About Us

APPOINTMENT

About Franklin Ranch Pet Hospital

Franklin Ranch Pet Hospital was created from the ground up to provide the ultimate pet-care experience. We have a state-of-the-art pet hospital and a team of highly experienced veterinarians.

Our five-acre ranch has two innovative buildings, planned specifically by the architect, to reflect the characteristics of the surrounding countryside. For a warm welcoming atmosphere, the interiors boast rich inviting colors and a gallery feel, exhibiting artwork by various local artists.

The grounds are professionally landscaped, and our hospital enjoys a sweeping view of a nearby wildlife preserve. The pet park has a walking path, outdoor recreation equipment, and plenty of freshly manicured green grass.

We have worked diligently and spared no detail to create an environment that promotes your pets’ health, happiness, and well-being during their visit to Franklin Ranch.

 

Meet Our Team

Thomas Zehnder, DVM

Thomas Zehnder, DVM

Hospital Director and Veterinarian

Dr. Thomas Zehnder received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of California at Davis in 1979. After two years of dairy and small animal practice on the north coast of California, Dr. Zehnder returned to his hometown of Elk Grove. In 1984, Dr. Zehnder took over ownership and management of Bradshaw Veterinary Clinic along with Dr. Michael Johnson. With their combined 60 years experience in the profession, they have designed and developed the Franklin Ranch Pet Hospital to be one of the most advanced in the industry. In addition he is a Fear Free Certified Professional. Dr. Zehnder is married with 4 children. His outside interests include golf, tennis, waterskiing, snow skiing, and horseback riding. His goal is to offer the Elk Grove/Laguna area unsurpassed service and comfort for their pets.

Michael Johnson, DVM

Michael Johnson, DVM

Associate Veterinarian

Dr Mike Johnson was born in New York and raised in Modesto. He graduated from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1977. After graduation, he worked at Bradshaw Veterinary Clinic which he, and Dr. Zehnder, later purchased. Together, Dr. Johnson and Dr Zehnder ran Bradshaw Veterinary Hospital for over 20 years growing it to one of the largest, and most advanced animal hospitals in the greater Sacramento area. After selling Bradshaw in 2005, he and Dr. Zehnder used their experience to design and develop Franklin Ranch Pet Hospital.

Today, Dr. Johnson works as an integral part of Franklin Ranch’s team of highly skilled doctors. He enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine but he especially enjoys practicing:

  • Surgery
  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • Orthopedics

Outside of work, Dr. Johnson enjoys hanging out with his four adult children and their families.

Kelly Churchill, DVM

Kelly Churchill, DVM

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Kelly Churchill developed a love for animals as a very young girl. She grew up riding horses and showing Shetland Sheepdogs from the early age of 7 and this paved the way for a natural career in veterinary medicine. She graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and a minor in Equine Science. After completing her undergraduate education, she obtained her doctorate in 2009 from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. She worked for 7 years as a small animal veterinarian in Fresno before relocating to the area in 2017. Dr. Churchill was born in Stockton, California and raised in Valley Springs, so she and her family were very excited to join the Franklin Ranch team in 2018 and get back to her roots in the area. She has two beautiful children with her husband; a boxer mix named Ryder, and two cats Pearl and Autumn. When she’s not working on her furry friends, she enjoys watching movies, gardening, riding horses, and wakeboarding.
Samantha Hunt, DVM

Samantha Hunt, DVM

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Samantha Hunt was born in Southern California, but grew up here, in Elk Grove. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from the University of California at Davis in 2006. Samantha started working in the Veterinary field in 2004 and continued to work as a Veterinary Technician for 7 years until she was accepted into Veterinary School. She also worked in a research lab at UC Davis for several years prior to her acceptance into veterinary school. She received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of California at Davis in 2015.

Dr. Hunt’s veterinary interests include: preventative medicine, ophthalmology, internal medicine and behavior. She lives in West Sacramento with her fiancé and three cats (Ricky, Lucy and Nina). Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, dancing (especially Latin ballroom), watching movies, and playing sports.

Kristin Reiser, DVM

Kristin Reiser, DVM

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Kristin Reiser grew up in Portland, Oregon until she moved to Boulder, Colorado to pursue her bachelor degree in animal science which she earned at the University of Colorado in 2000. She moved to Sacramento right after graduation to take a job at a local veterinary clinic with hopes of attending what she considered the best veterinary program in the country. She fulfilled her dream and received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of California at Davis in 2005. Throughout veterinary school she continued to work at the same local veterinary clinic on the weekend and after graduation she was excited to begin her career as an associate veterinarian with this same clinic. She then enjoyed 14 years there practicing quality medicine while gaining some amazing life long clients, many of which have followed her to her new location today. Looking for a change of pace she was intrigued when an opportunity arrived to practice medicine at Franklin Ranch Pet Hospital. She enjoys all aspects of general practice, but her special interests include internal medicine and ultrasound. She currently resides in El dorado Hills with her family which includes her husband, 2 children and three furry children. In her spare time she enjoys snow boarding, puzzles and trail running with her border collie.
Emily O’Connell, DVM

