Our staff members are fully committed to our mission of providing compassionate, exceptional veterinary care. All our doctors, assistants and technicians are well trained and receive ongoing education to remain up-to-date on the latest issues and advancements in veterinary care. We work together to ensure your pet’s health, safety and comfort. You can learn more about your pet’s caregivers by clicking their name or photo below.
Doctors
Dr. Ginger GarlieDr. Ginger Garlie is the owner and founder of Rivertown Animal Hospital. She started Rivertown in 1996, at its previous location across from Stillwater Area High School. In the early days, the staff consisted of Dr. Garlie and Niki. Today the practice has grown to 15 employees. One of the most rewarding aspects of her career, as the practice has grown, was planning and building at the Liberty Village location. The new location has allowed the practice to expand its high-quality services to a larger population of clients and in the process receive an award for veterinary clinic design from Veterinary Economics Magazine.
Dr. Garlie graduated from the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1985. She also has a degree from the University of Minnesota in biology. Her career choice came naturally to her as she followed in the footsteps of her veterinarian father and brother. Growing up in a family of veterinarians, Dr. Garlie’s love for animals started early. Many hours of her childhood were spent traveling with her father to farms in the Northfield area as he provided veterinary care to a variety of animals.
While Dr. Garlie enjoys all aspects of her practice, she has a special interest in veterinary dentistry. She annually attends dental training and is a member of the Association of Veterinary Dentists. Her investment in training and state-of-the-art equipment keeps Rivertown at the front edge of veterinary dental care and services.
Dr. Garlie shares her home with two miniature schnauzers, Gigi and Holly. They love to come to work with their mom.
Dr. Mary ArnesenDr. Arnesen is a 1983 graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota. She has a B.S. in biology from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Dr. Arnesen has been practicing in the Stillwater area since 1985. At the time she began practicing veterinary medicine, pain management for cats and dogs was limited. As a result, Dr. Arnesen became interested in veterinary chiropractic and acupuncture. Both of these alternative treatments have dramatically helped her patients. Dr. Arnesen received her certification in Veterinary Acupuncture in 1995, and her certification in Veterinary Chiropractic Options for Animals in 2001. She continues to pursue alternative choices for the health of her patients and is currently enrolled in Chinese Herbal Medicine at the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS).
Dr. Arnesen has a variety of pets and special friends: her African grey parrot, Dusty; her canary, Mr. Orange; Tuna her cat; Chewie, the princess Shihtzu; Chaco, her golden retriever; and her horse, Baxter.
Dr. Carrie ThorsonDr. Thorson graduated from the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000. She has worked at Rivertown Animal Hospital since January 2006. Prior to joining the Rivertown staff, Dr. Thorson practiced at Rockford Road Animal Hospital in Plymouth. She has a passion for learning and frequently attends veterinary continuing education courses.
Rivertown frequently hosts tours of our facility for local elementary schools. As part of their tour, each group receives instruction on dog safety and preventing dog bites from Dr. Thorson, who is certified in teaching dog-bite prevention to children through the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA). She has also been instrumental in developing and planning the curriculum for Rivertown Animal Hospital’s Mini Vet School program for children.
Dr. Thorson grew up in Maplewood. She and her husband, Greg, currently reside in White Bear Lake with their daughter Abigail. Their family was fortunate to adopt their dog, Ozzie, in 2010 from Second Chance Animal Rescue. Ozzie is a three-year-old terrier mix and is a wonderful addition to their family. In her time away from the clinic, Dr. Thorson enjoys baking, reading and spending time with her family.
Staff
HeidiHeidi is a 2009 graduate from the Minnesota School of Business with a degree in veterinary technology. She has been at Rivertown since her graduation. Heidi’s experience includes an externship at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Roseville. Heidi has always loved animals and is grateful for the opportunity to be making a difference in their lives. Her pets include three cats – Cassie, Ginger and Daemon and one dog-Rocky, a recent rescue.
Heidi hopes to someday continue her education, majoring in forestry and wildlife management. In the meantime, she enjoys her work at Rivertown, gaining valuable experience that helps fuel her lifelong passion of working with animals.
JadeJade is the newest member of our front desk team. Jade loves working with animals and with people. Working at Rivertown is an opportunity for her to do both. Jade also attends Century Technical College pursuing a degree in Human Services. Jade and her husband share their home with their loving dog Tiberius and snuggly cat Salem. She enjoys painting, snowboarding and spending time with her family.
