Our Staff

Meet Our Dedicated Team

We're committed to providing your companion animals and livestock with the highest quality care. To fulfill that vision, we have an outstanding, long-time and very dedicated support staff. Our full team of veterinary assistants and customer service representatives spend countless hours caring for our patients and clients. Our boarding and hospitalized patients are cared for by a group of trained kennel assistants whose primary goal is to keep our patients and borders comfortable and well cared for during their stay in our clinic.

Our veterinarians specialize in a variety of areas, ensuring we can provide comprehensive care for all your animals and are passionate about animals and committed to forming strong relationships with you and your pets. Notably, they stay up-to-date on the latest advancements in veterinary medicine through continuing education.

Our dedicated support staff includes certified veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, customer service representatives, and kennel assistants who are passionate about animals and client service. Our veterinary and kennel assistants support our veterinarians during exams, procedures, and surgeries, ensuring the best care for your pets. Likewise, our customer service team is committed to exceptional service, answering your calls and greeting you with a smile.

Each team member participates in ongoing education, attending veterinary conferences, state-mandated radiology safety training, and in-house presentations to enhance their skills. We also welcome veterinary student externships, job shadows, and class field trips, contributing to the education and growth of future professionals.

Committed to the Community

We believe in giving back to the community where we live and serve. Our veterinarians and staff are actively involved in several outreach programs, including

Working with 4-H and FFA members throughout Union, Baker, Grant and Umatilla Counties
Supporting local 4-H and FFA livestock auctions
Participating in feral cat initiatives
Collaborating with area humane societies and rescue organizations
Dr. Paulissen serves on the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at Eastern Oregon University.
Dr. McCoy and Dr. Danforth host bovine reproduction examinations with students enrolled in local high school agricultural programs.
Dr. McCoy also serves on the IACUC for the Starkey Project.

We believe that building strong relationships with our clients and the community is essential in providing outstanding veterinary care. Animal Health Center enjoys having veterinary student externships, job shadows and class field trips.

This is just a glimpse into our dedicated team. We look forward to meeting you in person at your next visit!

Meet Our Team

Dr. Terrence McCoy

Dr. Terrence McCoy has practiced as a mixed animal veterinarian at Animal Health Center since 1988. After graduating from Oregon State University, Dr. McCoy became an associate veterinarian at Animal Health Center. He then went on to become a partner one year later. Then, in 1993, Dr. McCoy purchased Animal Health Center from Dr. Mace Schram.

Dr. McCoy’s areas of specialty are in bovine nutrition and reproduction, small animal orthopedics, and soft tissue surgery. He also has a wife, three children, and a beautiful granddaughter. His family raises registered Black Angus and Sim-Angus cattle, and he also enjoys hunting and fishing in his spare time.

Dr. Christina Danforth

Dr. Christina Danforth grew up in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho where she knew from a young age that she wanted to be a veterinarian. Her love of the outdoors brought her to La Grande where she graduated from Eastern Oregon University with a BS in Biology. She graduated from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in May 2018.

Dr. Danforth is married with a son, a daughter and a small farm of mixed animals. She enjoys all things outdoors like hunting, fishing, skiing, camping and photography. She is excited to have joined Animal Health Center and to be practicing mixed animal medicine in the great Pacific Northwest.

Dr. Megan Paulissen

Dr. Megan Paulissen was born and raised outside of Salem, OR. She spent her free time with horses participating in Pony Club, 4H, OHSET and other local shows. Dr. Paulissen received both her bachelor's degree and veterinary degree from Oregon State University where her interest for mixed animal practice grew. Dr. Paulissen and her fiancé, Reed, enjoy spending time riding, working around the house and visiting with friends and family. They currently have two cats, five horses, one mule and a dog. Dr. Paulissen is excited to serve this great community.

Astrid Hensley, CVT

Astrid Hensley, Certified Veterinary Technician, and her family moved to Cove, Oregon in 2005 and she joined the staff of the Animal Health Center soon after. She earned her Oregon veterinary technician certification in 2006. Astrid graduated from veterinary technician school in Frankfurt Germany and worked in clinics in Lawton, Oklahoma and Pendleton, Oregon before settling in at the Animal Health Center. She thoroughly enjoys her patients and their humans and loves helping them enjoy a long and healthy life. Astrid also enjoys riding her horses, Biscuit and Dacona, and spending time with son Tony and their dogs in the great outdoors.

