Meet Our Team

  • Laura Wade, DVM Dipl ABVP (Avian)

    Dr. Laura Wade is a board-certified bird specialist by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) and completed a residency with avian and exotic pets. She provides comprehensive primary and referral healthcare with medical, surgical, and behavioral services for your companion bird, small mammal, and reptile.

    Dr. Wade lives in a suburb of Buffalo, New York with her two Meyer's parrots, 'Kelly' and 'Pepper' (in photo) and Cape parrot 'Zuri.' She also owns 'Roscoe,' a terrier mix!

    Dr. Wade's Resume

  • Kristen Strobel, MPH DVM

    Dr. Strobel worked for Dr. Wade for several years as a licensed veterinary technician before going to the University of Tennessee to pursue becoming a DVM as well as Veterinary Public Health specialist. She came back to Buffalo because she missed the snow and her family. She is available here at SCAEP Tuesdays, and Thursdays to help out one of her passions, rabbits! When she is not working, she enjoys cooking, the ocean, reading, and hanging out with her rabbits, cats, and dog. 

  • Evan Reed, DVM

    A Buffalo native, Dr. Reed graduated from Cornell University in 2011 and joined our staff July 1st of the same year. During his veterinary training, Dr. Reed gained extensive experience working with exotic pets and wildlife. Dr. Reed has a special interest in fish and amphibian medicine.

    Dr. Reed is currently only available by appointment. Outside of veterinary practice, Dr. Reed enjoys hiking, camping, fishing and gardening, among other pursuits. Photo shows Dr. Reed and his Tiger salamander, 'Groovy.'

  • Jeff Hess, DVM

    Dr. Hess was born and raised in Buffalo. He attended the University of Illinois for vet school and went on afterward to complete a specialty internship in exotic animal emergency medicine and surgery in Seattle. During his training he worked with privately owned exotic pets, as well as several zoos and aquariums. 

    After his time out west he elected to move back home to offer emergency care to both small animal and exotic patients. Dr. Hess can treat all types of exotic patients, but has a special interest in reptiles/amphibians and fish. He is currently available for appointments on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Outside of veterinary medicine Dr. Hess prefers to spend his time hiking, gardening, riding his motorcycle, or spending time with his own small zoo at home with his wife (pictured here with his Sulcata Tortoise, Frank.)

  • Jessica - Medical Director and Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Jessica joined the SCAEP team in October 2020. Jessica has been a NYS licensed Veterinary Technician for over a decade and is also a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. She loves working with all species but has a special love for Turtles and Tortoises. In her free time Jessica loves being outdoors, gardening, camping, hiking and boating with her family. 

  • Amanda - Office Manager

    Amanda new to the avian/exotic world of pets, but not the veterinary industry. Amanda worked at a 24 hour animal hospital for just short of 8 years. Starting as a Client Service Representative, cross training as an emergency, surgical, ICU and pharmacy assistant. She then became the Client Service Supervisor. She has also worked various office, HR, and staffing positions. She is delighted to be back in the veterinary field! 
    Amanda has had a love for companion animals from a young age. She has enjoyed hamsters, guinea pigs, small reptiles, and many fish as a child. Now living in WNY, with her husband, two kids, a rescue dog (Lady),  two cats (Sir Troubington Fur of House Murr, and Little Lady Lilly of House Murr), and a crested gecko (Crouton the Eliminator) on a multi acre parcel, and hopes to someday be a home to many more furry and feathered friends!

  • Jenna - Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Jenna first began working at SCAEP in May of 2013 after receiving her Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology. She has a passion for exotic pets and currently owns six rabbits, two crested geckos, and two rescue dogs! 

    When she isn't working at SCAEP, Jenna's love and care for animals extends to her own pet sitting business. In her free time, she loves writing, traveling, and going to concerts!

  • Jessica - Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Jessica joined SCAEP in Fall 2020. She received her Associates in Veterinary Technology in the spring of 2020 and is currently finishing her Bachelor’s in Biology with a minor in pre-veterinary medicine. 

    Jessica grew up with a brother who had several exotic animals, from geckos to ball pythons and has been interested in exotics ever since. In her spare time, she interns with Dr. Bernadette Cleabeaux who is the director of WNY Raptor and Wildlife. Through this, she has become interested in wildlife as well. Jessica is currently waiting to get into veterinary school and hopes to specialize in exotics and wildlife.

