Ashley Mueller, Veterinary Assistant

Ashley joined the hospital as a veterinary assistant in October 2001, becoming full-time in May 2008. With a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from the University of Missouri, she brings her reliability and organization to the team. Her responsibilities include assisting the doctors during appointments, surgery and X-rays, as well as filling prescriptions, scheduling appointments and medicating animals.

"We are AAHA accredited, which means we go above and beyond standard care and treatment," Ashley says. "We are held to higher standards and work hard to meet those standards."

Ashley most enjoys working with the animals. She's exceptionally good with cats, and her nickname around the hospital is "The Cat Whisperer." At home, Ashley has eleven cats ranging in age from 1-10 years old. Their names are Blackie, Cinders, Dodge, Glitter, Morton, Oreo, Pixie, Trixie, Truman, Zip, and Zorro. She also has a dog named Bandit and two fish.

When she's not volunteering her time for emergency visits or playing in the Mizzou Alumni Band, Ashley enjoys watching the Tigers, Cardinals, and Chiefs, antiquing, gardening and working around the house.

Jennifer Peters, Veterinary Assistant

Jennifer joined the medical team and brought her exceptional organizational skills to the hospital in May 1999. She previously worked as a veterinary assistant at a practice in Maryland. At the hospital, Jennifer is responsible for assisting during appointments, surgery, and dental procedures.

At home, Jennifer has a golden retriever named Miller, two pit bulls named Striker (who is high maintenance) and Snoopy, and two domestic shorthair cats named Donnie and Máirtín. Jennifer helps organize the local National Pet Week Parade. In her free time, she enjoys camping, doing puzzles, spending time with friends and family, bowling and being a part of her husband's pit crew at Motorcycle Track Days.

Cindy Wood, Veterinary Assistant

Cindy Wood joined the medical team in 1989. As a veterinary assistant, she is responsible for preparing surgical procedures as well as assisting the veterinarians during surgery. When she's not in the operating room, Cindy helps assist wellness examinations. Cindy is always calm, and during emergencies she's able to keep her cool while working with the hospital's patients.

Cindy lives on a farm and has two guinea pigs, a border collie, three Great Pyrenees (that serve as farm security guards), several cats, five miniature horses and several big horses. She enjoys going to horse shows with her husband and grandchildren.

In her free time, Cindy stays very busy with 4H and horsemanship groups. She enjoys giving riding lessons and hopes to one day start a therapeutic riding center. Although she loves all animals, horses have always been Cindy's passion.

Heather Cornelison, Veterinary Assistant

Heather joined the medical team in May 2005. As a veterinary assistant, she is responsible for assisting veterinarians, working in the laboratory, handling money, answering phones and serving clients.

In addition to holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture with a minor in Animal Science, Heather has a joyous and radiant personality. She relishes spending time with the animals and her AMC family. "I love the people I work with," Heather says. "We are not just coworkers. We are family."

At home, Heather has 12 cats named Rocky, Ruger, Tigger, Bonnie, Clyde, Al Capone, George, Babyface Nelson, Betty, Charlie, Autumn, Buck and Twix. She also has two black lab mixes named Molly and Lacey, as well as a rabbit named Captain Willow Cadburry and a bearded dragon named Mr. Spike Sweaters. In her free time, Heather stays busy working on setting the Guinness World Record for largest sticker collection in the world.

Kennel Staff

Sierra Ferguson, Kennel Assistant

Sierra joined the staff at Animal Medical Center of Jefferson City in August 2014. As a kennel assistant, her responsibilities include caring for the boarding and hospital patients—providing food and water as well as cleaning their cages. Sierra is a hard worker, both at the medical center and with her studies at College of the Ozarks, where she is an animal science and pre-vet student.

"My ambition is to provide quality care for all animals at Animal Medical Center of Jefferson City," Sierra says. "I hope to be in this line of work one day."

At home, Sierra has a black lab/chow mix named Steve, a lemon basset hound named Shasta and a black terrier mix named Buddy. She enjoys reading books, watching movies and swimming.