About Shores Animal Hospital

Dr. Brenda Ortiz

(English & Spanish Speaking)

Veterinarian

Dr. Brenda Ortiz graduated from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine and moved to Gainesville and joined our Shores Animal Hospital family in 2000. She is originally from Puerto Rico and can communicate with our Spanish-speaking clients. Dr. Ortiz is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Alachua County Veterinary Medical Association and has special interest in dermatology. Dr. Ortiz lives in Gainesville and is married to Oscar Hernandez and has one daughter and one son and 3 dogs and 2 cats.

Dr. Alexandra Meier

Veterinarian

Dr. Alexandra Meier joined our Shores Animal Hospital family in 2016. Dr. Meier graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville in 2015. She was raised in California and attended Cornell University to receive her undergraduate degree in both Animal Science and Biology with an emphasis in Animal Physiology. After veterinary school, Dr. Meier completed a one-year veterinary specialty and emergency veterinary medicine internship in North Carolina. She recently moved back to Gainesville with her goofy Standard Poodle and mischievous cat. Her professional interests include soft tissue surgery, pet dentistry, and client education.

Dr. Breann Jolliffe

Veterinarian

We welcomed Dr. Breann Joliffe to our Shores Animal Hospital family in 2017. Dr. Joliffe is a graduate of Western Michigan University and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Mrs. Karen Hardcastle

Practice Manager - Business Development, HR

Karen is our Practice and Office Manager and has been a faithful employee of Dr. Shores and Shores Animal Hospital for over 29 years. She has many years experience with animal care from client service, technician and throughout the vet hospital and is a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager. She has previously owned a kennel, where many of her canines were award-winning show dogs. Karen also has raised and cared for many types of avian friends and her most current endeavor is raising and showing of a Japanese fish commonly called "Koi". There is much knowledge for her to share whether it might be about a dog, cat, bird and even fish. She currently shares her Starke, Florida home with her husband, 2 dogs, 2 birds and too many Koi to count.

Brandy Hardcastle

Practice Manager - Customer Service, Inventory, Accounts Receivable

Brandy has been with Shores Animal Hospital for 22 years and has a tremendous amount of training as an animal dietitian. Speak with her to help understand how diet, as well as preventative medicine, is in your pet's best interest. She also has a great deal of knowledge in the computer world, making our vet hospital run smoothly with modern technology. Brandy lives in Starke with her husband, 2 daughters, 3 dogs and 2 cats, 8 birds and so on.

Sheri Snyder

Customer Service Team Leader​​​​​​​

Customer Service Team

Becca Allen
Alexis Coughlin
Chesliegh Hardcastle