  • Brittney - Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Brittney is a Licensed Veterinary Technician and has joined the team March of 2022. She studied veterinary technology at Medaille college and graduated with her bachelor’s degree in May of 2020. She also interned at SCAEP in 2020, while completing her degree. She has had a passion to work with animals from a young age. When she was young, Brittney wanted to become a “Petrinarian”! She shares her home with a chinchilla, a parakeet, and two dogs. Brittney has a passion to work with avian and exotic pets. She loves to work with all animals but, her favorite animals are dogs and chinchillas. She spends her free time doing photography, and going on nature walks with her dogs and boyfriend.

  • Emily - Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Emily joined the team in October 2022. She has been a Licensed Veterinary Technician since 2016. Emily loves working with all animals and is particularly interested in avian medicine. She currently shares her life with a feisty Quaker parrot and three cats.

  • Kate - Receptionist

    Kate joined the SCAEP team in August 2018. For most of her life prior to joining us, she has been working with animals. She spent many years as an animal keeper at the Buffalo Zoo and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Somewhere in between, she taught informal and formal biology. Coming here allowed her to combine her passion for exotic pets and wildlife with helping people to understand them better. She spends her free time walking, birding and on family adventures. She shares her home with 3 budgies, 3 cats, and a very energetic rescue dog.

  • Helen - Veterinary Assistant

    Helen joined the team in summer of 2020 as an assistant after shadowing over several years as a pre-veterinary student. Helen graduated from Buffalo State with her Bachelors in Biology in May 2020. After completing veterinary school, Helen wishes to become board certified in Veterinary Microbiology and specialize in Parasitology. Helen shares her home with fish, 4 cats, 2 green cheek conures and a handsome african grey. Outside of work Helen also coaches golf and she enjoys hiking, writing, and CrossFit training. 

  • Stephen - Veterinary Assistant

    A Clarence native, Stephen received his degree in Animal Sciences at NCCC in 2019. Prior to joining SCAEP in 2020, he worked in various capacities at the Buffalo Zoo, the Niagara Falls Primate Sanctuary, the Aquarium of Niagara, an area exotic pet store and an emergency veterinary hospital. He is very proud to have helped design and build the Reptarium in Detroit, Michigan. Stephen has anumber of reptiles and amphibians as pets as well as prairie dogs and a blue and gold macaw. Outside of work, he enjoys ice hockey and 3D printing. 

  • Caitlyn - Veterinary Assistant

    Caitlyn is very excited to be a new addition to the team at Specialized Care for Avian and Exotic Pets! She received her bachelors degree in Wildlife Management in December 2021, as well as an associates degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Technology. She has been extremely passionate about animals and the animal care field from a very young age. Caitlyn’s interest in wildlife sparked during college when she was accepted into the wildlife management program and only grew when she completed her internship at Animal Adventure Park. Working with exotics that ranged from cockatoos to tigers, she really fell in love with the exotic care field and cannot wait to see what the future holds for her in that aspect. Currently, she has a cat and two betta fish but she is hoping to start expanding with some new exotic friends soon!

  • Tori - Veterinary Assistant

    Raised in Orchard Park, Tori joined the SCAEP staff in February 2024. She graduated from the University at Buffalo with a B.S. in Environmental Studies. Throughout her career, she has been a naturalist educator with various organizations and a wildlife biologist intern at the NYSDEC. Since she was eight years old, Tori has been a wildlife rehabilitation volunteer at Messinger Woods Wildlife Care & Education Center. She has been a NYS licensed wildlife rehabilitator since 2018 and is working towards acquiring others to help specific species of wildlife. During her free time, you can find her reading, traveling, spending time with her critters, practicing herbalism, or adventuring outside.

Location

Find us on the map

Office Hours

By Appointment Only

Monday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-8:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-8:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-8:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Saturday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed

Testimonials

Read What Our Clients Say

  • "Nothing but great things to say about everyone at SCAEP. The staff is so compassionate and caring; I can't thank you enough for all you have done for me and my furry friends!"
    Brittany S.
  • "I have been taking my rabbit here since 2009 and could not say enough good things about the staff and the care she's received!"
    Tara P.