Our Animal Care

Karen Wolf, MS, DVM, DACZM, is our head veterinarian.

She received a master’s degree from University of Maryland in partnership with the Smithsonian National Zoo focusing on the reproductive physiology of the endangered black footed ferret. She then earned her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.

After receiving her DVM, she completed a one-year internship in small animal medicine at a busy private practice in Arizona, followed by a yearlong internship in zoological medicine at Kansas State University. She then completed a three-year residency program in zoological medicine at the North Carolina State University with the majority of her time spent at the North Carolina Zoo.

Dr. Wolf is board certified in zoological medicine. She relocated to Washington to fulfill her dream of becoming a full-time zoo veterinarian. She loves the lushness of the Pacific Northwest and doesn’t mind the rain. She likes to travel and explore nature with her dogs, family and friends.

Kadie Anderson, DVM, DACZM, is our associate veterinarian.

She has a Bachelor of Zoology and Animal Science, and a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. After completing her degrees, Dr. Kadie was certified after a two-year internship at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and a conservation medicine residency at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. She has also spent a year in small animal practice, and has experience in conservation projects for the Galapagos tortoise, the drill in Cameroon, and on local and global projects such as African lion research and elk research in the Olympic mountains.

Dr. Kadie was recently board certified by the American College of Zoological Medicine – a rare accreditation achieved by fewer than 250 veterinarians globally, and requiring grueling preparation.

Dr. Kadie loves hiking and backpacking in the Pacific Northwest, as well as traveling abroad.

Julie Lemon, LVT is one of our clinical veterinary technicians, who support the veterinary team for procedures, lab work, animal treatments and more.

She graduated in 1997 from the veterinary technician program at the State University of New York, Delhi. After interning at Cincinnati Zoo and Indianapolis Zoo, she worked at Lincoln Park Zoo, and began at Point Defiance in 2001.

Julie loves animals and has a golden retriever and a rescued Great Pyrenees/border collie cross at home, plus three horses too!

Read her story here.

Sara Dunleavy, BS, AAS, LVT is one of our clinical veterinary technicians, who support the veterinary team for procedures, lab work, animal treatments and more.

Sara earned her Bachelor of Science in ecology and conservation biology, and has worked as a veterinary technician at Pima Medical Institute (Seattle), the Smithsonian Zoo (Washingon, D.C.) and Pender Veterinary Centre (Virginia).

She loves outside adventure: traveling, hiking, backpacking rock climbing, cycling, mountain biking and ultimate frisbee.

Read her story here.

Emily Mattox, BS, MBA, is our health care registrar and hospital administrator. She manages our animal records, policies and permits, as well as keeping veterinary medical records and supports the veterinary team.

Emily has a bachelor degree in biology and animal sciences from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee; and an MBA from the University of Florida. She has worked as a keeper and registrar at the Racine Zoological Gardens, and as registrar at  the Milwaukee County Zoo and Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment.

Emily’s also currently the president of the Zoological Registrars Association.