We are extremely proud of our dedicated, compassionate, and highly skilled team at Good Life Veterinary Care. Our team is passionate about creating a welcoming and comforting atmosphere for you and your pet while providing excellent medical care.
We recognize the worry and stress associated with bringing a beloved pet in for care when they are sick or hurting and want to do all we can to minimize that stress. This is why our staff is not only exceptionally compassionate but highly trained to answer questions about all aspects of pet care.
If you would like to speak to someone on our team, don’t hesitate to contact us today.
Dawn
Practice Manager and Veterinary Technician
I grew up in Chicago and started my career in veterinary medicine at the age of 17 at a small orthopedic referral hospital in Norridge. I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Animal and Veterinary Science from West Virginia University in 2003. I then spent nearly a decade living throughout Appalachia before returning home to Chicagoland in 2010. After working in small animal practices in the area, I eventually found a home at Good Life when Dr. Estrick talked me into taking a job in a building that didn’t have walls yet… or patients… or other staff. I’m extremely proud of what Good Life Veterinary Care has become since then.
I am a Fear Free Certified Veterinary Professional and certified in the Human-Animal Bond. My professional interests include hematology, dentistry, and client education. I love learning and am a self-proclaimed nerd.
Outside of the hospital, I share my home with 2 small human children, Dawson and Delaney, and 4 of the feline variety (and a Beta fish lovingly named “Toaster”). In my rare free time, I enjoy snacking, napping, reliving my day through veterinary reality shows, and binge-watching murder documentaries.
Abigail
Certified Veterinary Technician
I graduated from Fox College’s Veterinary Technology program in 2014 and passed the Veterinary Technician National Exam to become a Certified Veterinary Technician shortly after. I worked in general practice as well as an emergency medicine in Arlington Heights before joining Good Life Veterinary Care when we opened in July 2019.
I love ALL cats and especially enjoy working with misunderstood and stressed cats that need a little extra patience and skill to care for. I love working with the wonderful team we have at Good Life and try to keep my co-workers laughing and full (you can count on me to be sure we all have something great for lunch!).
In my time outside of work, I love hiking and taking photos of animals and nature. It is my goal to visit every national park in the US. I have four cats – Ravioli, Marcella, Marvin, and Archie – and about a million photos of each of them.
Karla
Client Care Specialist
My love for animals began as a young child. I can not remember a time in my life when I didn’t have a pet at home. I began my professional animal career by shadowing vets in the Lake County area as well as volunteering at Save a Pet and a local farm. I worked as a kennel attendant and receptionist in Round Lake before joining the Good Life Veterinary Care Team in 2020.
I currently live with my 13-year-old Chihuahua, Parches, but also have two cats and a rambunctious German Shepherd at home with my parents. As a fur mom myself, I do my best to provide all of our clients and patients the quality of care and kindness I would expect for my own pets.
In my free time, I love to read, go for walks or binge-watch movies and TV shows. You can bet Parches will be right there with me! (Except for the walks… at 13, he has retired from those!)
Meaghan
Client Care Specialist
My love for animals started as a kid growing up in Wheeling with my first cat and dog. I started in the Veterinary field in 2005 as a receptionist, took a break to attend school in Missouri, then returned to the Chicago area and resumed my career in Veterinary Medicine. I enjoy seeing puppies and kittens (of course), but I especially love the wide range of pet personalities that come through our doors. Getting to know your pets’ unique personalities and forming bonds with them is so rewarding.
I have 4 cats – Stanley, Kassie, Sonia and Angel – who found their way to me at work and while volunteering with Young at Heart Pet Rescue. I also have one very loved Labrador mix dog, Pearl.
In my free time I enjoy binging shows on Hulu, hiking and running around the dog park with Pearl.
Alondra
Client Care Specialist/Veterinary Assistant
I knew I wanted a career with animals since I was a small child growing up in a house full of pets – rabbits, dogs, cats, hamsters and fish. When I was 8 years old, my goldfish tried to swallow a bunch of rocks that got stuck in it’s mouth. My dad and I extracted the rocks with tweezers (my first “surgery”!) and the fish went on to live 5 more years!
I joined the Good Life Veterinary Care team in 2022 and am currently working on my Fear Free Certification as well as working towards a Veterinary Technician Certification. I love all animals and have a lot of compassion and patience for them.
I have a crazy energetic dog named Nube (“cloud” in Spanish) at home. Outside of work I am a very active person – working out, taking walks and going for swims, hikes, runs and playing fetch with Nube. I love discovering new activities and new foods.
Fred
Veterinary Diet Taste-Tester and Office Troublemaker
I joined the team at Good Life Veterinary Care in August of 2019 when Specialty Purebred Cat Rescue rescued me from the streets of Chicago and brought me in for care. I had fractures in both of my hind legs, pelvis, and tail and stayed at the clinic to heal. My tail left shortly after, but I never did.
My favorite part of veterinary medicine is eating any treats that were left behind by patients, surgery (I really love those ties on the surgery table and I LOVE fishing in the sharps containers if my coworkers forget to block them from me), and nutrition. I’ve found that food tastes best if you chew through the bag to get it rather than waiting for someone to pour it in your bowl. I have a pet anole named Andy who might not love me as much as I love him. My hobbies include napping in the sun, hiding in weird places, and pooping on the bathroom floor.
Arnoba
Patient Welcome Specialist and Emotional Support
I am originally from Kuwait and was brought to Illinois by Specialty Purebred Cat Rescue in 2020 to find a home. I spent many months at Good Life Veterinary Care while I healed after my eye was removed in Kuwait and fit in here so well that I decided to stay.
I love greeting all of the patients and really like to sit with them in the exam room during their check-ups if they’ll let me. I work hard assisting at the front desk by laying on the computer keyboard or keeping the phone warm. I’m very good at my job.
In my free time, I love pushing pens off of counters and chasing them around the clinic. I also enjoy eating and being combed by my team of stylists.