Our Hospital Staff

Veterinary Support 

		Jessica Libby Jessica graduated from Wheaton College in 2006 with a degree in Psychobiology and she is currently pursuing her online degree in Veterinary Technology from Penn Foster. Jessica has a special interest in veterinary dentistry, a passion for caring for wildlife, and hopes to become certified in wildlife rehabilitation in the near future.  Jessica has dedicated her life to animal welfare, with over 15 years of experience in veterinary medicine, and she is also a talented artist! She paints, sings, plays several musical instruments, and participates in local theater.
		Grace Byrne  Grace earned her BA in Geography and Environmental Studies in 2020 from Bishop’s University in Quebec. She is currently in the Penn Foster Veterinary Technology program to become a licensed vet tech. She volunteers with the MSSPA in Windham helping with the horses in the shelter and where she is also an epic fundraiser. Grace lives locally with 3 horses, her cat Rita, and a rabbit named Pip.
		Kelly Larochelle  Kelly was born and raised in Maine and has always had a love for nature and the sciences. She graduated from University of New England with a Bachelor’s of Science in Medical Biology in 2012, and graduated from Penn Foster College with her Associate’s in Veterinary Technology in 2020. Kelly will be sitting for the VTNE in the near future. She has worked in Veterinary hospitals since 2012, and has dedicated her working life to animals. She has a soft spot for senior citizen pets, and a special interest in pet nutrition. In her free time you can find her hiking with her black lab, Presence, baking AMAZING goodies, playing video games, or curled up with a good book and a cup of tea.
		Elise Rosa  Elise has a lifelong love of animals and nature. She earned her Certificate in Veterinary Nursing Science at SMCC in 2015 and is currently continuing her education in Wildlife Management. Elise believes deeply in the human animal bond, and always strives to comfort pet families, both humans and pets alike. When she is not working or studying, she is usually off on a wilderness adventure with her dogs Lola and Rome.
		Liz Clifford  Originally from New Jersey, Liz and her family moved to Cumberland when she was 9, and she quickly fell in love with horses and the countryside. After graduating from Greeley High, Liz attended Centenary University in New Jersey where she earned her BS in Equine Studies. Since returning to Maine she has graduated from the Veterinary Technician degree program at YCCC.  Liz loves soccer, horses and all things pet related.

Marley Bock 

Marley recently moved to Maine from Naples, Florida, where she worked with large animals and wildlife (including wolves, bears, lemurs, and a skunk named Stormy!) She grew up in Westchester County, NY and volunteered on the Ambulance Corps in Ossining for 10 years. After helping save countless human lives, she eventually moved to Animal Medicine, and the rest is history. She now resides in South Portland with her five cats and is enjoying working with a small animal practice again. 

Office Support Staff

	Kristen Horrigan (Practice Manager) Kristen graduated from University of New England in 2007 with a Bachelor's degree in Marine Biology. She joins VRCCE with experience in animal care having owned and managed a professional pet care service including canine obedience/behavior training and Veterinary Technician medical training. Kristen is an AKC certified obedience trainer and Pet First Aid and CPR certified. She loves her three dogs and a Maine coon cat that are all full of personality. Kristen also enjoys traveling, scuba diving, paddle boarding, art and film, and is a Halloween enthusiast.
	Robin Elliott - Head Receptionist, Marketing and Communications Robin returned to VRCCE in 2016. She lives near the coast with her wife Laura and the many elderly dogs they rescue. With a BA in English Lit and Creative Writing, she combines many years of experience in the veterinary world with her love of both animals AND people. She can be found most days at the front desk, working on Social Media and Community outreach for the practice, ready with a smile and a dog treat to help you keep your pets healthy and happy!
	Tamara Jones - Reception/New Client Liaison Tamara has been living in Maine for 12 years and has been working in the veterinary community for almost as long. She received her degree in English and Creative Writing from University of Southern Maine. After a brief break she is extremely happy to be back, working with such an awesome crew at Vet and Rehab. She loves being a part of this community and helping pets and their people! She also enjoys hanging out with her family, reading, and trivia.
	Tara Simopoulos - Reception Tara and her family moved to Cape Elizabeth in 2010 from Toronto, Canada and instantly fell in love with the beautiful coastal town. After having a very successful career in advertising, she took the helm of the Cape Courier in 2016 and has been helping to foster a spirit of community and togetherness in Cape Elizabeth ever since. Whether she is coaching a sports team, being an integral member of one of the school’s Parent Associations or joining the Community Services Advisory Board, she loves being an active community member and is excited to join another integral part of Cape’s community, VRCCE. Tara lives with her husband, two teens and her beloved rescue chihuahua, Keke.
	Allison Kelly - Reception Allison graduated from Bryant University in Rhode Island with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing.  She has worked as a marketing research analyst, a nonprofit fundraiser, and a corporate philanthropist.  Her volunteerism efforts are focused on the environment, animal welfare, and service dog training.  Allison moved to Cape Elizabeth from California with her yellow lab, Isse, in 2022. She enjoys being outdoors, traveling, swimming, jogging, and going to the beach with her dog.

Trainer

Grace Pomeroy Training

Positive Reinforcement Training.

Grace is a certified professional dog trainer serving the greater Portland community. She is a fear-free certified professional and graduated with distinction as a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP), which is the industry leader in scientifically sound, positive, and humane animal training methods.

• Clients receive personalized dog training tailored to their individual family and dog.
• Ensure that your puppy becomes the best dog it can be
• Teach you and your dog new skills together while having fun  
• Enjoy life with your dog stress free