Meet the Team at PAWSitive Veterinary of New York

Dr. Courtney Perry

DVM, CCRT

Medical Director Veterinarian & Certified Canine Rehab Therapist

Dr. Perry has been working with animals for over 25 years. She grew up in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn. She received her undergraduate degree from Wellesley College before pursuing her graduate education at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. She opened PAWSitive Veterinary of New York in 2011 to answer the growing need for a veterinarian in the neighborhood. In her (few!) spare hours, she likes to spend time with her children, family, friends and dog Geneva and cats Fredo, Beast Boy and Nico.

Dr. Elisabetta Coletti

DVM

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Elisabetta Coletti is a graduate of Harvard College and Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. She also was the recipient of a Pew Fellowship at Johns Hopkins University.  She is fluent in both English and Italian.

Dr. Maria Fuzailov

DVM

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Maria Fuzailov is originally from Brooklyn, New York. She graduated from St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2022. Some of her interests include small animal dentistry, soft tissue surgery, and acupuncture. In her free time she enjoys hiking, biking, and spending time with her maltipoo, Rosie. She is fluent in both English and Russian.

Danida Perez, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Danida Perez is from Brooklyn. NY and has been an LVT for 4 years. She received her associates degree in science from LaGuardia community college and her Bachelor of Science from Coastal Carolina University.

Her favorite pets to take care of are “Frenchies” and pugs. She hopes to one day transition from working with cats and dogs to marine animals.

Dawn Fowler

Customer Service Representative

Dawn Fowler has been a member of PAWSitive team since July 2017 and has been working in VetMed since 2003. She is a proud mama to 2 rescue dogs and 3 rescue cats.

Dawn enjoys cooking, yoga, and going to the theatre in her spare time.

Dawn Meltzer, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Dawn Meltzer is a Licensed Veterinary technician who was born and raised in Brooklyn. Dawn loves spending time with her husband and two sons Thomas and Logan.

She also loves her cat Panther and her two rats Peanut and Prima.

Lucero "Lulu" Rodriguez, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Lulu Rodriguez was born and raised in NY. She has a brown tabby named Federico and a calico named Dora.

Lulu’s hobbies include playing video games, watching Korean dramas, and going to concerts.

Martina Heitland, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Martina Heitland is from Brooklyn, NY. She graduated from LaGuardia Community College in 2007 and received her LVT title in 2008. Martina has been with the PAWSitive team since 2014 and enjoys the fact she was able to learn new things and bond with great people.

She loves to read books about dragons, has her own real dragon – her cat Nick Grey; and enjoys eating a corner square with an icy from her local pizzeria.

Shawn Faison

Veterinary Technician

Shawn Faison has been working as a veterinary technician for 25 + years in general practice as well as working in animal shelters. Shawn grew up in Brooklyn and enjoys Metal detecting, fishing, building, and playing vintage arcade games.

He may not have any pets of his own, but he considers the patients he takes care of daily his fur babies.

Taylor Gamble, Esq

Veterinary Assistant

After many years working in legal services, Taylor decided to follow her passion and seek a career working with animals. She is currently a Veterinary Technology student at Penn Foster College.

Outside of work, Taylor enjoys spending time at the park and botanic gardens, or at home with her spoiled chinchillas.

Anthony Gonzalez

Veterinary Technician

Anthony Gonzalez is from Brooklyn, NY. Anthony has been in the field of veterinary medicine for 33 years.

In his free time, he’s a huge sports fan who enjoys going fishing and bike riding. Anthony is no stranger to exotic pets. His past pets were snakes, birds, rabbits, lizards, fishes and even spiders.

Kelly Gutierrez

Veterinary Assistant / Customer Service Representative

Bess Rinzler-Foster

Veterinary Assistant / Customer Service Representative

Charlize Brignol

Veterinary Assistant

Elizabeth Wardell

DVM

Dr. Elizabeth Wardell grew up in Poughkeepsie, NY with a love for animals. She earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University and completed an internship in Emergency Medicine in Massachusetts. Dr. Wardell comes to us after working 4 years at a General Practice facility in upstate New York and looks forward to living and practicing veterinary medicine in New York City. In her free time she loves running Spartan obstacle course races. Dr. Wardell has one feisty cat named Carina who prefers to be an “only child”

Nancy Chilla

DVM

In 2017, Dr. Chilla left Brooklyn, NY to move back to her family in Missouri. She is now working at Bradford Park Animal Hospital in Springfield, MO. She had a blast during her years in the big city, but was ready to go back to a quieter life in the country. We wish her the best of luck and will miss her dearly.

Cate Mattson

DVM

Dr. Mattson left Brooklyn, NY in 2018 to move back to upstate New York with her husband and their cats. We all wish her the best of luck and a bright profession future.

Monica Belvedere (Johnson)

DVM

In 2014, Dr Belvedere left Brooklyn, NY to move to upstate New York and is now the Medical Director at Mohegan Lake Veterinary Hospital in Mohegan Lake, NY. While we were sad to see her go, the Pawsitive family wishes her and her family the best of luck.

Siara Richardson

DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Siara Richardson is a graduate of Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine and received additional training through an internship at Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners. She worked primarily as an ER veterinarian before joining our team at Pawsitive in 2018. She is a NYS Licensed Veterinarian.  In 2022, she left NYC to start a family in California.