delivered with love and compassion to pets and their parents during their time of need.
Lanae Miller, Veterinary Assistant attended PIMA Medical Institute in 2005 and received her veterinary assistant license. Lanae came to The Family Pet to do her externship and has been here ever since! Lanae has lived in Seattle her whole life and couldn't imagine living anywhere else. Lanae is passionate about every animal she meets and loves getting to really know our clients. Her special interests are geriatric care and behavior issues. Someday Lanae hopes to realize her dream of opening an adoption clinic for all animals that deserve a second chance and need a new home. Lanae lives in Ballard with three cats whom she absolutely adores. Lanae recently adopted a pitbull puppy, Roscoe, and has enjoyed getting to know and training him. In her free time, she likes to read, dance, attempt to cook, and hang out with friends.
Rae Simonson, Veterinary Assistant started at The Family Pet in June 2007. Rae graduated from PIMA Medical Institute's Veterinary Technician program in May 2009. Since working at The Family Pet, she has become interested in feline medicine and surgery. She has one cat named Boo and fish. When Rae is not working at The Family Pet she enjoys baking, hanging out with friends, and collecting anything Hello Kitty.
Courtney Peters, Veterinary Assistant grew up in a suburb of Chicago where she started working at an animal hospital when she was fourteen. She moved to Seattle in 2000 and worked at four other clinics in the Seattle area before joining the staff at The Family Pet. Courtney loves working with animals and is enjoying working with our team and meeting all of our patients at The Family Pet. Courtney's special interests in veterinary medicine are feline behavior problems, geriatric care and support, and of course PUPPIES and KITTENS!!! Courtney lives in Ballard with a very full household which includes two humans, two dogs, six cats, three ferrets, and two fish. In her spare time she enjoys going to Seattle Storm games, playing pool, singing (especially karaoke!), taking the dogs to the dog park, snuggling with her kitties and ferrets, and playing Wii.
Marianna Stepniewski, Front Office Manager has been with The Family Pet since October 2008. Marianna is a 2003 graduate of Seattle University with a degree in English/Creative Writing. Marianna grew up in Yakima, Washington and moved to Seattle in 1999. Since then she has enjoyed working in a variety of different places - all with a focus on providing excellent customer service. Marianna is especially interested in canine and feline nephrology which stems from her own experiences with Chronic Kidney Disease. Marianna is currently on the waiting list for a kidney through Stanford University and is a peritoneal dialysis patient. Marianna has two dogs - Ginger, a golden retriever and border collie mix and Molly, a very naughty Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Marianna enjoys cooking, tennis, horseback riding, taking her dogs to the beach, and attempting to learn to golf.
Sheena Hayes, Receptionist began working at The Family Pet in January 2009. Sheena is currently attending PIMA Medical Institute at night working towards becoming a veterinary assistant and then eventually a Licensed Veterinary Technician. Sheena has lived her entire life in Seattle and loves it here! Recently, Sheena and her husband moved back into the Ballard neighborhood and couldn't be happier. Sheena has two very crazy, but sweet two year old cats - Dallas and Chloe. In her free time Sheena likes to scrapbook, go camping, and watch movies.
Trevor Schneider, Senior Kennel Attendant is wrapping up his first year at The Family Pet. Trevor has enjoyed working one on one with the animals and experiencing the vastly different personalities they possess. He is also a volunteer for the Seattle Animal Shelter as a foster parent, taking care of needy dogs since 2004. Trevor was born and raised in Seattle and currently lives in Greenlake with his dog Hershey. Trevor is currently entering his sophomore year of college and is planning on majoring in Environmental Studies while still volunteering to help animals. His hobbies include playing and watching any type of sport, entertaining Hershey and his foster dogs, and spending time with his friends.