At the Front End
Miranda
Miranda was born and raised in Macungie, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia, until her move to Palm Harbor, Florida in the fall of 2021. Though all animals have a place in her heart, her greatest passion is marine animals. She has worked with animals over the last decade and she graduated with her bachelor’s in marine sciences in 2018 from Kutztown University. She then completed her internship hours with Clearwater Marine Aquarium in the summer of 2018 before planning the move to Florida.
Miranda has been a family member of Country Oaks Animal Hospital & Steele Pain Center since 2021, where she has flourished ever since. She started in the kennel and has moved to excel as a customer service representative, as her relationship with her clients is just as important as her bond with her patients. Miranda married the love of her life Drew in October of 2023. When she is not working in the clinic, she can be found reading, going to the beach, or exploring the sunshine state with Drew.
Dee
Denia, who often goes by Dee, moved from San Francisco, California to the Sunshine State over 15 years ago. She began working with animals as a kennel technician while attending high school in San Bruno, California. Dee graduated from Skyline College and received an associate degree in Small Business. She later earned a certificate in medical billing and coding, but her passion and fulfillment always came from working with animals. She has been a dedicated veterinary receptionist for over 20 years, with Country Oaks Animal Hospital being her home since 2015.
Dee is owned by two cats, Remi and Rosie, and has three children, Frankie, Gianna, and Luca. When she’s not caring for her children, you can find Dee cheering on her favorite San Francisco sports teams, from college ball to pro leagues. She also enjoys spending time outdoors, whether it’s hiking, swimming, or soaking up the sun at the beach. Her favorite pastime is reading a good book, which she still enjoys on rare occasions!
Marie Anne
Marie Anne was born in Amsterdam and moved frequently throughout her childhood. She has lived in Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, and Oklahoma. She recently moved to this area to be closer to family. Marie Anne has worked in the veterinary field for the last 11 years. She began her career in kennel and as a veterinary assistant before transitioning to reception, where she enjoys customer service. Marie Anne holds a bachelor’s degree in Zoology from Oklahoma State University. She is a proud pet parent to 3 dogs named Morley, Shadey, and Tinkerbelle, a cat named Lilly, a hedgehog named Bruce, and a bearded dragon named Nacho. In her free time, she enjoys fishing, kayaking, and crafts. Marie Anne is a valuable member of our customer service team!
Rebecca
Rebecca is from Cooper City, Florida. She has been working with animals for the past 6 years and has been working in customer service in veterinary medicine for four years before joining us as a CSR and Office Manager. She is rapidly enhancing her managerial skill set working with Country Oaks & Steele Pain Center! She graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2018. Her ultimate goal is to study veterinary practice management and obtain her certification as a veterinary practice manager (CVPM).
She has 2 dogs. Riley, a chihuahua mix and Moose a 2 year old Pembroke Welsh Corgi. In her spare time Rebecca enjoys going to the beach, traveling, and hiking.
The Medical Staff and Handlers/Helpers
Elizabeth “Libby” Lyttle-Bryant, CVT, BASVT, CCRVT
Certified Veterinary Technician, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Technician
Libby is a certified veterinary technician who has always had a love for all types of animals. She completed her associate degree in veterinary nursing at St. Petersburg College in 2013 and went on to complete her bachelor’s degree in a combined track of both clinical veterinary medicine and veterinary management in 2015. During her time at St. Petersburg College, she developed many lasting relationships with her mentors. In the fall of 2021, she accepted an adjunct professorship with St. Petersburg College to foster relationships with fellow colleagues who are just beginning their careers in veterinary medicine.
In 2011, Libby began working at Country Oaks Animal Hospital. After seven years in general private practice, she moved to a referral multi-specialty hospital to expand her skills. During this time, she developed a passion for critical care and internal medicine, but her dedication to supporting her team remained her priority. In 2021, she became the sole emergency technician supervisor at a local emergency and referral practice, and the following year, she took on the role of clinical manager. Libby has now returned to Country Oaks Animal Hospital & Steele Pain Center as the clinical manager. In 2024, she achieved her goal of becoming a certified canine rehabilitation technician and is now collaborating with Dr. Baird in providing care for our rehab patients. Her next aspiration is to become a certified veterinary practice manager.
