Dr. Tammy Mendez
Owner, Veterinarian
Growing up on a farm in Southern Iowa, Dr. Mendez is all too familiar with animals of all sizes and has been involved in the field of veterinarian medicine since the minute she could get her foot in the door of a clinic at the age of 15. It is her love for helping people and animals that drew her to the profession. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and graduated Cum Laude from Kansas State University with her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. Meeting her husband at Cal Poly, Larry (a fifth generation Lompocian), they naturally settled in the Lompoc Valley to raise their family. They purchased Animal Care Hospital in January 2008, and she quickly emerged herself in the community becoming involved in many local organizations. Dr. Mendez spends her free time with her husband, two children, Lawson and Emery Rose. As a family, they enjoy spending time water skiing, snow skiing, and camping with friends. Her pets include 2 dogs, Izzy and Oliver; 2 cats, Deuce and Tiger; 2 horses, Gunner and Woody; and many cows.
Dr. Rachelle Axline
Veterinarian
Dr. Rachelle Axline was raised in the small town of Quincy in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Craving warmer climates, she moved to the central coast for undergraduate studies. She attended the University of California Santa Barbara, where she studied Biology and Psychology. During that time, she began volunteering with a variety of animals including cats, dogs, sea lions, sea birds and even elephants and giraffes at the zoo. She also began working at a local pet clinic which further developed her passion for animals. She was soon admitted to the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2012.
After graduating, Dr. Axline underwent an additional year of extensive training through the internship program at Animal Specialty & Emergency Center in West Los Angeles. It was there that she was exposed to a variety of complex cases and further developed her skills in critical care and emergency medicine.
Dr. Axline was happy to return to the central coast following her internship. While working in Santa Barbara, she met her husband, a Lompoc local. Dr. Axline was fortunate enough to join the team at Animal Care Hospital in December of 2014. When not at work, she can be found enjoying the outdoors spending time with her husband, 2 dogs, and cat.