Our Team
Kelsey Pruitt, DVM, cVMA, MADS
CERTIFIED VETERINARY ACUPUNCTURIST
Dr. Kelsey Pruitt grew up on a farm in Statesboro, Georgia, tending to the livestock and family pets. She knew early-on that she would like to make a profession out of helping animals, and so her trek began! After graduating from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science, she decided to pursue a Master’s Degree in Animal and Dairy Science. She continued at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine to graduate as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
Upon graduating, Dr. Pruitt returned to her hometown and began to practice conventional medicine in a predominantly small animal clinic, with a minor percentage concentrated on cattle and horses. She always longed to integrate traditional and alternative medicine, and truly believes that integrating both forms of veterinary care is the most effective way to help and heal your four-legged furry friends! With this belief, she decided to obtain her small and large animal certification in scientific-based acupuncture through Medical Acupuncture for Veterinarians in Colorado.
Dr. Pruitt’s interests in physical fitness and nutrition carry over to her personal life, too. She enjoys running, weight lifting, yoga, traveling adventures, hiking, and the outdoors. Dr. Pruitt loves being in the presence of water and sunshine with her husband, daughter, and beloved animal children, Bodhi and Zellie.
Kim Wilson, DVM, PhD, CVA
CERTIFIED VETERINARY ACUPUNCTURIST
Throughout her life, Dr. Wilson has experienced an unbridled interest and appreciation for animals and their place in the world. She has dedicated two careers to the study: both related to the understanding of animals and their interactions with the world around them. Her first career was as an ecologist after receiving her Ph.D. in ecology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1985.
After teaching biology at Central Connecticut State University, Dr. Wilson felt a deep desire to help and work with animals and their people. This led her to Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, where she pursued traditional Western medicine and also continued to follow her interests in ecology by working in the Wildlife Clinic with raptors, bears, and bobcats.
Since graduating in 2005, Dr. Wilson has worked in several small animal practices, developing her training in internal medicine, pain management, and integrated medicine. Her interest in pain management led her to Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine and acupuncture. She attended the Chi Institute and continues to pursue integration of Western and Eastern medicine with an interactive view of the whole body and life.
Dr. Wilson is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, South Carolina Association of Veterinarians, and American Association of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine.
Since moving to Charleston, SC, Dr. Wilson is thoroughly enjoying the Lowcountry lifestyle with kayaking, paddle boarding, and hiking. Dr. Wilson is fortunate to share her new home with her cats, Peeves, Lilly, and Spitty, and her dog Ted.
Abby Clayton, DVM, MPH
Dr. Abby Clayton grew up in Charlotte, NC, and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A previous career in international advertising took her to Miami, Colorado, and London, but a lifelong passion for animals sent her back to school to study veterinary medicine. She attended Tufts University in Boston for her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine while simultaneously earning her Masters in Public Health and a post-graduate certificate in International Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Clayton received awards for her work in conservation medicine while at Tufts and was selected for a research fellowship with the Tufts Institute of the Environment to study antibiotic resistance in rescued harbor seals in Vancouver, British Columbia. She has also worked with USAID in Eastern Africa, the National Park Service Wildlife Health Branch, and the Smithsonian National Zoo. She currently volunteers as an on-call veterinarian for the SC Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
Dr. Clayton enjoys treating creatures of all sizes and loves exploring the unique relationship we share with animals in our homes and the wild. She has special interests in ophthalmology, internal medicine, integrative health, and client education.
Dr. Clayton is happy to call the Lowcountry home, along with her husband, son, and rescue pup, Isabel. In her free time, she enjoys making pottery, eating her way through Charleston, and being outside as much as possible.
SUPPORT TEAM
Caroline Hartsel
PRACTICE MANAGER
Caroline was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, and she graduated with a Sociology degree from the College of Charleston in 2009. She is a mom to Harrison and three Chihuahuas (Gus, Josie, and Lil P). She is fond of rehabbing animals like baby squirrels (Ernie and Bert) and helps successfully return creatures to the wild. She had a pet pot belly pig named Peanut (try saying that tongue twister aloud!) while growing up.
