Meet Our Team
Dr. Shelly Gissler
Veterinarian / Medical Director
Shelly Gissler, DVM is a 2003 graduate of Kansas State University. She and her husband Aaron have 2 children and they enjoy spending time at their sporting events. Dr. Gissler has a Brussels Griffon mix named Baxter, a cat named Nala and a leopard gecko named Wrigley.
Dr. Ashlynn Turner
Veterinarian
Ashlynn Turner, DVM is a 2013 graduate of Iowa State University. She is originally from the Omaha area and returned following graduation from veterinary school. Dr. Turner has a special interest in Internal Medicine and Dentistry. She and her husband Matt have 3 boys who keep them very busy but always laughing, as well as a dog named Mila, and a cat named Murphy. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, spending time with family, and doing anything outdoors.
Dr. Lori Gustafson
Veterinarian
Lori Gustafson, DVM is a 2008 graduate of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. She has previously practiced at a few pet hospitals in the Omaha area before landing at Tender Care. Her furry family includes a cat named Pilgrim; two dogs, Zelda and Doug; and Frankie, an African Grey.
Dr. Carrie Jenkins
Veterinarian
Dr. Jenkins grew up in Omaha before obtaining her undergraduate and veterinary degrees from Iowa State University. She practiced in Atlanta for ten years before moving home with her son in April 2020 to be near family. She and her partner have 2 dogs, 4 cats, and 3 rats running their household. In her spare time, Dr. Jenkins enjoys reading, playing video games, and getting outdoors. She is very excited to be joining Tender Care, and looks forward to caring for pets and their families!
Michelle
Hospital Administrator
Michelle has worked as a Veterinary Assistant in Lincoln and Gretna since 2004. She was promoted to the Hospital Manager of Tender Care in 2020. Michelle and her daughter have a dog named Bettie and 3 cats named Peyton, Joey and Romy. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, Nebraska volleyball and going to concerts.
Laura
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Laura graduated from Vatterott College with an Associates in Applied Science degree in 2010. She lives in Omaha with her husband, son and their Sheltie mix named Ned. In her free time, Laura likes to read, take walks, do photography and play video games.
Shelly
Lead Licensed Veterinary Technician
Shelly was born and raised in Omaha, where she attended college and received her veterinary technology degree in 1997. Her work experience includes small and mixed animal practices, emergency services, veterinary product services and sales, and research and development. Shelly and her daughter have 2 cats, Meow Meow and Mo, and 2 dogs, Phoebe and Ava. In her free time Shelly enjoys swimming, watching movies and spending time with family.
Danielle
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Danielle is a Licensed Veterinary Technician who graduated from Vatterott college in 2014. She previously worked at another clinic for 7 years before deciding to take a break from working to stay home with her family. She lives in Ralston with her husband Brian and their four children. They have a Doberman/Rottweiler mix named Nuke, a Saint Bernard/German Shepherd mix named Willa, and their two cats Quinn and Conners. She enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, and reading.
Kim
Veterinary Assistant
Kim was born and raised in Omaha NE. She graduated from UNO in 2017 with a Bachelors of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Kim previously worked as a case manager in child welfare before deciding to make a change to the veterinary field. She is currently in school to be a veterinary technician. She has 4 dogs; a German Shepherd/Husky named Layla Jo, a Dachshund named Dagwood, a Peekapoo named Gus and a Shihtzu named Laila. Kim loves spending time outside camping and fishing as well as photography.
Sam
Veterinary Assistant
Sam was born and raised in Omaha and is the youngest of three siblings. She has always had a passion for animals and is enrolled in the Veterinary Technician program at Penn Foster. She is a momma to a spoiled border collie mix named Kiki and crested gecko named Caspian. Her family has 3 Golden retrievers, Titus, Grizzley and Letti, 2 cats Jimmy and Bella, a horse named Flame and a pony named Rocky. Her hobbies include arts and crafts, reading, being outdoors, and spending time with family and friends.
Cami
Veterinary Assistant
Cami was born and raised in Omaha, NE. She has been working with animals since 2022 and plans to attend Veterinary Technician school in 2025. She has a pitbull named Toast and a Beagle Mix named Cooper. In her free time, Cami enjoys spending time with her dogs, doing puzzles, and coloring.
