Dr. Ken Schoolmeester
As he grew up, Ken’s mom would tell him time and again that he should be a veterinarian. As usual, Ken ignored his mom’s good advice. Then one day, while mindlessly stocking shelves in a drugstore for his summer job, a dog nosed up to Ken and planted a wet one on his cheek. Surprised at seeing a dog in the store, Ken jumped up to follow the dog around the end of the aisle. When he got there, the dog had vanished. No one else had laid eyes on a dog in the store, and they silently wondered whether Ken had eaten the fruit from the party juice the night before. However, the incident crystallized his mother’s advice in his mind and led him to finalize his veterinary science major at Ohio State.
Even though Dr. Schoolmeester will always be an Ohio State Buckeye fan at heart, he left Ohio for greener pastures in Greensboro, where he worked at a practice for a year and a half. Knowing that he wanted to be on his own, he started his private veterinary practice. Dr. Schoolmeester practiced for 23 years in Greensboro before following his heart to Charlotte, where today he successfully owns the three locations of Mixed Pet in Stonecrest, Ballantyne and South End.
Dr. Lauren Hessey
She like many passionate veterinarians knew she wanted to be a pet doctor at a young age, but wasn't sure how she was going to pass organic chemistry at the all-knowing age of four. Her career also started young as she volunteered at a vet clinic by the age of thirteen and then worked as a veterinary assistant/technician through high school and on into college. Her volunteering didn’t stop there as she donated her time and skills to animal shelters as well as for Heroes on Horseback, a non-profit therapeutic riding program for special needs kids. For spending money she also waited tables at Italian restaurants – but don’t ask her to make spaghetti!
She attended the University of South Carolina where she graduated with honors with a BS in Biology. That is where she fell in love with college/SEC football!! She was accepted into Auburn University, yet it was very hard for her to wear orange and cheer for tigers, but she had a strong alliance to SEC football so she coped.
A resident of Charlotte since the summer 2010, she resides with three fur-babies. Angus a big goofy black lab, Brice a tuxedo kitty, and Chester an orange tabby. She loves everything about the outdoors and enjoys baking cupcakes on her free time. Maybe we’ll all be lucky to taste one someday…
Dr. Desiree Poore
The Albuquerque native later grew up surrounded by horses, and was a competitive rodeo rider in high school. It was while turning barrels on a Quarter horse named Hope, that she was inspired to follow the path of veterinary medicine.
Dr. Poore received her undergraduate degree from New Mexico State University, and earned a doctorate in Veterinary Medicine at Oklahoma State University. She’s mom to both a sweater wearing Jack Russel terrier named Bo and a 120 lb. Great Dane /German Shepherd mix named Rosco, and she also just so happens to be a fan of the Dukes of Hazard TV show.
When she’s not practicing veterinary medicine, you can find Dr. Poore negotiating rapids in her whitewater kayak, or shooting digital photographs. She’s an outdoor enthusiast with a great sense of humor, and loves Charlotte’s green landscape and friendly culture! Dr. Poore is excited to join the team, and looks forward to contributing to the fun and inspired environment as the new practice manager at Mixed Pet Ballantyne.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Poore to Mixed Pet Veterinary Hospital - Ballantyne. Come by, say hello, meet some new faces and enjoy a hospital tour with fresh eyes.
