Leslie is a relative newcomer to Durham and our hospital family, having moved here a few years ago with her husband and daughter. Originally from Boston, she is impressed at how rural our area is, and how common it is to see wild animals in our backyards. She has had a life-long love of animals and enjoys the company of 4 cats and 2 Labradors, including her new pet Lilah who she adopted at the Durham animal shelter. Leslie enjoys catch and release fishing.

Gina is a 14-year resident of Durham where she shares her home with a wide array of both common and not-so-common pets. Gina’s dog, Zuby, is a retired police patrol Shepherd and gets along well with her cats, and even Jewel the 6-foot-long python. Gina has a degree in special education but her love of animals led her to join our staff in 1995. Her experience in behavior modification therapy has helped many dog and cat owners deal with problem behavior in their pets, and she works in all areas of patient care in our Hospital. Gina is a certified wildlife rehabilitator licensed to treat and release a variety of wild animals from skunks to bats. She has even succeeded in getting Dr. Levy to treat Jewel the snake after a rat bit her. Gina enjoys hiking with Zuby (who still practices his search skills just for fun) and she also likes to compete in paint ball games.

Sharon feels like she has worked her entire life in veterinary medicine and allied fields. She started learning about pet care at her grandfather’s side, working for Dr. Podgewaite in Woodbridge when Sharon was young. She has worked with Dr. Levy for more than 20 years with a brief time away to work as a groom er. Sharon is widely recognized here at the Durham Veterinary Hospital as one of the best people to work with a fractious cat. Sharon also has skills that range from the surgery to the lab and the front desk. Sharon has many pet dogs and cats and has bred, trained and shown dogs. Usually, three or four of the dogs in the reception office are Sharon’s pets. Chief is the big goofy German Shepherd and the little guys, Tag, Chilly and Cajun are present in a supporting role. She also enjoys her horses, Bonne and Jack. Sharon and her husband live in Durham.

Maureen made a career change about 30 years ago when she left C L & P’s engineering department to pursue her interest in dogs. She has worked at a boarding kennel and as a skilled groomer. Maureen has bred and shown dogs; from giant Irish Wolf Hounds to the smaller Shih Tzus and Brussels Griffons. She joined our staff because she had so many dogs she needed to be in the business to help care for all of them. Maureen and her husband, Kelly, also have two cats. They live in Clinton where they like to be close to the shore. Like all of our staff members Maureen has been trained to work in all areas of the hospital but has special interests in surgical and dental nursing and assistance.

Nancy Morand is a Durham resident, and Durham Veterinary Hospital's newest staff member. She is a naturalist, birder, woodworker, photographer, artist and state certified wildlife rehabilitator. She holds a B.S. and M.S. from Southern Connecticut State University where she studied Health, Physical Education and Recreation with a Sixth year degree and concentration in Health & Drug Education and Sociology. Nancy taught health, physical Education and Adapted Physical Education at Lyman Hall High School in Wallingford where she specialized in Yoga, Tai Chi, relaxation techniques, and Fitness and Weight Training. She also coached High School Boys Varsity Track and Field, Girls Varsity Softball, and college Varsity Field Hockey. Nancy Retired in 2006 after 35 exciting years. She says "working with Dr. Levy, Dr. Kumar, and the professional staff at Durham Veterinary Hospital a joy in my life-long education."

Paula and Dr. Levy have worked together on and off since 1977 when she was “the high school kid who gave the dogs and cats baths” and he was the new doctor in Guilford. She joined Dr. Levy in 1977 and has worked on and off at our hospital, taking time to raise her family and pursue her interests in dog breeding, showing and obedience training. Paula has also kept and bred parakeets and helped rehabilitate Woody the famous owl after he was hit by a car and Dr. Levy mended his broken wing. An avid athlete she spends time in many sports leagues and still finds time to teach dog obedience classes here on our front lawn when the weather is good. Paula has a Whippet who is a certified therapy dog. She and Cirus volunteer at the Guilford Library presenting a program called “Paws and Read” in which children read to Cirus. They also volunteer at Middlesex Hospice where they visit patients.

Jenn would rather be dog sledding. She has three Huskies and wishes the weather would cooperate more so she can hitch them to their sled and ride in the woods on the south end of Durham where she lives. After three years working with us, Jenn is a front desk specialist. She also helps with pet care, laboratory tests and other facets of veterinary care. She is usually the "go-to" person when we need the computer system to cooperate on a special task. Jenn loves her horse Maardin and enjoys taking him on trail rides.

In January 2007, Jenn and husband Andrew Nelson welcomed baby Hunter Lucas. Jenn will return from maternity leave this Spring.