About Us
APPOINTMENTAbout 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
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
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
Associate Veterinarian
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
Associate Veterinarian
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
Associate Veterinarian
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
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
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
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
Have a question?
Fill out the form below and a member of our team will get back to you as quickly as possible.