Meet the Team
Meet our Professionals
Sayers Animal Hospital would like to take this opportunity to welcome you, your family and your special, furry family members to our website. As you browse and explore, it is our hope that you will learn more about our dedication to your family and the quality veterinary medicine and service we provide.
Our goal is to assemble a veterinary health care team committed to providing exceptional client service and veterinary health care. Our team displays an unrivaled commitment to our clients through continuing education, technological advances in veterinary medicine and service, and most importantly, administering compassionate care to all pets entrusted to us.
We hope to continue to serve Adkins, Texas as an outstanding veterinary hospital for many years to come!
Have a question?
Our team is dedicated to providing exceptional customer care and veterinary services for your fur family!
Dr. Claudia Whippo
Dr. Claudia Whippo graduated from Free University Berlin, Germany in 1994. She owned a clinic and practiced in England for seven years before she moved to the US in 2003. After working at a San Antonio clinic for two years, she purchased Sayers Animal Hospital in 2008.
Dr. Whippo loves treating animals of all kinds, from house cats and dogs to rabbits, pocket pets, and difficult to handle or feral cats. She also treats wildlife patients from Lone Oak Rehabilitation.
She has always enjoyed working with rescue groups and treats a lot of pets taken care of by the rescue organizations such as Homes for Pets.
Dr. Whippo shares her home with 15 cats and a peacock. In her spare time she enjoys hiking and traveling.
Evelyn 'Tootsie' LaFredo
Evelyn LaFredo has worked as a veterinary technician for many years and joined SAH in 2010. She dedicates much of her spare time to Homes for Pets, taking care of rescued cats and dogs.
Evelyn is our ‘cat whisperer’ and has the magic touch when it comes to scared or difficult to handle cats.
Other than cats and dogs, she also shares her life with parrots, chickens and horse.
Cecilia Rater
Cecilia Rater joined Sayers Animal Hospital in 2014. Since then she has worked as both receptionist and currently, as a Vet Technician.
Cecilia is always in good spirits and her laugh is infectious!
She shares her home with three dogs and four cats.
Courtney Heitman
Courtney Heitman has been a vet tech at Sayers Animal Hospital since 2015.
She dedicates lot of her personal time to taking care of sick or orphaned kittens and puppies and even takes them home so they have overnight care.
Courtney has a huge family of cats, dogs, horses, donkeys and more!
Sonja Forndran-Platt
Sonja joined Sayers Animal Hospital in 2019
She recently moved to the USA from Germany and has known Dr. Whippo for a very long time.
Sonja used to work as a nurse in Germany and supports us now as a Vet Tech and office help.
She has two cats, Mimi and Mary-Lou.
Shelley Burnham
Shelley re-joined Sayers Animal Hospital in August 2022 after 1 ½ years working in New Braunfels and we are delighted to have her back!
Shelley’s family includes four dogs and the cat Achilles who rules the household.
Jennie Timberlake
Jennie is our newest team member since March 2022.
Jennie has many years of experience in customer service and takes care of our clients on the phone and in person.
We receive many compliments about our new receptionist!
Jennie shares her life with Cash, a very spoiled dachsund.
Meet the Clinic Pets!
Say Hello to the clinic pets! We have two clinic cats that are very lively and participate in the daily activities.
Trouble was surrendered to SAH with a very badly broken leg. He adapted to the amputation of the leg very well and resides now in the reception area.
Jaws came to us about 4 years ago. One of our clients found him wondering the streets with a broken jaw and hoped Dr. Whippo could help him. After several surgeries Dr. Whippo was able to save him, lovingly named him Jaws and he now lives a happy life as one of our clinic cats.