About Wildwood Animal HOspital
Our Veterinary Team
Meet the folks who make it all happen. We see big potential in every moment, & care deeply about what we do every day.
Meet Our Veterinary Team
Get To Know Our Doctors
Dr. Shelly Knopsnyder
Veterinarian
Shelly Knopsnyder is a passionate and experienced veterinarian (DVM) with almost 20 years of practicing veterinary medicine. She graduated from the Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2003.
After finishing veterinary school, Shelly practiced mixed animal and shelter medicine for five years on the southern Oregon coast before moving to Springfield, Oregon, where she practiced primarily small animal medicine with some equine on the side for the next 15 years. For the past 11 years, she has been part of a veterinary medical management team, helping to create and implement new protocols and procedures to meet the changing demands of the industry.
Shelly has a special interest in dental care, dermatology, and senior wellness. She is dedicated to providing preventative care and client education for puppies and kittens, as well as improving the lives of senior patients through early intervention and screening. She believes in managing the quality of life for geriatric canines and felines and facilitating end-of-life care with compassion and grace. She believes in building strong relationships with her clients and providing the highest level of care to both her animal patients and their owners.
Outside of work, Shelly enjoys various outdoor activities such as hiking, stand-up paddleboarding, and skiing. She is also an avid reader and loves spending time with her family and two children, who are 10 and 15 years old.
Currently, Shelly has six pets in her multi-generational home, including two labradors, a mini-Aussie, and three cats.
Dr. Tom Chatkupt
Veterinarian
Dr. Tom Chatkupt earned his Degree of Veterinary Medicine from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in May of 2000, with his thesis focusing on Asian elephant welfare in Thailand. Following his time in private practice, he dedicated 15 years to animal medicine research at a human medical university, specializing in the humane treatment of animals. Outside of work, he enjoys outdoor activities like paddling, fishing, and bouldering, along with strategy games and spending time with his wife and 14-year-old Labradoodle, Huckleberry Finn. Known for crafting a great Old Fashioned, Dr. Chatkupt values both personal connections and professional excellence.
We Put The ‘Care’ In Careteam!
Meet Our Care Team
Your pet’s emotional and physical well-being is prioritized with every visit. We put the patients first!
Megan, CVT
Hospital Manager, Certified Veterinary Technician
Megan has been practicing since February 2006. She attended Portland Community College – Veterinary Technology. She takes pride in knowing that she is helping the animals in her community and building long-lasting relationships with clients and patients. Megan enjoys spending time with her husband, traveling, and hanging out with her two dogs, Peach & Daisy, and her senior cat Bowser.
Mariah
Receptionist
Mariah is a receptionist here at Wildwood Animal Hospital. For her, this career in animal care is the only thing she could envision herself doing. It pushes her physically, mentally, and most importantly to her, emotionally.
Having been with the team since the summer of 2010, her favorite part of working at the front desk is getting the pleasures of the first hello. She loves being the first face that clients and pets see.
Mariah lives in beautiful Boring, Oregon. She shares her home with her husband Cedar and their two Great Danes, Memphis and Broklyn. Any free time she has is spent playing with, feeding, and loving these three, and she wouldn’t have it any other way!
Pat, CVT
Certified Veterinary Technician
Pat was interested in veterinary medicine ever since she was a little girl, when she would tag along with her father to the local vet’s office. As she grew up, her passions didn’t waver—now Pat has worked as a Certified Technician and Receptionist at Wildwood Animal Hospital since 1990!
Pat was born in upstate New York. After living in California when she was young, her family moved again to Oregon, which Pat still considers home. In 1990, the company that Pat worked for moved their offices to another state, eliminating her position. When Pat saw an advertisement for an open receptionist position, she jumped at the chance to work in the animal care field.
Pat especially loves to track a pet’s progress from their first visit to their last—she feels privileged to be a part of a pet and owner’s life. Pat is also intrigued by the technical aspects of lab work.
Pat’s husband of 26 years is now retired and volunteers for the local animal control. Thanks to him, Pat and her husband share their home with five cats, all rescues: Parker, Leo, Mr. Big, Griffy, and Miss Maple. Parker was even featured in a “How I Met My Cat” article in Modern Cat magazine!
Outside of veterinary medicine, Pat is an avid photographer and specializes in pet portraits. She also teaches group fitness classes at a local gym and enjoys writing when she has the time.
Shelby
Veterinary Assistant
Shelby has been practicing for 11 years. She attended Centennial High School and Portland State University. She prides herself in building relationships with clients & their pets. In her free time, Shelby loves to go camping and spend time with her animals.
Mary
Receptionist
Mary has been in the receptionist/health/hospital field since 2005-2020 and in the veterinary field since October 2021. She attended David Douglas Highschool, MHCC, and is currently attending school at Carrington College – working towards getting her Veterinary Technician Degree. When it comes to the veterinary medicine field, Mary has always been fascinated with animals, they all have their own personalities and feelings. Animals are a lot like humans as far as lab work, medications, and spirit. She loves her job and her work family here at Wildwood, She enjoys greeting the owners and clients as they come in. To Mary, the clients are not just pets, they are part of families. Nothing makes her happier than being greeted with animal kisses. In her free time, Mary enjoys spending time with her teenage daughter, Ava. She loves listening to music and dancing. Most of her free time lately goes to Nico, her chihuahua puppy who joined her family recently in February 2022. She also enjoys walks, scenic drives, gardening, and the sun.