Caroline loves going to the beach, reading murder mysteries, and exploring the Lowcountry.
Angela Byers
VETERINARY TECHNICIAN
Angela grew up in a small Ohio town. She graduated in 1985 with a degree in veterinary technology from Columbus State University. Angela spent her first 25 years with one Ohio hospital that grew from a one-doctor practice to a multi-million dollar facility with only eight doctors. During that time, she married and raised four children.
In 2006, her husband found work on Kiawah Island, so they moved the family to Mount Pleasant. Angela joined a small animal practice while managing her husband's construction business and being an active mom. Once her youngest, twin boys graduated high school, Angela pursued her dream of working at NC State University Veterinary Hospital. She spent 3 great years there with her daughter and her chihuahua, Nugget.
In 2018 she returned to the low country where she loves spending time on the water with her husband and 2 chihuahuas. In her spare time Angela loves volunteering for "Keeper of the Wild". Her favorite babies are raccoons and squirrels but she has also rehabilitated ducks, owls and opossums.
Sheena Koeth
LICENSED VETERINARY TECHNICIAN
Sheena grew up in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio and has always had great compassion for animals. She graduated from Cuyahoga Community College with an Associates of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology. She has been a licensed veterinary technician since 2000. She also has an Associates of Arts degree in Photography.
Sheena worked in the veterinary department at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo for 13 years before relocating to South Carolina to manage the veterinary department at the Turtle Survival Center in Cross. After 4.5 years, she decided to pursue other interests, including integrative medicine, and found a new home at Sun Dog Cat Moon.
Sheena is owned by five dogs and is an avid rescuer/rehabber of neglected dogs in the Lowcountry.
Brittani Barrat
VETERINARY ASSISTANT
Brittani has lived in Charleston most of her life. She graduated from Newberry College with a biology major and a chemistry minor and is currently enrolled at Penn Foster in their veterinary technician program. Brittani recently completed her Fear Free certification.
She has rescued four kitties: Sox, Simba, Ariel, and Hairy Pawter. If the cat names didn’t tip you off, Brittani is also a huge Disney fan. She has always loved veterinary medicine and animals. When Brittani’s not in the clinic, she can be found pet-sitting, snuggling with her cats, or shopping.
Lauren Pippin
VETERINARY ASSISTANT
Lauren was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina, and is now raising a family of her own, including two dogs; her golden, Chevy, who is 5, and Ranger, her Akita mix, who is 13 years young.
Lauren has been in the veterinary field since 2006 and has grown from an assistant into a skilled technician by pouring her heart out daily and keeping an open mind to continue building her skill set.
In addition to her dog children, Lauren has a adorable son named Tyler, who she loves doing arts and crafts with. Don’t let her shyness fool you, she and her husband enjoy live rock concerts, movies and planning their annual Halloween party! Lauren loves to decorate for all holidays actually and often can be found secretly decorating the office to surprise her co-workers.
Brooke Baker
VETERINARY ASSISTANT
Brooke has worked in veterinary medicine since 2015. In 2016, She graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Animal Science. Currently, Brooke is working hard to become a certified technician as one of our veterinary assistants. Brooke has lived in the Charleston area for the past 3 years, where she loves trying new restaurants and exploring the city. Brooke spends most of her free time hanging out with her boyfriend Jerome and her special needs chi-weenie Graffiti.
Suzanne Begley
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
Suzanne moved to the Low Country in 2014 with her husband and two sons. The warm weather and close proximity to the ocean drew them here from the northeast. They currently reside in Summerville with their dog, Scarlett, and cat, Ash. Suzanne has worked in customer service for over 25 years, mostly for large retail companies. Suzanne's love for animals began as a child with numerous family pets, both canine and feline. Only recently did she discover that her passion for customer service and animals could coexist. Suzanne joins Sun Dog Cat Moon excited to learn more about veterinary medicine and client relationships.
Because of her love for the ocean, Suzanne can be found in or near water on her days off from the clinic. She discovered stand up paddle boarding and enjoys cruising the waterways of Charleston. Suzanne also enjoys a quiet movie night at home with her dog on her feet and a cup of coffee in her hand.