Our Promise...

Like you, we love to see those "happy tails" wagging (pun intended)! At Happy Tails Veterinary Hospital, we treasure our patients, and give each one our complete attention and compassion. We pride ourselves in our high standards of ethics, cleanliness, and the highest quality humane medical practices. We're very passionate about open communication and translucency with regards to the treatment of your pet.

We pledge to listen and offer our honesty every step of the way. This includes us performing our pet examinations, bloodwork, and other small scale procedures right in front of you – as we believe this helps to elevate both you and your pet’s level of comfort. In those less common circumstances where pet patients behave better without their owners present, we’re happy to accommodate those needs as well.

Most importantly, trust is imperative when it comes to our relationship with our staff, veterinarians, and your furry, scaly, or feathered family. We pledge to always go above and beyond with gold-standard care, in our best effort to see to it that your pet gets everything out of life that it deserves.

Meet our Doctors!

Dr. Vera Calpeno- Owner, Veterinarian

Before her medical career, Dr. Vera (as she prefers to be called) served in the U.S. Navy, acted as an administrator, and was a Delta Air Lines flight attendant. After the devastating events of 9/11, Dr. Vera left the airline industry to rekindle her childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian, working as a Middle Eastern dance teacher to support her studies.

Upon receiving her DVM degree from the University of Georgia in 2009, Dr. Vera began practicing in the Annapolis area, which brought her closer to family and friends. She worked as an associate veterinarian for four years at Greater South River Animal Hospital (formerly Reichart Animal Hospital) in Edgewater, and at Chesapeake Animal Clinic in Owings, Maryland.

While planning to establish her own practice, Dr. Vera worked as a relief veterinarian for Anne Arundel, Calvert, and Howard County area clinics, and practiced emergency medicine at AVPES in Calvert County. Her search for a vibrant and client-convenient location led to the busy Pasadena crossroads, now the home of Happy Tails.

Dr. Katherine Miller- Associate Veterinarian

Originally from Annapolis, Dr. Miller received her undergraduate degree in Animal & Poultry Sciences in 2012 from Virginia Tech - (GO HOKIES!) Dr. Miller received her DVM from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and completed her clinical training at Cornell University in 2017. Dr. Miller has extensive experience in canine/feline general practice, and is thrilled to be joining the team at Happy Tails!

Dr. Miller has received certifications in both Low Stress Handling, and Fear Free practice. She believes that your pet's visit to the vet should be as relaxing as possible! Dr. Miller has also been certified by the Association for Feline Practitioners as a Cat Friendly Veterinarian. She has undergone additional formal training on feline handling and disease management and is excited to work with your feline family members!

Special interests of Dr. Miller's include: internal medicine, neurology, general surgery, dermatology, ophthalmology, and dentistry!

In her spare time, Dr. Miller enjoys hiking, spending time at the beach, boating, cooking, and spending time with her husband and senior cat, Oliver (pictured.)

Dr. Melissa Reidy- Associate Veterinarian & Acupuncturist

Melissa Reidy grew up in Clinton, Maryland, and knew from an early age that veterinary medicine was her path in life. After receiving a BS in Zoology at the University of Maryland College Park in 1999, she attended veterinary school in Dublin, Ireland, graduating with honors in 2004. She returned home to Maryland, and has spent the last 15 years working in small animal general practice, emergency medicine, and feline exclusive clinics. Her interests include feline medicine, internal medicine, and geriatric care. She now does relief work, and can be found at Happy Tails once a week. She and her husband currently live in Glen Burnie, Maryland, with their two spoiled shih tzus and four demanding kitties. In her free time she enjoys swimming, traveling, and biking.

Meet Our TeaM!

Sam: Practice Manager

Danielle: Nurse Supervisor

Sam joined our team in June of 2021. She has an eye for detail and a love for helping those in need, so she felt right at home becoming the Practice Manager for Happy Tails! Sam gained her administrative skills in the hustle and bustle of New York City, but has fallen in love with the state of Maryland. She is the proud mom of our mascot, Patty!- the one-eyed Golden Retriever.

Sam enjoys board games, creative writing, painting, and fantasy novels.

Danielle: Nurse Supervisor

Danielle started with us in October of 2019. She graduated from Towson University in 2019 with bachelor’s degrees in both biology and psychology. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in biology from Towson (and we are so proud of her)! Danielle spends her free time with family and friends, and caring for her reptiles. Her interests include exotic animal care and disease prevention.

Katie: CSR Supervisor

Danielle: Nurse Supervisor

Katie: CSR Supervisor

Katie joined our team in February of 2022 as a Customer Service Representative but found with her years of office management experience that she would be able to take on the role of CSR Supervisor! Katie has always had a love for animals (especially labrador retrievers like her own Max) and felt at home joining the veterinary medicine field.

Katie enjoys arts and crafts and event coordinating as well as spending time with her husband, two sons, and extended family.

Pictured with her is Dr. Reidy's Shih Tzu, Stanley, "helping" with some paperwork.

Jess: CSR Supervisor

Tiffani: Registered Nurse

Katie: CSR Supervisor

Jess started with our clinic in September 2022, she is a Maryland native, grew up in the ‘Dena and still lives here today. She comes from a strong medical background and is currently working towards her skills in the veterinary field. Jess spends most of her time at home with her teenage son, significant other, two cats, and her dog. She enjoys shopping, traveling, eating out, and staying in watching movies. She also enjoys taking her dog for long walks and visiting different parks and beaches.

