Dr. Mary Ann Sheller is a 1984 graduate from Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Sheller enjoys soft-tissue surgery and has a special interest in canine reproduction, breeding and infertility. She has been certified by Zoetis Corporation, Inc. since 1994. Some of the reproduction services offered are fresh chilled breedings, infertility work-ups, TransCervical Inseminations (TCI) and surgical insemination.

Dr. Brent Lakia is the newest member to our team, but many of you may remember him. He graduated from Chesterton High School and worked at Vale Park Animal Hospital while he was still in the area. After graduating from Purdue University as an undergraduate, he came back and worked at VPAH while he was getting his Master’s degree at Ball State University, before going on to vet school in the Caribbean at Ross University and doing his clinical rotations at Oklahoma State University. When Dr. Brent started in practice, he went into emergency medicine at referral centers in Cincinnati and Milwaukee before deciding it was time to come home. He is excited to be back at Vale Park Animal Hospital, almost 20 years later. Dr. Brent is married to his wife, Kelly, and they have three lovely children that keep them on their toes. They have two German Short Haired Pointers named Ferrous and Ziggy, in addition to two cats. In their spare time, they enjoy Chicago and Purdue sports, hiking, fishing, and golf.

Growing up in West Lafayette, IN, Dr. Jerry Rodenbarger was destined to be a “Boilermaker”! He is a 1979 graduate from Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Jerry’s professional areas of interest are small animal (dogs and cats) and equine. He also has a special interest in orthopedics, soft tissue surgery, and reproduction. Dr. Jerry is a primary surgeon at Vale Park Animal Hospital. He uses the latest in surgical technology, and is well skilled with our hospital’s surgical laser as well as our laproscope used for minimally invasive procedures. His wife, Linda, teaches 2nd grade and together they have raised three great children (now all adults). Outside activities and interests include church, community volunteerism, virtually all sports, and travel.

Dr. Bill Donohue was born and raised in Crown Point, Indiana. He graduated undergrad from Purdue University Calumet in 2001 prior to veterinary school. He graduated from the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. While attending vet school, he was president of Omega Tau Sigma (OTS), a social and community service co-ed fraternity. Dr. Bill joined the Vale Park Animal Hospital Family in May 2006. He has a special interest in internal medicine, oncology, dermatology and wellness care in dogs and cats. He enjoys helping clients maintain a long healthy relationship with their pets. During his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Cyndi (also a veterinarian) and his 3 children Nora, Lainey, and Liam!! As an avid football fan, he enjoys football year round but mostly his competitive fantasy football league. Yearly trips to state and national parks to enjoy the fall colors and hiking with his girls fulfills days.

Dr. Courtney Harsy is a Northwest Indiana native. She grew up in Chesterton, where her early years were spent playing with pet rabbits, hamsters, and many the animals on her cousins’ farm. She could often be found carting off her cousins’ kittens and chickens to play schoolhouse. She was also an avid learner who from a young age wanted to academically challenge herself.

With a passion for learning and animals, Dr. Harsy began working in an animal hospital as soon as she was able. She started working in Vale Park Animal Hospital as a kennel assistant, where she was able to see quality veterinary medicine up close. She fell in love with the field, and her career path was chosen. Her career goals took her to Taylor University for her undergraduate degree, where she met the love of her life, Andrew. While attending Taylor University, she interned at the Indianapolis Zoo, where she discovered a love for non-traditional pet species, such as rabbits, hedgehogs, guinea pigs, snakes, and lizards. She then attended Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 2014.

As our exotic veterinarian, Dr. Harsy has a very special interest in all exotic species and enjoys working with everything from small hamsters to large constrictors. When she is not working, she enjoys reading, needlework (crochet, knitting and needlepoint), playing viola and learning how to spin yarn. Traveling is also important to Dr. Harsy, as she has goals to visit all fifty states before she is fifty and to visit all seven continents before she dies. Dr. Harsy and her husband live with their corgi/lab mix, Clover, and ball python, Mr. Torgue Flexington.

Dr. Kelly Rock has been a member of our team since 2020. She went to the University of Rhode Island for undergrad then pursued her doctorate in Veterinary Medicine at Ross University where she met her husband, Brent. She then did her clinical rotation at Oklahoma State University.

Her career in small animal medicine began at Banfield in Cincinnati Ohio, and 10 years later she moved into the region with her family. Dr. Rock is passionate about dentistry and animal behavior.

When she’s not taking care of patients here at Vale Park Animal Hospital Dr. Rock loves running, and has participated in several triathlons. She also loves spending time with her family, which includes her husband, 3 kids, 2 pointers, and 2 cats.

Dr. Ashley Walker grew up in a small town about 100 miles west of Chicago where she had many cats, a few box turtles, and a corn snake. After graduating high school, Dr. Walker left home to earn a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale where she studied Zoology and earned a separate certification in companion animal nutrition. Once earning a bachelor’s degree Dr. Walker did not go directly into veterinary school; but instead pursued different aspects of veterinary medicine. She completed a 4-month internship at the California Wildlife Center where she worked with primarily birds of prey and sea lions as well as a 6-month internship at the Animal Nutrition Center at Disney’s Animal Kingdom where she prepared diets for zoo species and aided in a study regarding iron deficiency in captive rhinos. After returning from Florida, Dr. Walker worked as a veterinary technician for two years in Carbondale, Illinois.

Once starting veterinary school at University of Minnesota Dr. Walker discovered that feline medicine was a veterinary specialty and began dedicating her career goals to addressing the unique needs of feline patients and their families. Dr. Walker spent her clinical year at multiple feline exclusive practices, earned a Cat Friendly Veterinarian Certification from the American Association of Feline Practitioners, and spent two weeks offering free spay/neuter services to stray cats in Greece. As a graduate of the class of 2022 Dr. Walker was excited to begin her career at Vale Park and share her passion for cats with the community.

In her free time Dr. Walker loves spending time outdoors by hiking, backpacking, and running. She shares her home with her husband Vinny, who works at Valparaiso University, and her cat named Merlin.