Chelsea
Lead Receptionist
Chelsea has always had a passion for animals. She briefly attended Vet Tech school while managing and working in the restaurant business. She found her way back to working with animals as a Client Service Coordinator in Omaha and has enjoyed working with animals and building a relationship with them and their owners. Chelsea and her husband have 3 children: 2 dogs named Sait and Nola (She’s a New Orleans fan!) and a hamster named Violet. In her free time, she loves spending time with her kids and pets, and watching baseball, Husker Football, and Saints football games. In the fall, her family loves to spend time at Vala’s.
Teri
Receptionist
Teri is a native Oregonian and played volleyball at the University of Oregon. She continues to be a huge volleyball fan and locally enjoys watching Creighton volleyball. Teri has 2 daughters and 1 dog named Araby who likes to travel with her and husband Marty. Outside of work she enjoys traveling, hiking and going to concerts.
Amy
Receptionist
Amy moved to Gretna from Pittsburgh, PA, with her family in 2015. She and her husband have a son, one cat named Mew Mew and a Labrador Retriever named Lady. She has also had pet rabbits in the past. In her free time, Amy enjoys spending time with family, playing board games, traveling to Florida to visit family and spending time outdoors.
Gretchen
Receptionist
Gretchen retired from UNMC as a Research Technician after 26 years of doing cardiac research with pigs before she joined the Tender Care team. She and her husband enjoy Nebraska and Creighton sporting events, traveling and reading. Gretchen travels with and shows Shetland Sheepdogs. She currently has 2 Shelties, Grand Champion Dreamer and Mya.
Nichole
Receptionist / Vet Assistant
Nichole grew up in Saunders county and began her work in the veterinary field in 2016 as an assistant. Her and her husband Thomas live with 2 dogs named Carly and Patrick, and 2 cats named Francis and Kitten. Nichole loves to travel and enjoys living the small town life in Wahoo.
Jewel
Groomer
Jewel grooms all breeds of dogs and works hard to make sure that all pets feel as comfortable as possible during the grooming process. She has a Pomeranian of her own named Lola. Jewel enjoys running, the Pittsburgh Steelers and country music.
Hayden
Full-Time Kennel Attendant
Hayden was born and raised in Gretna, spending most of his time outside or playing sports. He has always loved animals, growing up around them, and aspired to work with them when he grew up. He has one cat named Lexi. In his free time, he enjoys going to movies and concerts and spending time with his family.
Kennel Attendants: Hayden, Faith, Molly and Emma
Our Kennel Attendants enjoy spending time with the dogs and cats that come to board at Tender Care. They let the dogs outside, feed them, and give them lots of belly rubs. The cats that stay with us get fresh litterboxes, food, and lots of attention. Thanks for allowing our Kennel Attendants to care for your furry family members while you’re out of town!
Millicent Bystander
In Loving Memory 2007-2024
Millicent presented to our hospital for euthanasia due to a very complex pelvic fracture after being hit by a car in 2008. Even with non-functioning rear legs, he was still kneading with his front legs! The staff immediately fell in love with him and it was decided he would be our charity of the year. Everyone pitched in to help with his medical bills and a board-certified surgeon put his pelvis back together. After only four weeks of cage rest, Millicent was fully healed and had no problems getting into everything, which he continued to do for the next 16 years. He brought a lot of joy to our staff and clients, and we will miss him very much!
Trooper
In Loving Memory 2003-2017
Trooper came to Tender Care Animal Hospital via a State Trooper in October 2006. He was found running on the interstate near the Platte River. He came with no collar, tags or microchip. After a month of unsuccessful effort to locate his owner, Dr Larson elected to keep him. He was a sweet addition to the hospital as he greeted all who entered.
Trooper used to accompany Dr. Larson on her daily runs until he started limping one day. X-rays revealed that Trooper’s ACL’s (the ligaments in his knees) were torn and he had developed arthritis in both knees. A board-certified orthopedic surgeon did a surgical procedure called a TPLO on both sides approximately 6 weeks apart. This is a procedure in which the leg is essentially broken and plated back together to stabilize the knee. After months of rehabilitation, he walked without pain and was doing great.
Trooper retired from coming to the clinic every day in 2015. He spent his last year sleeping at home and wandering around the duck pond. He is greatly missed by Dr. Larson, all of the staff and clients who grew to love visiting him here at the clinic.