Emily O’Connell, DVM

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Emily O’Connell (Sutton) was born and raised in Chico, California. Her participation in both 4-H and FFA during her childhood fueled her love of veterinary medicine and her decision to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from California State University, Chico. After spending a few years honing her skills as a veterinary technician, Dr. O’Connell was accepted to the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana and completed her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. During her veterinary education, Dr. O’Connell developed a passion for animal behavior. In addition to training under a veterinary behaviorist during school, she is also Fear Free certified and an advocate for low stress handling and cooperative veterinary care.

Dr. O’Connell, while not a board-certified behaviorist, is pleased to offer behavior consultations for common behavior concerns, including:

  • Breed and adoption consultations prior to getting a new pet
  • New pet acclimatization and cooperative care methods, including concerns for inappropriate behavior in the veterinary hospital setting
  • Separation related anxiety behaviors
  • Resource guarding
  • Inter-housemate relationship concerns
  • Inappropriate social behavior concerns, including leash reactivity
  • Aggression considerations and interventions
  • Cognitive decline and aging pet health concerns
  • Identification of behavior concerns that may require consultation with a veterinary behaviorist
Shelby Rush, DVM

Shelby Rush, DVM

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Rush was born and raised in Elk Grove. She has two older sisters and a younger brother. She graduated with a Bachelor’s of Animal Science from Oregon State University and was then accepted into St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine in Grenada, West Indies, where she made friends from all over the world and adopted her island dog, Bonnie. She enjoyed her clinical training at the University of Missouri in Columbia and graduated in June of 2020. Her interests include surgery, rehabilitation, and large animal medicine.

She enjoys playing tennis, hiking with her dog, and spending time with her boyfriend and family. She has a soft spot for Mastiffs, Corgis, and mutts.

Khushboo Attarwala, DVM

Khushboo Attarwala, DVM

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Khushboo Attarwala was born in India and moved to Pennsylvania as a teenager. She completed her undergraduate education at Pennsylvania State University, where she majored in Biology and Veterinary Science. Seeking to escape the cold winters, she decided to move to California, where she received her veterinary degree at UC Davis. She fell in love with California and decided to stay in the Sacramento region after finishing vet school.

She is Fear-Free certified and has been passionate about working with animals since she was a kid. She is dedicated to creating a welcoming and collaborative environment for her clients and patients. Outside of work, her interests include traveling, hiking, reading, and painting.

Thomas Hack, DVM

Thomas Hack, DVM

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Hack (They/Them) was born in St. Louis Missouri, where they found a love of animals of all species working with an exotics veterinarian during high school and summers in college. They moved to Minneapolis to pursue a bachelor degree in biology at University of Minnesota, then finally here to California to attend veterinary school at UC Davis, earning a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 2020. Dr. Hack joined the Franklin Ranch team in 2021.

Dr. Hack is Fear-Free certified, and is passionate about helping clients feel they can make an informed decision about their pet’s health as the core of their pet’s care team. Dr. Hack is passionate about internal medicine, preventative care, and feline medicine. Outside of work, Dr. Hack can be found in Davis spending time with their 3 cats (Mercury, Bebo, and Chroma), playing bass in a local band, rock climbing or skiing on Lake Tahoe, or playing softball in multiple Sacramento leagues.

Arlene McKinstry, DVM

Arlene McKinstry, DVM

Relief Veterinarian

Dr. McKinstry was born and raised in New York City until she was ten years old. She then moved with her family to Puerto Rico. She completed her Animal Science undergraduate studies at the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez. She attended Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine where she graduated with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1994. After graduation, she moved to the Bay Area with her husband. In 2004, they decided to settle in the then-small town of Elk Grove. She joined Franklin Ranch Pet Hospital in its very early years, in 2009.

She enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine, but her special interests include:

  • Geriatric medicine and patient care
  • Rehabilitation
  • Pain management
  • Integrative medicine

 She is passionate about anything that helps improve the quality of life for her patients.

Outside of work, she loves reading, hiking, camping, spending quality time with friends and traveling to learn about different cultures.

How may we help you?

Have a question? Our contact information is below, please don't hesitate to contact us during business hours. If you need immediate assistance, please call us directly at (916) 683-4000.

Address

10207 Franklin Blvd.
Elk Grove, CA 95757
Click here for directions.

Contact

Phone: (916) 683-4000
Fax: (916) 683-4040
Email: info@franklinpet.com

Hours

Mon-Sun: 8 am - 6 pm

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