For 50 years, SICSA Pet Adoption and Wellness Center has been a well-respected, mission-driven animal welfare organization in the Dayton area. Our mission is to promote the welfare and adoption of companion animals, and to nurture loving, lifelong relationships between animals and people. To support our mission, we offer numerous animal-centered programs and services for families and children, including adoption, providing resources for pet owners in need to help them keep their pets in their homes, community outreach, humane education, and veterinary services.
Our Veterinary Services department offers affordable veterinary care to our community to help those in need. Our services include high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) services, wellness services onsite and offsite through our Community Veterinary Care program, and veterinary services for the adoptable animals in our care. We have a well-appointed veterinary clinic with state-of-the-art equipment and three to four experienced, highly skilled veterinarians. Each year we perform over 6,000 spay/neuter surgeries, see over 2,000 animals for wellness exams, and care for over 2,000 adoptable animals.
Students who choose our location for a senior-year rotation can expect to gain experience, training, and support in:
1. Learning HQHVSN techniques by performing surgery on our adoptable animals.
2. Practice technical skills, including surgical induction and preparation, medication administration, phlebotomy, basic laboratory techniques, and radiology.
3. Grow their client care and case management skills by seeing wellness appointments to provide preventative care and management of various acute and chronic medical conditions.
4. Principles and practice of shelter medicine, including population health management, individual patient care, infectious disease management, animal husbandry, and shelter operations.
We are a fast-paced, energetic group, and we are drawn together by our common belief and support of our mission and our SICSA family. A student who will be successful in this rotation will be someone with a growth mindset and is enthusiastic about learning, patient care, and teamwork.
Staffing
Veterinarians
- Dr. Joyce Voss (Director of Veterinary Services and Animal Care) received her Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and her dual DVM and PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of California, Davis in 2006. She practiced small animal general medicine and emergency prior to transitioning to shelter medicine at SICSA in 2016.
- Dr. Suzie Lloyd received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Findlay and her DVM from the University of Missouri in 2003. She practiced small animal general medicine for 18 years prior to transitioning to shelter medicine at SICSA in 2021.
- Dr. Maria Jimenez received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Puerto Rico and her DVM from The Ohio State University in 1991. She has been involved with SICSA in various roles for almost 20 years as a past member of the Board of Directors, volunteer and relief veterinarian, and, since 2022, permanent staff veterinarian. She also continues to be a mixed animal practitioner.
- Dr. Lorrie Meyer received her Bachelor’s degree from Denison University in 1990 and her DVM from The Ohio State University in 1994. She owned and managed a small animal general practice for over 20 years prior to transitioning to shelter medicine in 2020. She has been with the SICSA Pack since 2024.
Support staff
Our well-staffed veterinary clinic employs two registered veterinary technicians, seven veterinary assistants, a surgery coordinator, and two customer service specialists, providing at least a 1:5 doctor:support staff ratio in surgery daily.
Facilities and equipment
- Two well-equipped examination rooms
- State-of-the-art surgical suite
- Separate recovery rooms for dogs and cats
- In-house laboratory analyzers with CBC, chemistry, and urinalysis capabilities
- DR digital radiology system
- High-speed and low-speed dental machine
- Tonometry
Staffing
Veterinarians
- Dr. Joyce Voss (Director of Veterinary Services and Animal Care) received her Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and her dual DVM and PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of California, Davis in 2006. She practiced small animal general medicine and emergency prior to transitioning to shelter medicine at SICSA in 2016.
- Dr. Suzie Lloyd received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Findlay and her DVM from the University of Missouri in 2003. She practiced small animal general medicine for 18 years prior to transitioning to shelter medicine at SICSA in 2021.
- Dr. Maria Jimenez received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Puerto Rico and her DVM from The Ohio State University in 1991. She has been involved with SICSA since 2007 initially as a relief veterinarian, then as a member of the Board of Directors, and since 2022 as staff veterinarian. She also continues to be a mixed animal practitioner.
- Dr. Lorrie Meyer received her Bachelor’s degree from Denison University in 1990 and her DVM from The Ohio State University in 1994. She owned and managed a small animal general practice for over 20 years prior to transitioning to shelter medicine in 2020. She has been with the SICSA Pack since 2024.
Support staff
Our well-staffed veterinary clinic employs two registered veterinary technicians, seven veterinary assistants, a surgery coordinator, and two customer service specialists, providing at least a 1:5 doctor:support staff ratio in surgery daily.
Facilities and equipment
- Two well-equipped examination rooms
- State-of-the-art surgical suite
- Separate recovery rooms for dogs and cats
- In-house laboratory analyzers with CBC, chemistry, and urinalysis capabilities
- DR digital radiology system
- High-speed and low-speed dental machine
- Tonometry
If needed, SICSA can provide a housing stipend of up to $1,500 for students to stay at an extended-stay type of hotel in the area (e.g., Marriott Courtyard). If arrangements are needed, student is asked to request arrangements no less than 6 weeks before start of rotation.