Mariko Soto, DVM
Dr. Soto is a proud product of Albany public schools and is delighted to be back in her hometown. She is an alumna of Mills College and the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she received her veterinary degree in 2003. She has worked at mixed-species vet hospitals around the Bay Area, but she has found that feline medicine is her true calling. She shares her home with a charming rescue cat named Jacket Potato, a small flock of delightful chickens, and a couple of marvelous humans.
Hadley, Registered Veterinary Technician
Hadley left an almost two decades-long corporate marketing career to pursue her dream of working with animals and acquired her Registered Veterinary Technician license in 2022. She has since gained invaluable experience in several East Bay veterinary hospitals and feels particularly passionate about everything anesthesia-related. Outside of work, Hadley loves spending time with her family, volunteers for a wildlife rescue & rehab organization, traps feral cats for neuters and spays, and befriends backyard critters such as raccoons and squirrels.
Clara, Registered Veterinary Technician
Clara graduated from Holyoke Community College in the spring of 2019 with a degree in Veterinary Science and received their certification soon after. After working with various kinds of furry creatures in Massachusetts, they moved to California in 2023. When not helping the Bay Area’s feline population, Clara enjoys long-distance running, taking naps with their cat Carmen, and doting on Maggie, their grumpy rabbit.
Hana, Registered Veterinary Technician
Hana is an Albany native who has been working as a RVT for 16 years. She loves spending time with her senior cat, Beefy, and her newly-rescued cat, Julius Juju. She also loves raccoon-watching at night.
Cadence, Receptionist
Cadence is a pre-dental post-baccalaureate student at UC Berkeley with an educational background in Linguistics and Cognitive Science from Occidental College. Raised in Los Angeles, she spent many years as a competitive dancer. Cadence and her family own a total of five cats.
Charlotte, Veterinary Assistant
Charlotte is a pre-vet student who will be attending Midwestern University this fall. She is into all the species: her menagerie includes a cat, a dog, a parakeet, and chickens. She has worked with seals and sealions at the Marine Mammals Center and insects during her college education. Charlotte enjoys crocheting stuffed animals in her free time.
Karen, Veterinary Assistant
Karen is a pre-vet student who graduated from UC Davis with a degree in Animal Science. She will be attending the University of Minnesota this fall. In her free time, she likes to draw and drink boba. Her favorite animals are cats and owls.
Erica, Veterinary Assistant
Erica is a pre-vet student who graduated from UC Berkeley with degrees in Integrative Biology and Psychology. She enjoys birding, track and sign, and spending time outdoors. She loves her pet snake, who she will often refer to as her “son.” When she’s not in the clinic, she likes to read in the park and volunteer at local vaccine clinics.
Pollen, Veterinary Assistant
Pollen is a lifelong animal lover and proud self-proclaimed cat lady. After several years in the wine industry, she followed her true calling and began training as a Veterinary Technician. Fear-Free certified and focused on feline medicine and behavior, Pollen combines clinical experience with a lifetime of understanding cats. She is dedicated to making life calmer, kinder, and more harmonious for cats and the people who adore them.
Katelyn, Scribe/Kennel Assistant
Katelyn is a pre-vet student at UC Berkeley studying Integrative Biology. She has been working with and riding horses since she was young and is currently a member of UC Berkeley’s Equestrian Team.
Xi, Scribe/Kennel Assistant
Xi is a pre-vet student at UC Berkeley studying Molecular Environmental Biology. She grew up with a variety of pets, including various exotic species. Outside of school she enjoys reading, volunteering at local clinics, spending time with friends, and hiking