I am from Alpine, Utah. This rural mountain community allowed me to enjoy the outdoors with our many pet family members. I always knew I had a love of all animals thus my choice in a college major was directed to the study of animal life. I attended Brigham Young University for both my Bachelor’s degree in Zoology and Master’s degree in Teratology. I was then privileged to continue my education at Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and receive a doctorate. While there I focused on small animal study.

I am a member of Arizona Veterinary Medical Association the American Veterinary Medical Associations. My husband and I have lived in Arizona for over 16 years.

We have three children, two cats, two horses and a dog which sometimes makes our home feel like a full-time zoo. Together, with my husband Richard, we own and operate Arizona Healthy Pet Hospitals, which includes Augusta Ranch Animal Hospital. Arizona Healthy Pet Hospitals provide pet family-members in the East Valley the very best health care. We maintain the highest standards and are proud of the excellent animal / pet doctors and staff members that care for each and every pet as if it were their own.

Dr. James Sobotka was born and raised in Southern California where he attended Loyola Marymount University in west Los Angeles and earned his bachelor’s degree in biology with an emphasis in ecological conservation and restoration. While bouncing between Los Angeles and Denver, he worked both as part of the health care team at Foothills Animal Shelter and as a dog trainer. Dr. Sobotka then made the move the Phoenix Valley in order to attend Midwestern University where he earned his doctorate in veterinary medicine. His medical interests lie in public health, behavior, and exotics. On his free time, Dr. Sobotka enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, reading, attending dance class after dance class for his daughter, and dreaming of the ocean. He has a 6 year old Labrador mix named Milo.

Dr. Deneen Hawley was born and raised in Nebraska where she attended the University of Nebraska and earned her bachelor’s degree in education. After teaching middle school science for 3 years, she decided to pursue her lifelong dream of being a veterinarian. She then attended Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine where she earned her doctorate. She went on to practice veterinary medicine in eastern Nebraska for four years before deciding to open her own veterinary hospital in Omaha. After eight more years she decided it was time to leave the cold Midwest winters behind, so she transferred the hospital to the capable hands of her veterinary associate and moved with her family to the valley of the sun. Dr. Hawley has special interests in feline medicine, internal medicine and geriatric pet diseases. She and her husband share their home with a large family of rescue cats. They enjoy spending their free time pursuing outdoor activities like hiking and gardening, and during football season they love to cheer for their beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Dr. Sandra Snyder grew up in Iowa and attended Iowa State University, earning a bachelors degree in Genetics and a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. She completed externships at the Animal Medical Center in New York City, and an emergency clinic in Sarasota Florida. She also attended the University of Glasgow for a half semester in a student exchange program. Dr. Snyder practiced in Payson for 20 years before joining us at Augusta Ranch. Her strong areas of interest include Surgery, Dermatology, gastroenterology, and preventive medicine.

One day a week she dedicates her time to spay and neuter animals for the local shelter in Payson. She is USDA-APHIS accredited, a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, and serves on the Board of Directors to the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association.

She continues to live in Payson with her husband Randy, and two teenage children, Kat and Chris. They share their home with two cats, a Labrador mix and a maltipoo. Outside on the mini-farm you will find 4 happy hens, a Tennessee Walking horse and a giant Paint horse. She and her family enjoy the outdoors hiking, riding horses, dirt bikes and quads.

Dr. Shaird was born in France and was raised in Australia, Japan, and Virginia before moving to Tucson, AZ. She graduated from the University of Arizona in 2005 with a degree in Veterinary Science and received her DVM degree from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2009. Dr. Shaird worked at a small animal practice in Phoenix, AZ, for a couple of years before moving and practicing in New Jersey for four years. She is glad to be back home in Arizona and proud to be a member of the Augusta Ranch Animal Hospital team. Dr. Shaird enjoys traveling, exploring Arizona, reading, music, and loves spending time with her two cats, Muñeca and Kunoichi.

Dr. Darice Henry was born in Spokane, WA and lived in the Pacific Northwest until she entered the Air Force and completed a tour of duty overseas in England. After her enlistment, she lived and worked in the high desert of California while she was completing her Bachelor’s degree in Biology. In her wish to become a veterinarian and be closer to her family, she moved back to the Pacific Northwest and was accepted into the veterinary teaching program at Washington State University, Pullman. Her lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian was realized in 2003 and she moved to Montana to begin practicing small animal medicine in Missoula, Butte and eventually in Helena. The cold winters finally made her consider a move to Arizona in 2018 to join Augusta Ranch Animal Hospital during the winter months (Nov-April). Dr. Henry still practices half the year in Montana (May-Oct). Her special interests include dentistry, exotic animal medicine, behavior and internal medicine. Dr. Henry enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, hiking, camping and rafting. The loves in her life are a rescue cat named Rango and a chihuahua-yorkie mix named Penny.

Dr. John Trahan was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. He attended Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA, earning his bachelor’s degree in animal science. He then attended Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, where he earned his doctorate degree. After graduating, he then decided to trade the swamps and humidity of Louisiana for the heat of Arizona. Dr. Trahan has special interests in surgery, dentistry, and wildlife/zoo medicine. He currently lives with his ridiculous Husky mix, Ruxin. He enjoys spending his free time cooking, playing sports with friends, and pursuing outdoor activities like fishing, hiking, and camping. He is a rabid New Orleans Saints and LSU Tigers fan and can be found yelling at his TV at them all season long.