Our Veterinarians

Dr. Melani Poundstone

Dr. Melani Poundstone graduated from Colorado State University in 1989. She practiced small animal medicine and surgery at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital from 1989 until 1992 and then at Tender Care Veterinary Medical Center from 1992 to 1994. She joined Hampden Family Pet Hospital in 1995 and became co-owner of the practice in January 1996. Dr. Poundstone earned her board certification in canine and feline practice in 1999 and holds an ABVP Diplomat status. Her current interests include small animal dentistry, internal medicine and soft tissue surgery. She lives with her wonderful husband Joe and daughter Jordan. She shares her house with her cat Stewie. She enjoys scrap booking, scuba diving and Bible study.

Dr. Monica Watterud

Dr. Monica Watterud received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University in 1989. She practiced in Southern California for 3 years before returning to Denver in 1992. After working for PetSmart Veterinary Services, she joined Hampden Family Pet Hospital in 1999 and has continued her education in acupuncture and ophthalmology. Her passion for pets extends beyond the bounds of her job. She and husband Dan are at the service of three well-bred street cats: Horton (a girl), Emmett, and Lynyrd, and their joyful Great Dane/Lab mix, Lucy. Dr. Watterud enjoys testing fine wine and baking when she is not reading or watching movies with the family.

Dr. Kris Abbey

Dr. Kris Abbey is a native of Colorado, born and raised in Fort Collins. She completed her undergraduate training at the University of Colorado and the University of Utah, and received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University in 1987. She completed an internship program at Pittsford Animal Hospital in New York. She enjoys the challenges of general medicine, and has recently taken an interest in complementary integrative medicine. She became certified in veterinary acupuncture in 1998, and has also taken classes in Chinese herbal medicine. She enjoys hiking, biking, Rockies games, relaxing at home with her husband Scott, their 2 cats, TaiPan and Sybil, and Jules, the ball-obsessed golden retriever.

Dr. Melissa Etheridge

Dr. Melissa Etheridge is a Colorado native who received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University in 1999. She previously received her MA in International Environmental Law from Tufts University and BA from Colorado College. After graduation, she completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital in San Diego, California. Prior to entering small animal practice, she worked with the Jane Goodall Institute in Uganda and as a legislative aide for the U.S. Senate. Her interests include minimally invasive surgery, including laparoscopy and endoscopy, dentistry and internal medicine. She is a proud mom to daughters Mara and Ella, and to her Persian mix kitty Chloe. She enjoys photography, skiing, swimming, hiking, fantasy football and is a devoted fan of the Denver Broncos.

Dr. Chris Glawe

Dr. Glawe was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona.  He attended Northern Arizona University where he obtained a B.S. in Zoology with a pre-professional emphasis and a minor in Chemistry.  He received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University in 1993.  Following graduation, he returned to Phoenix to practice in a progressive multi-doctor hospital.  He served as the senior associate veterinarian for over 6 years.  He returned to Colorado and joined a unique non-profit hospital dedicated to providing advanced level veterinary care to needy families. As a result of his medical directorship and clinical training of fourth year veterinary medical students, he earned an affiliate faculty position at Colorado State University.  He became board certified through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in 2001. Over the past ten years, Dr. Glawe has trained with some of the best surgeons in the veterinary profession. His professional interests include orthopedic and minimally invasive soft tissue surgery.   His wife Phyllis is a practicing veterinary oncologist and the couple has two sons.  Their current furry family consists of two dogs and three guinea pigs. Their family enjoys being outdoors and taking advantage of the wonderful Colorado seasons. Dr. Glawe is an avid mountain and road cyclist.

Dr. Amy Weeden

Dr. Amy Weeden was born in upstate New York, where she remained, until moving to Louisiana to pursue her veterinary degree. She graduated from Louisiana State University-School of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. She went on to join a small animal practice in North Carolina before participating in Colorado State University’s first year of their Shelter Animal Medicine and Surgery Internship. She put the skills she learned during that year to work at a Denver non-profit animal hospital. She practiced there for three years, while providing relief services to area shelters, prior to joining the Hampden Family Pet Hospital team. Her primary professional interests include soft tissue surgery and general as well as emergency medicine. She is also certified in canine therapeutic massage. She has a geriatric pit bull, named Love; a chihuahua, named Beans; and a cat, named Pacino. She spends the majority of her free time training for endurance events, and is currently focused on long-distance triathlons.

