Dr Jennifer Goetz has loved animals her entire life. The first thing she ever asked her daddy for was a pet Hamster! (Unfortunately, the pet store was out of Hamsters and he locked his keys in the car!) Since 7th grade, she has wanted to become a veterinarian. She started first by volunteering at an animal hospital in 1984. She moved to North Carolina to go to veterinary school at NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine in 1992, starting there in 1993.

Dr Goetz now lives in Pittsboro with her husband, teenage daughter, six dogs, eight indoor cats, three outdoor feral cats, a dwarf bunny, chickens, guinea hens, fish, and many many plants. Her adopted fur babies include our amazing AHBC Hospital Cat, Slick. Slick is a senior Diabetic Main Coon kitty who has called AHBC home for several years.

Education and Experience

In 1992, Dr Goetz earned her undergraduate degree in Animal Science with Distinction (a research/ thesis degree), with minors in Biology and Chemistry, from the University of Delaware (Go Blue Hens!) She graduated from North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine in 1997.

Dr Goetz Graduated in the top 5 percent of her Veterinary Class. She served for a year as President of the NCSU CVM’s Student Chapter of the American Association of Feline Practitioners. Dr Goetz has learned the rare art of cat whispering! Learn all about Cat whispering.

In 1998, