Staff
Canine Training
and Behavior Counseling
- Dr. Cheryl Haugo Owner - Veterinarian
Licensed in Washington and Arizona since 1986, Dr. Haugo founded Desert Vet Clinic in 1989. Dr. Haugo has special interests in exotics and birds while maintaining her love for cats and dogs - especially Great Danes. Dr. Haugo and husband Mark are owned by a Great Dane and clinic mascot, Solveig, 5 cats, 5 goats, 10 ducks, 2 geese and who knows what else will pop up at Haugo Farms!
Dr. Alison Waples was born and raised in Nebraska (Go Big Red!). She received her Bachelor of Science from Nebraska Wesleyan University and then attended Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After receiving her DVM in 2009, Dr. Waples did a 1 year small animal/exotic pet internship in Tucson, where she was also allowed to work with the collection at Reid Park Zoo. She adores the four-legged family members, and has a passion for exotic pets and surgery. Dr. Waples enjoys outdoor activities with her handsome Great Pyrenees mix, Archimedes, whom she rescued while finishing her DVM.
- Dr. Kira MacKinnon was raised in Las Vegas, NV and received her Bachelors degree at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She attended veterinary school at Ross University in St Kitts, West Indies and graduated in 2006. She worked here at DVC for 2 years after graduating vet school. After leaving Yuma, she worked at an emergency clinic and doing relief work in Phoenix. She returned to Yuma and rejoined the DVC family April 2011. Her furry family consists of 4 dogs (3 boxers and a cocker spaniel) and 2 cats. Dr. MacKinnon enjoys spending her time working out and outdoor activities.
- Dr. Shawna Sawtelle was born and raised in Orange County, California. She received her Bachelor's degree in Animal Science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and then went on to veterinary school at St. George's University in Grenada, West Indies and received her D.V.M in 2009. After graduation, she headed east to Pennsylvania to work at a mixed animal practice for 2 years. Dr. Sawtelle decided to head back to the West to be closer to family and enjoy the milder weather. Her favorite activity is riding her horse Pearl and recently began competing in Barrel Racing with her. She shares her home with an Italian Greyhound, Mookie, 2 cats that she rescued while in Pennsylvania, and a ferret, the most recent addition.
Dr. Alicia Hanson was born and raised in northern Georgia. She received her Bachelor's of Science degree in Biology from Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, GA. After several years of veterinary assisting she went on to veterinary school at Mississippi State University where she received her D.V.M. degree in 2012. Shortly after graduation she married veterinarian Dr. Ryan Hanson. Together, their desire to move west brought them both to practice in Yuma. Dr. Hanson's veterinary interests include small animal anesthesia, surgery and pain management primarily. Outside of medicine, she enjoys activities that involve the great outdoors. You'll find her spending much of her time with her two shelter rescued pups, Skye and Miles.
The Team
Management
Behavior
Outpatient
Services
Inpatient/Hospital
Services
Mark John Haugo - All-around Good Guy
Mark John was born in Minnesota and met Dr. Haugo in Idaho while they were both attending undergraduate school. He was a wild lands firefighter and on the road to a biologist position with the Department of the Interior when he was severely injured in an accident in 1990. Mark John has made a remarkable recovery so far and now gives his energy to assisting the Kindergarten teachers at Yuma Lutheran School and working out at the YMCA. He helps Doc with their many animals at Haugo Farms and is in charge of the Employee Break Room at Desert Vet. Thanks for washing all our dirty dishes Mark John!
Solveig - security/blood donation