Tiffani: Registered Nurse

Tiffani joined our clinic in September of 2023. She is a registered veterinary technician (RVT) in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. Tiffani loves that veterinary medicine, as a field, is wonderfully dynamic and allows a whole team at any skill level to learn, teach, and inspire each other. Tiffani wants nothing more than to carry out Happy Tails's ideals of compassion, patient advocacy, and gold-star care. She enjoys spening time with family back in Pittsburgh (Go Steelers!) and enjoys water and snow sports

Brian: Client Greeter

Brian joined Happy Tails in October 2022. He has a Lhasa Apso named Luke, is a lover of all animals, and has lots of experience with dogs, birds, and cats. Brian is also a big Disney and technology fan.

Cortney: Relief Nurse

Brian: Client Greeter

Cortney joined our team originally as a CSR, but returned as a nurse in 2021 and has been loving the change! Cortney has plans to become a registered veterinary technician and specialize in behavior, while also getting certified as a dog trainer. When she’s not working, you can find her working with her own “demon puppy” Akela, hiking with her boyfriend or at the barn with her half blind horse Wish!

Chyna: Nurse

Brian: Client Greeter

Chyna: Nurse

Chyna has been working in veterinary medicine since 2011, from shelter medicine to emergency care. Her goal is to become a registered veterinary technician with a focus on acupuncture and holistic therapy. Chyna enjoys exploring new restaurants and cooking for her friends and family. She is also certified in body sculpting and wood massage therapy. But most of all, Chyna loves taking her fur babies Donnie and Darla on adventures and snuggling with her cat Stuart.

Gaby: Nurse

Jordan: Nurse Assistant

Chyna: Nurse

Gaby joined our team in May of 2023 and has been working in the veterinary field since 2020! She is currently enrolled at Penn Foster for her Veterinary Technician Certification. She is excited to be involved in more varied and complicated cases with our hospital. One day, she hopes to own her own large animal veterinary practice. In her spare time she enjoys Crossfit, soccer, and boating.

Jordan: Nurse Assistant

Jordan grew up in Pasadena and joined our team in May of 2023. She has earned a bachelors degree in psychology from Salisbury University and is currently working towards her veterinary technician license. Jordan has years of experience with rescue work at SPCA, Salisbury humane society and at home where she rehabilitated 6 cows, and rescued a cat at just 2 weeks old.
During her spare time, Jordan likes to read, go fishing and crabbing, spend time with her family, her golden retriever, her cat, and on her family’s farm which includes 6 cows, 6 goats, and many chickens.

Kayla: Remote Nurse

Jordan: Nurse Assistant

Kayla has been with Happy Tails since 2015! It was a sad day when she left us in 2022 to move to sun-shining California but we welcomed her back as a remote nurse in 2023! Kayla graduated from Wilson College in Pennsylvania as part of their Veterinary Technician program and is currently studying for her certification! Kayla enjoys spending time with friends, her spouse, and taking care of her "zoo" of two cats, one rabbit, one bird, and one dog (all long-time patients of ours!).

Lauren: Nurse Assistant

Mckenna: Customer Service Representative

Lauren joined our team in September 2021. She has a senior beagle-coonhound mix named Krystal and a domestic short haired cat named Zelda at home. In her spare time Lauren likes to crochet, watch scary movies and spend time with her husband JD, her daughter Audrey, and family. Lauren was a professional groomer for 4 years and worked at the Jacksonville Zoo while stationed in Florida. Lauren is very excited to get started as a veterinary assistant and furthering her career as a veterinary technician.

Mckenna: Customer Service Representative

Mckenna grew up in Pasadena and joined our team in July 2023 as a daycare attendant. She is now working as a CSR. She is a certified EMT and is currently interested in moving her knowledge of emergency medicine into the animal field. Mckenna has years of experience with animals, especially with her 5 dogs at home ranging from 16 weeks to 11 years old. During her spare time she likes to read, spend time with family and friends, and eat a lot of take out. Mckenna has hopes in becoming a certified veterinary technician with the help of the Happy Tails!

Merie: Nurse Assistant

Mckenna: Customer Service Representative

Naomi: Customer Service Representative

Merie joined the team in February 2023. She transitioned careers from a long background of retail management, development and training to veterinary medicine in 2019 and has loved the change thus far. Merie is very empathetic, and loves all animals but has a huge special spot in her heart for cats, especially the spicy, demanding kitties and senior kitties. In her spare time, Merie likes to play video games, cook, take long drives, find unique hole-in-the-wall places to eat, walking and enjoys anything punny and spooky. Merie is also a very skilled nose-booper.

Naomi: Customer Service Representative

Naomi joined our team in March of 2023 all the way from sunny California. She has a 7 year old Collie mix named Lyla, a 3 year old chocolate lab named Capone and and a Cane Corso named Sylvie. She is looking forward to gaining experience with animals as she hopes to open an animal rescue in the future. In her free time she enjoys reading, playing video games and spending time with her kids and dogs.

Tim: Kennel Assistant

Naomi: Customer Service Representative

Tim: Kennel Assistant

Tim started working at Happy Tails as a vet assistant in June of 2019. Tim is very interested in computers, taking care of pets and being in the outdoors. He loves dog walking and pet/house sitting as a way to further connect with animals.

Meet Our Mascot, Patty!

Hi! My name is Patty and I'm an English Cream Golden Retriever born on January 20, 2022. I was like any normal puppy, except my right eye was swollen, blind, and very painful when I was born. I was brought to Dr. Calpeno by my parents' breeder, since I couldn't be sold to a forever home in my condition. I was very lucky, since my new home was just in reach, with the Happy Tails practice manager, Sam! She and her husband have been loving and caring for me since I was just 8 weeks old. By the time I was 6 months old, I finally got my surgery to remove my eye and it was such a relief! Everyone at Happy Tails takes great care of me so I decided that I can be their mascot! I want to show everyone that my happy tail is all thanks to Happy Tails Veterinary Hospital and their amazing team!