Dr. Phyllis C. Glawe

Dr. Phyllis C. Glawe, a Board Certified Veterinary Oncologist with the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM), is now available at the Hampden facility to consult, perform diagnostic evaluations and provide treatment options for cancer patients.

Dr. Phyllis Glawe acquired her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1989 from The Ohio State University. Following completion of an internship at North Caroline State University, she entered into the medical oncology residency program at Colorado State University. Having completed her residency and requirements for Board Certification in 1993, she has been a practicing clinical oncologist for the past 17 years, 10 within the Denver area.

Dr. Linda Konde

Dr. Konde received her veterinary degree from Michigan State University in 1976. She interned in private practice for one year and then completed a 3 year residency in radiology at The Ohio State University. Dr. Konde is board certified in veterinary radiology and is a member of the American College of Veterinary Radiologists, with a special interest in ultrasound. She taught at Colorado State University as an assistant professor from 1980-1987.During that time, Dr. Konde was one of the pioneers in veterinary ultrasound; she published several articles, lectured at veterinary meetings, and authored several book chapters on veterinary ultrasound and radiology. She also taught at North Carolina State University for a couple years before establishing Diagnostic Imaging, PC in Aurora, Colorado in 1991. Dr. Konde lives in Aurora, CO with her 2 children, Jayme and T.J., and 3 cats, Chrissie Mistletoes, Joey Noodles, and Willie B...(good or bad?). She enjoys reading, traveling, and creative projects.

Dr. Randy Willer

Randy Willer received his DVM degree from Iowa State University in 1985.  He then completed an Internship at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, MA followed by the completion of a small animal surgical residency at Colorado State University in 1990.  Additionally, Dr. Willer received a Masters Degree in Veterinary Clinical Sciences from CSU.  He became a member of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1991 after completing his Board Certifying Exam.

Dr. Willer practiced as a surgeon in Denver following his residency and co-founded the specialty center, Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado.  Later he opened up another specialty center in Northern Colorado, Veterinary Specialists of Northern Colorado.  In 2003, Dr. Willer Completed an MBA degree from Colorado State University and sold his specialty practice to VCA Antech, Inc.  He joined VCA Antech, Inc. in 2005 and worked with the company for 5 years serving as a Regional Medical Director setting quality standards within hospitals and assisting in the oversight of 4 specialty hospitals and 60+ general practices in addition to involvement with other duties such as: staff recruiting, mergers and acquisitions, and day to day operational and managerial duties.  Currently Dr. Willer has started his new mobile surgical practice in the Denver metro area and Northern Colorado called (Front Range Mobile Surgical Specialists, PC).  He understands firsthand the importance of the roles and relationships between clients, their pets, referring Veterinarians, and Veterinary Specialists   in order to deliver the best experience possible for everyone.

Dr. Tim Strauss

Dr. Strauss is a graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999.   He practiced as a family veterinarian for 2 years before starting his Dermatology Residency.  In 2004 he became a Board Certified Veterinary Dermatologist.  He returned to Colorado in 2005 to work at the Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado.  After 4 years as an associate veterinarian, Dr. Strauss opened his own veterinary dermatology practice in Northern Colorado.  As a graduate of Niwot High School, Dr. Strauss is excited to be returning to the area he grew up in. 

Dr. Strauss is happily married with two daughters, 2 dogs and 1 cat.  Sugar is a 4 year old German Shepherd and Daisy is a 2 year old, three legged, Pit Bull.  Daisy was adopted after she was abandoned at the clinic with severe injuries from a car accident.  Despite her significant injuries she remained the sweetest dog.  Pixel is 6 year old cat that was rescued from euthanasia at an animal shelter (literally plucked out of the death chamber by Dr. Strauss's technician) 

In Loving Memory of Dr. Ty Tankersley. 1960 - 2007