Jeanne Williams, Practice Manager

Jeanne Williams, Practice Manager, joined the Animal Health Center in 2001 as the receptionist at the LaGrande Small Animal Clinic when the practice was purchased by Animal Health Center. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Eastern Oregon University and soon found her true passion in the veterinary field. The ever changing role of her job drives her love of Animal Health Center. No two patients' care needs are the same and this feeds the desire to help clients learn and provide the best care for their animals. Jeanne and her family enjoy traveling together, golfing and exploring the great outdoors.

Rachel Free, Veterinary Assistant

Rachel Free, Veterinary Assistant, joined the Animal Health Center staff soon after highschool graduation in 2022. Shortly after joining the team she found that her childhood passions of being in the veterinary field had resurfaced. Her future goals include returning to school to further her education in veterinary medicine. She finds great satisfaction when our patients recover and are reunited with their waiting family. Rachel spends her days off helping her family on their ranch in North Powder, Oregon.

Sian Case, Veterinary Assistant

Sian Case, Veterinary Assistant, joined the Animal Health Center in 2020. Sian moved to the United States from North Wales, UK in 2011. She enjoys working with a wide variety of species in every aspect of her job. Sian enjoys assisting with patient examinations and procedures and reuniting their family. Continuing her education of the many aspects of veterinary medicine is a high priority for Sian so she can provide exceptional care to each of her patients. She enjoys spending her spare time with her daughters and grandson, horseback riding and hanging out with her dogs, Tate and Ellie.

DeLaney McCoy, Veterinary Assistant

DeLaney McCoy, Veterinary Assistant, moved to Eastern Oregon in 2019 after growing up on her family’s cattle ranch in Central Oregon. She recognized her desire to pursue a career in veterinary medicine and joined the team at Animal Health Center in 2021 after graduating from Union High School. DeLaney enjoys working with large animals and assisting our veterinarians with surgical procedures. DeLaney and her husband Travis enjoy spending time with their dogs and visiting friends and family.

Delanie Moad, Veterinary Assistant

Delanie Moad, Veterinary Assistant, joined the Animal Health Center in 2023 and is currently on a mission to become a certified veterinary technician. Enrolling in this accredited program was spurred by her passion for animal rescue and fostering. When not immersed in studies, she is a homebody that unwinds with a good book or getting artsy with her furry friends by her side.

Shelby Benson, Veterinary Assistant

Shelby Benson, Veterinary Assistant, earned her Bachelor’s degree at Oregon State University in 2024. Shelby joined the Animal Health Center team after returning to Eastern Oregon from Nevada in 2023. She enjoys working with our wide array of clients and providing client education and individualized treatments plans for their animals. Shelby and her husband Jake enjoy their growing goat herd and pack of companion animals.

Dusty Darner, Veterinary Assistant

Dusty Darner, Veterinary Assistant, joined Animal Health Center as a kennel assistant in 2006. Her passion for providing excellent patient care to each patient seen in our clinic fills her day. She enjoys working alongside her coworkers in caring for each patient large or small. After work, she enjoys camping and fishing with her family.

Kenna Whitmore, Veterinary Assistant

Kenna Whitmore, Veterinary Assistant, joined Animal Health Center as a member of our kennel staff her senior year of high school. Kenna is a native of Union County and has grown into her passion for the veterinary field while working in the clinic setting. She enjoys the bonding relationship she has built with our patients and the continued learning environment of veterinary medicine. Outside of the clinic, Kenna enjoys hiking with her mom, riding her horses and spending time with her pets, family and friends.

Marisa Vaughn, Customer Service Representative

Marisa Vaughn, Customer Service Representative, joined the Animal Health Center front desk staff in 2022. She is a native of Union County and a graduate of La Grande High School. She enjoys her daily interactions with our clients and being a problem solver in difficult situations. When she is not at the front desk, she enjoys camping, spending time with her dog Paisley and thrift shopping.

Jacqui Perry, Customer Service Representative

Jacqui Perry, joined Animal Health Center in 2023 as a Customer Service Representative when she and her husband relocated to Union County. She enjoys caring for our clients and their patients and learning about new products and treatment plans to promote exceptional patient care. Outside of work, Jacqui spends her spare time reading, baking and dabbling in photography.

Jordyn Hill, Veterinary Assistant

Jordyn Hill, Veterinary Assistant, has worked in the veterinary field for more than six years. The most recent three years have been with the Animal Health Center. Jordyn enjoys contributing to the team at Animal Health Center and working alongside her coworkers to provide exceptional care for our patients. In her free time she enjoys camping, being with my fiance Cody and spending time with my two dogs Spurs and Lariat.

Thank
you!

Thank you for your interest in Animal Health Center. We are excited to get to know you and your pet. Please contact us to get started.

Our Staff

Committed to the Community