In addition to her passion for veterinary medicine, Libby enjoys spending time with her three dogs, Sebastien, Derry, and Trinket. Derry and Trinket are both sports performance dogs, and most weekends you can find Libby handling them in obedience, dock diving, field work, FastCAT, or conformation. When she needs to escape from animal central, she heads off to the mountains to visit her best friend in North Carolina before popping over to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.
Keagan Prevatt
Keagan is another of our native Floridians and enjoys working at Country Oaks Animal Hospital as well as helping with patients of Steele Pain Center. Keagan has always been passionate about animal care and is a Certified Veterinary Assistant. His has a special fondness for cats and he enjoys getting to know our rehab patients and helping during acupuncture, Laser and hydrotherapy treatments. He is currently studying cyber security at St Petersburg Community College. In Keagan’s free time he enjoys gaming, going for walks and watching action movies. Keagan brings great energy every day!
Megan
Veterinary Assistant
Megan is a veterinary assistant at Country Oaks Animal Hospital. She graduated magna cum laude from Florida State University with a B.S. in Biological Sciences in May of 2023. She hopes to attend veterinary school in the next few years. She started working in the veterinary field in Tallahassee in 2022 and has been enjoying working at Country Oaks since moving back home to Pinellas County after college. When she’s not at work, Megan enjoys taking long walks with her husky, Kiba. She also enjoys photography and baking.
Sam
Veterinary Assistant
Sam is one of our veterinary assistants at Country Oaks Animal Hospital. She came to us with previous experience from another veterinary hospital, but she was eager to learn more. Sam made the switch to veterinary medicine during the first few semesters of her nursing school. As a child, Sam’s parents moved around a lot, from the Virgin Islands to Utah. However, she has been living in Florida for over fifteen years now.
Sam is one of the most artistic members of our crew. We like to say that she adds color to our team! Her favorite part of the job is spending time with dogs and stealing kisses from them. When she is not at work, Sam enjoys creative craft projects with her husband, AJ. They both have two dogs – Chutney and Gnocchi – and several plants and fish that need their attention.
Jacques
Jacques began his veterinary journey by volunteering at Pinellas County Animal Services while studying at the School of Veterinary Technology at St. Petersburg College, where he earned his degree. With 12 years of experience in the field, he now brings a great set of technical skills to our medical team as a Certified Veterinary Technician. His expertise includes extensive experience in dentistry, assisting in surgical procedures, and monitoring anesthesia. In his free time, Jacques enjoys listening to music and has an extensive collection of vinyl records. Additionally, he likes to do origami and is quite talented and creative. Jacques is the proud owner of two black cats.
Melissa
Melissa, who prefers to go by Mel, was born in Kentucky. She has lived in Ohio, Italy, and, most recently, here in Florida. When she is not working or studying for her coursework at St. Petersburg College, Mel enjoys a variety of hobbies. She is passionate about archery and finds relaxation in crocheting. At home, she shares her life with two beloved huskies, Maverick and Biscuit. Mel is currently pursuing her degree as a Veterinary Technician and is already Fear Free Certified, showcasing her dedication to creating a stress-free environment for both pets and their owners.
Alexis
Alexis was born and raised in New Port Richey Florida. She has been working with animals for the past 4 years. Alexis has 3 dogs named Azul, Atlas and Scar and 4 cats. Alexis hopes to continue to grow with Country Oaks Animal Hospital and become a veterinary assistant. In her free time, Alexis enjoys going to the beach and spending time with her pets and friends. Alexis loves to pamper and play with all of the boarding pets and take them for walks around the pond.
Sidney
Sidney was born and raised in Haxton, Colorado. She moved to Florida 10 years ago. For the past 3 years, Sidney has been working with animals and loves it. She has 4 cats and 3 dogs at home; her favorite breed is the Aussie. In her spare time, Sidney enjoys reading mystery novels. She provides great care for all the boarding pets at our facility and focuses on each pet’s individual needs. Sidney’s ultimate goal is to become a Certified Veterinary Technician.
Wynter
Wynter was born in Rhode Island and raised in Massachusetts and Florida. Wynter is a Certified Veterinary Assistant and her goal is to become a Certified Veterinary Technician. In her spare time, she enjoys drawing, listening to 80s and 90s pop and rock music, and watching fantasy or romantic comedies. She has 4 cats named Shocker, Pablo, Gwen, and Hamlet, and one cattle mix dog named Leif. Wynter brings a great skillset to our team and truly cares for all the pets she encounters.