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!
Maggie Best
Maggie Best
Originally from Lake Wales, Florida, Maggie came to our practice in March 2021 after moving to Omaha in 2020. Maggie grew up on a ranch in Florida, and has been riding horses and working cows since she was just eight months old! She has seven younger brothers, but her daddy always said that Maggie was the toughest son he ever raised. A homeschool graduate, Maggie is now working on her veterinary technician degree through Ashworth College. Maggie enjoys cooking and baking, and she also has some amazing crafting skills: our client education boards are now filled every month with the eye-catching products of Maggie’s diligent research (and hours of cutting and pasting) on topics such as pet dental health, parasite prevention, working dog and K9 officer appreciation, and pet diabetes awareness. Along with her many cows and horses, Maggie also has two dogs: a Blue Heeler named Punchy, and a Golden Retriever named Silas Boone.
Aubrey Anders
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.
Preston Rath
Preston Rath
Preston is originally from Kearney, Nebraska, and studied English education for three years at the University of Nebraska – Kearney. He was also a college pole vaulter, following up on a high-school pole vault record! He joined our practice as a veterinary assistant in January 2022, and since that time he has taken charge of our front lobby displays and ideas for client engagement with our practice and staff. (We think he’s doing a great job!) In his free time, Preston enjoys cooking; organizing things; watching “awful horror movies,” and television shows “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Game of Thrones,” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” He is a charcuterie board and “random tattoo” enthusiast, and a hot sauce aficionado. His favorite motto is Pugs Not Drugs. Preston and his husband, Cole, share their home with a Maltese-Shih Tzu mix named Trixie, and two Domestic Shorthair cats named Mayonnaise and Relish!
Taren Denny
Taren Denny
Taren was born and raised right here in Bellevue, and graduated from Bellevue East High School in 2016. She is currently a student in the Veterinary Technology program at Iowa Western Community College, and says she has a special talent for reading blood smears. She and her fiance’, Nathan Kucera, both started work for us in 2022: Taren in February and Nathan in June. (Their wedding is planned for 24 August 2024, so save the date!) Taren and Nathan’s fur-family includes two Chihuahuas named Dexter (a.k.a. Monkey) and Deedee (a.k.a. Peanut); two cats named Sylvester and Tweety; and two rats named Sylva and Ilumi. When she’s not working, studying, or planning her wedding, Taren can be found watching murder mystery documentaries, or Netflix’s comedy series “New Girl.” Taren is also “obsessed” with Halloween!
Nathan Kucera
Nathan Kucera
Nathan is a Bellevue native and graduated from Bellevue East High School. Along with his fiance’, Taren Denny, Nathan is studying Veterinary Technology at Iowa Western Community College, and plans to pursue a career as a Veterinary Technician. He joined our support staff team in June 2022, just a few months after Taren. When he’s not at work or studying hard for that Vet Tech degree, Nathan enjoys video editing, art, and board games of all kinds. Nathan and Taren have two Chihuahuas named Dexter (a.k.a. Monkey) and Deedee (a.k.a. Peanut); two cats named Sylvester and Tweety; and two rats named Sylva and Ilumi.