Meet Your Veterinarian & Support Staff
Each member of our team has a common goal: deliver the best veterinary experience possible to you and your pet. We go the extra mile to accommodate your pet's every need - and with our level of flexibility, it's no problem at all! Learn more about our exceptional team and don't forget to set up an appointment soon to meet us all in person.
Dr. Schaele | Practice Owner, Veterinarian
Dr. Schaele earned his DVM from the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. After graduation, he began his veterinary career as a large animal veterinarian. However, he soon realized that he wanted to be a practice owner. It has been an 11-year journey to get the experience he wanted in order to take the leap into a leadership role. In his current role, Dr. Schaele loves interacting with clients and being able to be a small part of their lives. It’s wonderful to see pets grow and age with their families. He also finds it gratifying to develop relationships with multiple generations of families! Dr. Schaele is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Chicago Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), Wisconsin Veterinary Referral Association (WVRA), and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).
Dr. Schaele married a classmate of his from veterinary school who also now works as a veterinarian. Together, they have three kids, one Bernese Mountain dog, Willow, and a domestic shorthair cat, Bucky. As a family, they enjoy anything outdoors as well as sporting events! In his spare time, Dr. Schaele enjoys biking, hiking, skiing, attending his kids’ sporting events, being outdoors, and cooking.
Tracey | Office Manager
Tracey is our office manager. She started in this industry officially in 2009 and found that she was very passionate about being an advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves. The relationships she builds with clients and their pets is unbelievably rewarding and she loves being able to watch the bond grow between a pet and their owner. She enjoys being a part of the fun journey of pet ownership! She considers herself so lucky to have found a job that she truly loves!
Tracey has a Beagle named Adrenalyn and a Rat Terrier named Squirt. She loves spending time with her dogs and catching up with friends when she is not at work!
Michele | Certified Veterinary Technician
Ever since she was a child, Michele knew she wanted to help animals. She began her career in veterinary medicine as a member of the kennel staff and has continued to expand her skills in the field ever since. Michele is proud to have accomplished her goal of working in the animal field and helping and educating pet owners. Her background includes a Bachelor of Animal Science from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and an associate vet tech certification from Parkland College. Michele enjoys being able to take care of animals through all the stages of their lives and play a role in keeping them happy and healthy.
She has 2 pets of her own, a Chihuahua named Ren and a domestic shorthair cat named Mouse. In her spare time, Michele enjoys bike riding, hiking, and traveling.
Colleen | Veterinary Technician
Colleen knew right from the start that she wanted to work with animals after graduating high school. She went straight to a 2-year college to earn her associate degree in veterinary science. Colleen finds great fulfillment in helping animals get better and stay healthy. She has one furry family member of her own, a white and grey cat named Peach.
In her free time, Colleen enjoys playing video games, watching movies, playing frisbee and golf, hiking, and swimming. She’s also a big fan of Disney.
Erika | Client Service Representative
Erika started pet sitting when she was in elementary school. From there, she gained a passion for working with animals and became an assistant dog groomer after she graduated high school. She has been in the animal hospital industry for less than a year, but she truly feels that her niche is to care for and help animals. She would eventually love to further her career and become an assistant or vet tech in the future. In her current role, she loves connecting with clients and meeting all their pets!
Erika is married to her husband, Mike, and they love spending time with their niece, Veronica, and nephew, Aidan. They also have a pet of their own, a Maine Coon cat named Spartacus. In her spare time, Erika enjoys watching Hulu and Netflix, singing to her favorite music, cat sitting, and traveling to her favorite place: Sister Bay, Wisconsin.
Jamie | Client Service Representative
Jamie has always loved animals. She considers the human-animal bond to be irreplaceable and always looks forward to coming to work and seeing all the adorable furry faces! She also loves helping pet owners in any way she can. Jamie does not have any pets of her own at this time, but she still enjoys loving on all the pets that come in to see us! When she isn’t working, Jamie studies Vajrayana Buddhism, does yoga, and plans her next European vacation. The south of France is one of her favorite places to travel.
Jackie | Animal Care Assistant
Jackie is an animal care attendant at Buffalo Grove Animal hospital. She has been working with animals of all sorts for a while now and is excited to help them in other special ways. To work with animals, she believes it takes a special person to put all selfish needs behind them and put a stranger as their first priority. She is extremely proud to say she has a heart open to all. Jackie has a ten-year-old Yorkshire Terrier named Bear. She loves meeting all the new faces every day. Jackie feels lucky to never have the same day twice at work, it’s always a challenge at hand and never a dull moment. Jackie loves getting together with friends and family. It’s always exciting talking about new puppies or the certain doggos that steal her heart!
Lauren | Animal Care Assistant
Lauren has always had a love and passion for animals. She finds being able to care for them as a career very rewarding and enjoyable. With her strong passion of helping animals and their owners, Lauren has no plans on ever leaving the veterinary field!
Outside of work, you can find Lauren doing what she loves most…hanging out with her 5-year-old tabby cat, Moe! She also likes to listen to music and watch movies and tv shows.
Leah | Animal Care Assistant
Leah is currently working toward earning her bachelor’s degree in biology with an emphasis on animal behavior and ecology, and a minor in environmental studies. She has loved animals since she was very young and always had a special bond with them. She chose the role of nurse so she could work more closely with animals every day and better understand their needs.
One of Leah’s favorite things about working at Buffalo Grove Animal Hospital is getting to know all the different types of pets and their needs when they come in and figuring out how to help them. She shares her home with a micro Goldendoodle named Jackson, a crested gecko named Petunia, a painted turtle named Turba, and 3 rabbits, Chanel, Dolce, and Dior. Leah loves spending her free time hanging out and watching TV, doing crafts, and paint-by-numbers.