Our Team
Founder
Dr. Shawn Stanton,DVM
AA Animal ER Center is owned and operated by Dr. Shawn Stanton. Dr. Stanton grew up in Palm Harbor, went to college in Florida, Iowa and Louisiana and happily settled back here in 2003. She started the ER Center in 2005. After graduating LSU she made her journey back home with a rescued bull, several cats, her loving yellow lab and her dedicated sheepdog. Her brood of animals has since changed but her love of all animals remains. She is a fierce leader that possesses so many wonderful qualities. Her drive is unwavering, and her ability to breathe through intense situations is remarkable. She is an idol to all of the staff and continues to put her staff before everything. She welcomes you with a loving smile. Those who are blessed to know her personally will tell you she is funny, loving, kind, honest and there is nothing she loves more than caring for pets when an emergency presents.
Practice Administrator
Shannon
Meet our Practice Administrator, Shannon. She came to work for AA Animal ER in 2016 when the roof collapsed in the ICU from so much rain and someone needed to oversee the repair and renovations. Shannon was actually retired at the time however she has been with us ever since. Shannon is the behind-the-scenes person who keeps the clinic running.
Shannon is a Florida native who grew up in Palm Harbor in the 70’s. She and her husband have traveled the US extensively and she commutes to AA Animal ER from Hernando County. Prior to retirement she owned her own business and is proud to have been in the first graduating class of Barry University Orlando Campus. Her love of animals includes horses and she is blessed to be able to provide a forever home for senior horses that nobody else wants.
Practice Manager
Kerry
Kerry is our practice manager here at AA Animal ER Center. She jumped into this role in 2020 with a loving approach and grace. She graduated from Florida State University in 2006 with a B.S. in Women's Studies. After twenty years of working in animal medicine, Kerry's heart will forever stay in this field. Her knowledge and skills in this trade are hard to come by. In Kerry’s down time you can find her hanging with her burly, bearded husband Chris. Their brood of pets includes Layla, her sweet lab mix, and three saucy cats. Some of her life favorites include, coffee, craft beer, ax throwing, swimming and anything Stephen King! Kerry, thank you for your hard work. We grow stronger together as an unstoppable team every day because of you!
Administrative Assistant
CHallice
If you asked Challice’s big Italian family what her favorite thing was when she was growing up, they would tell you animals! She had to have one of each. Challice joined our team in 2018 and has fit right in with the rest of the team. They share one passion and that is PETS! We can describe Challice as a strong problem solver. If there is a will, there is a way. She is married to her best friend, Todd. They have one beautiful twenty-year-old daughter, Neveah, who is their entire life. In her spare time you can find her caring for her five Arabian horses and 4 dogs. She tells us she has no favorites but the secret is, we know it is her beautiful Doberman, Athena. Her favorite pastime is enjoying family date nights and binge-watching Criminal Minds. Challice loves working at this hospital because it is a combination of compassion, light, honesty, problem solving, love, kindness, and hope.
Operations Manager
ERin
Biography Coming Soon!
Doctors
Dr. Chewcaskie
Sheryl Chewcaskie, DVM, DABVP specializes in canine and feline medicine. She has been an important part of the AA Animal ER team since 2013. She graduated from Tuskegee School of Veterinary Medicine, cum laude in 1994 and became an American Board of Veterinary Practitioners Diplomate in 2004.
She previously owned her own small animal practice but realized her true passion is emergency medicine and came to work with us full time in 2020.
She shares her home with her wonderful husband, David, along with their cats and one dog. Currently they are servants to three cats: Orville George, an orange tabby; Luna, a black cat who is Daddy’s girl and Simon, aka “The Punk”, a black and white, naughty tuxedo cat who was brought in as an injured kitten by a good Sam to AA Animal ER.
When not working saving lives, Dr. Chew can be found swimming laps, hiking or walking, practicing yoga, cooking and experimenting with new recipes and tending her beautiful garden of herbs, veggies and assorted plants, flowers and orchids.
She is an avid reader and a huge Stephen King fan, having read all his books over the years. She enjoys silly comedy movies and anything Sci-Fi.
Along with everything else in her life she is committed to help maintain high standards in veterinary education and is a member of the exam committee for ABVP, writing and overseeing exam questions submitted for the ABVP board exam for credentialed ABVP candidates.
We let her sleep occasionally.
Dr. parks
Dr. Parks grew up in central Massachusetts and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science with the distinction of cum laude in 2005. She then attended Tuskegee University in Alabama where she received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2009. After graduation, she moved to sunny Florida to be closer to her family. She worked in a small animal general practice in Pinellas county for 10 years, transitioning from associate DVM to Medical Director. Dr. Parks enjoys the fast-paced environment of emergency medicine as well as helping people and pets in a time of need. Dr. Parks is steady, confident, trustworthy and always smiling. In her off-time, she loves water related activities such as boating, swimming and scuba diving. She enjoys exercising and participating in races from 5k’s to half marathons. When not on the water or at work, Dr. Parks loves to travel and experience new places and cultures. She shares her home with her two dogs, Ashton and Nellie, as well as two cats named Sprout and Bean. Dr. Parks we are grateful you chose us!
Dr. Lavigne
David W. LaVigne, D.V.M. is a 1979 graduate of Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine and has had a varied career in Michigan, Maryland and Florida. We are fortunate he chose us to share all of his 40+ years of experience. Dr. LaVigne is also known as Captain Doctor Dave!!
