Veterinary Assistants
Our veterinary assistants are also vital to the success of our hospital! These dedicated staff members support the veterinarians and veterinary technicians in their daily tasks. They obtain and record medical histories about your pets; assist with our patients’ examinations, bloodwork, surgeries and x-rays; provide comfort and reassurance to your pets; help manage inventory; provide client education; fill prescriptions; perform clerical duties; clean kennels & cages; walk dogs; share your joys and sorrows, and much more.
Kim Avalos, Training Coordinator / Client Communications Coordinator
Kim Avalos
Born in Alliance, Nebraska, and raised on a farm in Blue Hill, Kim has lived in the Omaha metro area since 1993. She studied biology at Dana and Wayne State colleges, and spent three weeks in southern Australia studying Fairy Penguins in the wild. One of Kim’s most exciting experiences was working at the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, where she raised, fed, and swam with the penguins! We welcomed her to the BAH family in February 2005. Kim loves making personal connections with our clients and their pets, and her favorite thing to do here is starting your pet’s appointment off right: discussing the patient’s history and reason for the visit, and making sure you have everything that you need for your pet and are completely comfortable & satisfied.
In addition to her other roles, in August 2023 Kim also took over the important duty of contacting our clients to relay and explain their pets’ laboratory test results and other important patient care information. She works closely with each of our veterinarians, who give her detailed interpretation of test results for each individual patient, as well as any instructions and / or recommendations for further diagnostics or follow up care.
Kim is also a highly recommended pet sitter, operating under the name “Cozy Critters” since 2008. In her limited free time, Kim enjoys relaxing at home with her husband Jose’; dogs Aldo, ChaCha, D’Jango, Ollie, and Tramp; and her cats, Buttercup and Chunky Monkey!
Patty Wulff, Senior Veterinary Assistant
Patty Wulff, son Connor, and Nana
Born and raised right here in Bellevue, Patty has been a part of the Bellevue Animal Hospital family for 21 years! She holds two bachelor’s degrees from Bellevue University, one in Environmental Science and the other in Sociology, but she loves BAH so much that she decided to stay! Patty excels at training new team members, and truly enjoys teaching the “newbies” how to succeed at the wonderful job of veterinary assistant. She has an amazing son named Connor, a sweet senior Basset Hound named Nana, two wonderful cats named Isla and Sawyer, and a Basset Hound youngster named Dugan – all of whom are the absolute lights of her life! In her time off, Patty likes to spend her leisure time reading, as well as playing with and teaching her son.
Allyah Rayyan
Allyah Rayyan
Allyah has lived in Nebraska for 22 years and most of that time has been in Bellevue. She became an enthusiastic member of our team in July 2021, and later took on the role of Client Communications Coordinator, which she enjoyed very much. In August 2023, she passed that torch to team mate Kim Avalos, and began studying at Creighton University towards a new career as a dental hygienist. She continues to work part time for us during urgent care hours, and does our staff schedules.
Allyah is an alumnus of the College of Saint Mary in Omaha; she graduated with a degree in biology and a minor in natural science. During her college days, Allyah played tennis and she still enjoys playing now in her free time. She also likes to read and knit, likes watching all different types of movies, and enjoys hanging out with family and friends. Allyah said she enjoys a good joke, so if you have any to share, be sure to let her know!
Haley Hjort
Haley Hjort
Originally from Kearney, Nebraska, Haley came to our practice in August 2024 after moving to Omaha in July. Haley attended Kearney Public Schools from K-12 and then enrolled in the Veterinary Technology Program at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, Nebraska. Haley says that she is a lover of all animals, and does everything she can to make all of her patients her “besties.” Haley is a furbaby mom to three cats named Luna, Twitch, and Ash, and two dogs named Nova and Elf; she also has a Leopard Gecko named Reggie.
In addition to spending time with her pets, Haley enjoys crocheting, books, anime, and fast cars! She also loves Mexican food and all types of music, especially Country.
Aubrey Anders, Lead Veterinary Assistant / Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
Aubrey Anders
Aubrey grew up in a military family and says she is “from all over!” She has lived in Nebraska for about 8 years now. A 2019 graduate of Bellevue West High School, she put in a year towards an athletic training degree at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, before coming to work for Bellevue Animal Hospital in December 2021. As you might guess, Aubrey loves sports and working out! She also enjoys just hanging out with friends and bingeing Netflix; however, Aubrey spends most of her free time these days with her adorable son Hunter, born in April 2022. Aubrey’s family also includes a Chihuahua-Dachshund mix named Cocoa Butter.
On 16 September 2024, Aubrey earned national certification as a Pharmacy Technician through UNMC’s College of Pharmacy and PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board). We’re proud to have a team member now dedicated to this role in our hospital, with the expertise to assist our veterinarians and our other support staff in filling prescriptions, managing inventory, and working directly with clients on any questions they may have about their pet’s medications.
Miranda Price
Miranda Price
Miranda joined our team of veterinary assistants in March 2023, and is currently studying to be a veterinary technician through the Penn Foster program. Miranda says that her claim to fame here at our hospital is being “the bird lady” and she loves working with our feathered friends. She has a very furry friend at home, a bouncy young Bernese Mountain Dog named Scarlett; Miranda and Scarlett enjoy taking road trips together! Miranda is also a devoted mom to her two children.