Meet The Big Paws Team

Doctors

Dr. Erin Siems

Veterinarian

Dr. Erin Siems was born in Ohio but spent most of her childhood in Virginia. Even from a young age, Dr. Siems always had a passion for science and animals. Dr. Siems realized her childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian when she graduated with honors from Ross University in St. Kitts, West Indies. She then spent two years at a community practice in rural Wytheville, VA before moving to St Petersburg, Fl for a position as an emergency veterinarian (and to get away from the snow!). For the past 7 years, Dr Siems has been practicing in the Bradenton area and has truly found a place to call home. While she loves all aspects of veterinary medicine, she holds a special place in her heart for geriatric medicine, making sure the golden years are truly golden. She also has a love for and excels at small animal medicine and surgery. She feels fortunate for the special bond she has formed with her patients and clients over the years and looks forward to making more memories at her new facility.

In her free time, Dr Siems enjoys hanging out with her husband and two “kids” Shaka, a boxer and Arnold, a boerboel mastiff. She also enjoys paddleboarding, running and creating culinary experiences in her kitchen. +

Dr. Nina Owens

Veterinarian

Dr. Nina Owens grew up in a home with a mother who had one rule; "You can have as many animals as you like as long as I can't smell them." Dr. Owens took that rule and ran with it, filling her bedroom to the brink with a snake, chinchilla, hamsters, turtles, rabbits, lovebirds, and fire bellied newts. By the age of 5, she knew that there was no other option for her life than to become a veterinarian. After graduating from Hamilton College with a degree in Biology, she went to the Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine and graduated with honors in 1998. She spent 14 years in Cincinnati working in small animal hospitals and raising her family before moving to California and working as a relief vet. She and her husband just recently moved to Lakewood Ranch. She is working towards her certification in small animal acupuncture and has special interests in preventive care, internal medicine, dermatology, and the needs of senior pets.

After 20 years of working with people and their pets, she remains in awe of the incredible strength of the human-animal bond. Her interests include hiking, trying her hand at wildlife photography, and visiting her 2 grown children. +

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”

-Jane Goodall

Staff

Whitney

Hospital Manager

Whitney has been in the veterinary field for over 15 years. She graduated from St. Petersburg College where she attended the Veterinary Technician program. She now lives in Wimauma with her husband Branden and 2 children Everly and Ezra. They share their home with a Shih-Tzu they call Cheeky, a French Mastiff named Hot Sauce and a cat named Kit. She also decorates her property with 2 horses named Mako and Doolie and a mini named Buzz lightyear. When she isn’t out and about with her kiddos she prefers to be a home-body, enjoying her family and animals in her own back yard.

Hali

Technician Manager

Hali was born in Upstate NY and moved to Florida in high school. Hali has always loved animals and started working at doggy daycares right out of high school. Since then she has been in the veterinary field for 2 years and is currently enrolled in school to become a licensed veterinary technician. Hali has a pitbull mix named Cooper. In her free time she likes to cuddle on the couch with Cooper and watch hockey.

Joanne

Receptionist

Joanne was born in Fort Lee, Virginia and moved several times until her father retired from the military and settled in Federal Point, FL when she was 8. She enjoyed growing up in the county where she developed a love of nature and animals. Joanne spent many years as a stay at home mom raising her three children Patrick (Go Bulls!), Robyn (Go Gators!) and Conner (Go Lions!) and is proud of her boys in blue-both her son and husband work for the Manatee County Sherriff’s Office. She is happy to be working at the front desk at Big Paws with all her coworkers who she loves so much! In her free time, Joanne enjoys being with her family and taking care of her 2 horses, 3 dogs, 4 cats and 2 grand goats.

Jaime

Receptionist

Jaime was born and raised in South Florida. She attended college at UCF in Orlando. Shortly after she moved to Atlanta, GA and started her veterinary career as a Receptionist in 2022. She quickly got tired of the cold weather so she moved back to Sarasota, to be closer to the Florida beaches. Some of her favorite things are going to the beach and amusement parks. Jaime shares her home with 2 Chihuahua’s named Luna and Lily who are her pride and joy. She enjoys spending time with them whenever she isn’t at work.

Sarah

Receptionist

Sarah grew up near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania where she lived for 21 years until moving with her family to Florida in 2019. As a senior in high school, she completed an internship at an emergency animal hospital where fell in love with the animal care field. She has worked in childcare and attended Southern Technical College, majoring in surgical technology. But her lifetime love of animals drew her back to the animal care field. Her favorite activities are going to Universal, catching up on the latest movies, and anything Harry Potter related. When she is not working, she spends her time playing and cuddling with her dog Luna, a Jack Russel Terrier mix whom she rescued as a stray. She considers herself Luna’s Kahu, which is Hawaiian for honored caretaker or guardian. She also has a betta fish named Ghost.

Leslie

Veterinary Technician

Leslie was born and raised in New York. She moved to Florida at the age of 14. Leslie found her love for working with animals on a trip to Spain where she worked with a dog breeder. She fell in love with small animal medicine and thrives under pressure. She has been a veterinary technician since 2001. Leslie is a mom of 2 teenagers and 8 fur babies. 3 dogs named Jack, Tucker, and Willow and 5 cats Gibson, Claire, Piper, Mavis and Benny. During her free time, she enjoys amusement parks, playing pool, shooting darts, spending time with family and going to the Tampa Bay Bucs games!

Athena

Veterinary Technician

Athena moved to Florida when she was 6 years old from Maryland. She has always had an interest in animals. Athena starter her career walking dogs at a vet clinic in high school. Since then, she has worked with military and police dogs and spent some time at an animal shelter before starting her technician career. Athena went to Auburn University and graduated in 2017 with a bachelor’s in animal science. Athena just moved back home after being gone for 6 years! We welcomed Athena to the Big Paws crew in November of 2023. Athena shares her home with a kitty named Mei who she found outside at just 4 weeks old.

Joey

Veterinary Assistant

Joey moved to Florida from eastern PA in April of 2022 to attend State College of Florida. He is currently earning his Associates degree for computer science but is now thinking about switching to something in the veterinary medical field! Joey has 6 brothers and sisters and one of them being his twin sister who is also his best friend. He has 1 cat named Precious who enjoys looking out the lanai and tripping him every chance she gets!

Zoie

Veterinary Assistant

Zoie was born in Pennsylvania and moved to Florida as a baby. Zoie graduated from Sarasota High School in 2020 and has since worked in the vet field. Zoie also bartends and occasionally waits tables on her days off. She hopes to go to school and become a Certified Veterinary Technician someday. During her free time Zoie likes to go to the beach, hang out with friends and travel. She shares her home with her 3-year-old Black Mouth Cur Daisy May and two Snowshoe’s Lefty and Knuckles.