He owned and operated his own veterinary hospital in central Michigan for twenty years before he and his wife decided to move aboard their boat and sail away. They cruised from the Great Lakes across the Erie Canal to the east coast and down to Chesapeake Bay. They enjoyed Baltimore so much they stayed for four years living aboard their boat. During that time Dr. LaVigne served as a staff clinician at a veterinary hospital in the Federal Hill neighborhood. After cruising the Chesapeake they headed down the Intercoastal Waterway to Florida, across to the Bahamas and down to the Caribbean. There they lived and cruised the island aboard their sailboat for another four years as he continued to serve on an as-needed basis for the pets of fellow cruisers and islanders they encountered along the way.
They returned to the United States and settled in Florida. Dr. LaVigne has been working emergency medicine ever since. He became a part of the AA Animal ER team in 2017.
With his unique experiences of sailing and traveling with pets, he enjoys sharing his knowledge and over the years he has given numerous seminars on cruising with pets at boat shows across the country and also written several articles for various cruising associations. Captain Doctor Dave has even authored two veterinary books for pet-owning sailors: Where There is No Pet Doctor? and Adapting Your Pet to Travel By Boat or RV and co-authored the book Island Hopping to the Caribbean with his wife Annie.
Dr LaVigne swims daily and enjoys traveling to Michigan to visit his grandchildren. They currently do not have any pets.
Dr. LUra
Biography Coming Soon!
Dr. Beckett
Biography Coming Soon!
Dr. BennetT
Biography Coming Soon!
Nurses
Ariel
Ariel is known here as our cat whisperer! Ariel is a CVT with more than 10 years of experience in veterinary medicine. She is originally from Georgia and relocated to Florida when she met her husband. Ariel has two active sons keeping her busy at all times, and 3 rescue cats named Peanut, Vinnie and Noodle. Ariel has a special interest in feline medicine. She is the Treasurer of FVTA (Florida Veterinary Technician Association) where she advocates for Certified Veterinary Technicians in Florida. Ariel is currently finishing her Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Veterinary Technology and plans to teach our future generation of vet tech students. Welcome aboard, Ariel!
CHristy
Christy has done many great things in the field of animal medicine. She studied Zoology at both Gulf Coast College and St. Petersburg College. Moving forward she quickly achieved her CVT. Christy has even been a caregiver at the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary! She has a love for wildlife and exotics and shares her home with a huge brood of animals! Dogs, cats, and even a big parrot! If ever you see Christy outside of work, check her pockets, because I would bet she is rearing up a baby squirrel. Thank You, Christy for all you do for so many animals! The world needs more humans like you!
Glenda
Biography Coming Soon!
Jessica
Jessica earned her A.S. in Veterinary Technology at St. Petersburg College in 2002 and has been working as a CVT ever since. Her primary focus involves small animal and emergency medicine. Her skills are all-encompassing and varied. She enjoys all aspects of emergency nursing, especially how different each case may be. She joined our AA Animal ER Center’s team in 2014. Prior to that, she worked in a day practice treating dogs, cats, and exotics for 15 years. Outside of nursing, she has been a professional, competitive dancer for 15 years and taught on the national level for an additional 4 years. She currently teaches dance performance at various high schools and is heavily involved with local high school band and color guard programs. Jessica has many cats she shares her Tarpon home with, and one of her favorite animals is the opossum.
jill
In 2011 Jillian began her career in the field of veterinary medicine. After working for eight years in preventative medicine, she looked for a change of pace. Realizing quickly that she was passionate about ER work, Jillian enrolled at St. Petersburg Veterinary College to achieve her CVT in 2018. We tell Jill she is a true TRAUMA NURSE! Handling the fast pace and challenging cases with pride and grace. Jillian is going to be a new bride this year and together they are a five-cat household! Jillian is currently working on her BS in health science. In her very little, precious, spare time she likes to go to the gym. She also has a passion for ballet. We are cheering you on, Jill!
Josie
Biography Coming Soon!
Melina
Biography Coming Soon!
Mitchell
Mitchell is a native Floridian who grew up in the New Port Richey area. He graduated from the St. Petersburg College Veterinary Technology program in 2017 and has been with AA Animal ER since his final semester. In his free time, Mitchell enjoys building computers, cooking, and spending time with his giant dog, Mouse and his cat, Grace. Mitchell has served his country as a US Marine and that makes us so proud. Thank you, Mitchell for your service here and as a Marine!
Mindy
Biography Coming Soon!
Karee
Biography Coming Soon!
Robin
Meet Robin, a warm gentle soul who provides a kind and loving presence for clients and patients. Robin is a confident, dynamic emergency nurse and long-time employee of AA Animal ER Center. She has extensive knowledge of veterinary medicine with experience in multiple specialties, including internal medicine and shelter medicine. Before starting her career as a CVT, Robin worked enthusiastically with marine animals. She is proud to advocate for all animals in need. She has two handsome sons that make her proud daily, as well as three cats and three dogs! Robin is most happy spending her days off with sun kissed skin, beach sand between her toes and counting her many blessings next to the salt water. We are grateful for our "Clinic Mom" Robin, and her hard-work, kind nature and endless desire to help clients and pets.
Assistants
Zach
When we think of Zach, we see the future. Zach grew up in Holiday, Florida. He is smart, loving, caring, and his work ethic is beyond compare. Zach has been working tirelessly on his B.S. in Integrative Animal Biology and with much excitement, his next journey will be Veterinary School to achieve his DVM. Zach has drive, determination, and can handle anything that comes his way. He is organized, supportive, and absolutely one of the funniest young men we know. He brings a smile to the face of anyone who crosses his path. Zach enjoys learning from the best. Zach has two cats that he spends all of his study time with, Vladerick and Squintin. This is just the beginning, Zach!