KatieSince graduating from Argosy University in 2009, Katie has been a veterinary technician at Rivertown. She also interned at Rivertown prior to receiving her degree. Katie grew up in a home with many pets and has always loved animals. As a teenager she had multiple hamsters, mice and rats. Katie and her husband, Jim, have two dogs, Maeby and Helo; three cats, Coco, Harvey and Kikyo; and three ferrets, Scarlett, Mookie and Cooper. Katie and Jim are currently pregnant with their first child, a boy, and can’t wait to be parents!
KirstinKirstin is a 2001 graduate of the Madison Area Technical College with an associate’s degree in applied science – veterinary technology. Before joining Rivertown, she was a veterinary technician for a clinic in Madison, and an animal health technician at the Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine at UCLA. Kirstin has a great passion and love for animals and special interests in client communication/education and surgery. Kirstin understands the importance of the human-pet bond and considers it a priority when working with Rivertown clients.
Kirstin and her husband, Jeff, have a family of pets that includes three cats, Jasmine, Spike and Stanley; two dogs, Nova and Alice; and two goldfish, Marv and Lucille. Kirstin and Jeff love their pets and can’t imagine life without them.
LaurenLauren was hired as a veterinary assistant at Rivertown in 2005. Prior to working at Rivertown she was employed at Goldwood Kennels. Her passion for animals has led her to a career in veterinary medicine. Lauren is currently a student at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. She will graduate in 2013. Lauren continues to work part time at our clinic. Lauren’s husband, Nate, is a Sergeant First Class in the Army Reserve and recently completed a tour of duty in Iraq. Lauren and Nate’s pets are their dog, Gretchen, two cats, Mattie and Suki, and a rabbit named Amos.
MelindaMelinda joined Rivertown after being a client for nearly a decade. Melinda works part time performing a variety of administrative functions. Her previous experience includes administrative and management positions in a government law office. She has a business degree from the College of Saint Catherine and a paralegal certificate from Inver Hills College. Melinda is totally devoted to her companion and best friend Zoe, her nine-year-old Maltese. As a client, Melinda was impressed with the care and love her dog received. Now that she is a member of the Rivertown staff, she is even more impressed with the care that animals and clients receive at Rivertown.
MollyMolly has been a veterinary technician at Rivertown for 11 years. She attended Globe College. Molly was raised on a hobby farm and her love for animals began when she was very young. Molly loves animals and people, too! She enjoys meeting new people and always has a smile to share. If you are a client at Rivertown, you know Molly rarely forgets the name of a pet or an owner. Her pets include her four-year-old British Yellow Lab, Macy, and two cats, Scooter and Mable. Away from work, Molly enjoys the outdoors and her active social life with her family and friends.
NikiNiki is the lead CVT (certified veterinary technician) at Rivertown Animal Hospital. She is a 1992 graduate of the Veterinary Technology Program at Argosy University. Niki has worked with Dr. Garlie since the hospital opened in 1996. Her previous work experience includes four years at the Animal Emergency Clinic. In her free time, Niki enjoys fishing, four-wheeling and snowmobiling with her fiancé, Pat. Together they have multiple pets – three Chihuahuas, Gina, Dottie and Andy; a Weimaraner, Rocco; and two cats, Boomer and Sally. Niki and Pat love their “kids.”
SandySandy is one of the friendly faces you will see at our front desk. Sandy was a member of the Rivertown staff 10 years ago and rejoined our staff in 2011 as a client service representative. She is excited to be back and in a career she loves. In addition to her years working in veterinary medicine, Sandy has 30 years’ experience in advertising and marketing. She has a long history of owning and working with animals. Currently her animal friends include her four-year-old greyhound, Hamish; her two-year-old whippet, Porsche; and her horse, Barack. She is the energetic parent of a 13-year-old son.
StacieStacie has been a CVT at Rivertown since graduating from Argosy University’s Certified Veterinary Technician program in 2006. She is also a graduate of the Culinary Arts School at Madison Area Technical College. Before her education and work in veterinary medicine, Stacie had a 10-year career in the food industry. It was her love of animals, and the unconditional love they give, that prompted her career change. She was raised in River Falls, growing up with lots of animals – bunnies, guinea pigs, a parakeet, hermit crabs, fish, a collie named Tippy, and a blue-eyed white cat named Whiskers. Stacie and her husband, Tom, have two children, Jasper and Coralee. Their pets include Santana, a humane society dog who is a 90-pound German shepherd/husky mix, and two cats, Zorro and Xena.
