Abel Pet ClinicMeet Our Team!
Meet the veterinarians and team of Abel Pet Clinic! We’re pleased to provide exceptional vet care for your pets!
Get to Know Our Team!
We are solely dedicated to your pet’s care! We look forward to getting to know you, and we hope you’ll take the time to scroll down and get to know us.
Veterinarians
Dr. Samantha O’Neil, MPH, DVM
Veterinarian
Dr. O’Neil is a Midwesterner, born and raised in northeastern Minnesota. She graduated from the University of Minnesota–Duluth in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She then attended Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine to pursue her veterinary degree. She concurrently completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Iowa State University and her Master of Public Health degree from the University of Iowa in 2020. Upon graduation, she moved to Elk Grove, California, with her husband and their sweet orange tabby cat, Nelly. They recently adopted an Australian Cattle Dog mix puppy, Josie.
Dr. O’Neil has interests in surgery, dentistry, and particularly exotic and wildlife medicine, as she has had experience in wildlife conservation and medicine in South Africa and at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota. She is also Fear Free Certified. In her spare time, she likes to spend time with her family and friends, hiking, reading, running, doing yoga, traveling, and skiing. She looks forward to serving the Elk Grove community
Dr. Michelle Tieu, DVM
Veterinarian
Originally from Sacramento, CA, Dr. Michelle Tieu graduated from the University of California, San Diego in 2011 with a major in general biology and a minor in biological anthropology. She worked at a small animal/exotics practice in La Jolla, CA, just before starting her studies at Western University of Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine. She received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine with Phi Zeta honors in 2016.
Dr. Tieu then completed a year-long intensive small animal specialty internship at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital, San Marcos before moving to the Pasadena area, where she previously practiced for 6 years. She has now moved back to her hometown of Sacramento and is excited to be providing veterinary care to the Elk Grove community.
She takes pleasure in being detail-oriented and communication-driven, and she enjoys building trust and close bonds with her patients and their owners.
Her professional interests include internal medicine, cardiology, wellness, and geriatric medicine. She is a proud member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Sacramento Valley Veterinary Medical Association (SVVMA), and California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA).
Outside of the office, Dr. Tieu enjoys musicals, snacking, drawing, watching movies, and being a homebody with her husband, two kids (3 and 1 years old), Golden Retriever Azula, and Savannah cat Saphira. When she retires, she plans to become a Disney animator!
Dr. Dane Whitaker, DVM, MPVM
Veterinarian
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT PRIDE VETERINARY MEDICAL COMMUNITY
Dr. Dane Whitaker has been practicing veterinary medicine in the San Francisco area for over 25 years. He completed his Masters in Preventive Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis in 2017 and is currently providing small animal clinical relief services across central California. He is also a relief veterinarian at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, CA, and he provides clinical as well as field support for marine mammal research projects. Although originally from the Bay Area, he grew up in Florida and graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 1994. After graduation, he completed a small animal medicine and surgery internship at the Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital. His veterinary interests include small animal medicine, clinical pathology, marine mammal medicine, and One Health. Dr. Whitaker is the immediate past president of the Pride Veterinary Medical Community and takes an active role in promoting the ideas of inclusion and acceptance for all members of the community in the veterinary profession.
Hospital Manager
Registered Veterinary Technician
Client Service Representatives
Hospital Manager
Jennifer, Hospital Manager
Manager
Jennifer graduated from Western Career College (now Carrington College) in 1993 as an Animal Health Technician (AHT). After bouncing around to a few different veterinary hospitals over the years, she found her forever home with Abel in 2016 and was promoted to Hospital Manager in 2020. Jennifer lives here in Elk Grove with her husband Jon, son Robert, dogs (Missy and Evie), cats (Leia, Wicket, and Kylo), and gecko family (Stitch, Toothless, and Lil’ Lilo). When not at work, you can usually find Jennifer at one of the local soccer fields, cheering on Robert while he plays soccer for Elk Grove FC, and planning her next family getaway to Disneyland.
Registered Veterinary Technician
Charlie, RVT
Registered Veterinary Technician
Charlie, a graduate of a registered veterinary technician program, first came to us for a clinical rotation. We liked them so much that we offered them a job.
Two fun facts about Charlie: they have a background in the performing arts and have also become quite the coloring artist. One by one, they have given almost all of our employees technicolor hair! The second fun fact is that they are three inches shorter than Danny DeVito! At 4 feet nine inches, they’re not short; they’re fun size!
Client Service Representatives
Angelica, CSR
Bio coming soon!
Veterinary Assistants
Parissa, Veterinary Assistant
Veterinary Assistant
Parissa’s passion for animals began while working at WAG Hotels. She provided amazing love and support for the animals under her care; she decided she wanted to do more and moved over to the medical side of the field. She joined Abel Pet Clinic in April of 2023 as a Veterinary Assistant, and it has strengthened her passion for the field. She enjoys continuing her education so she can bring her patients the best possible care.
In her free time, she enjoys gaming, reading, and finding new music to connect to. Because of her love of music, Parissa is Abel Pet Clinic’s honorary DJ. Her positive attitude and amazing energy make everyone’s day at Abel Pet Clinic a little brighter.
Hilda, Veterinary Assistant
Veterinary Assistant
Hilda is a 4th-year student majoring in animal science at UC Davis. She has goals of going to vet school and becoming a veterinarian. She volunteered at Sacramento SPCA for 4 years and completed some animal behavior internships at Davis. She worked at a small animal clinic in Rocklin for 2 years. She is excited to start her new journey at Abel Pet Clinic.
Outside of work, Hilda enjoys spending time with friends and family, going on hikes with her husky, trying new things, watercoloring, and watching the latest Marvel shows/movies.
Haley, Veterinary Assistant
Veterinary Assistant
Haley was raised on a dairy farm here in Elk Grove and had the privilege of growing up around small and large animals. After starting as a ranch hand on her family’s farm, she branched out to work as a veterinary assistant at another local hospital before coming to Abel. Haley is currently attending Cosumnes River College in hopes of someday becoming a veterinarian.
In her free time, you can find her either with her family, friends, and fur babies, or spending time outdoors!
Larisa, Veterinary Assistant
Bio coming soon!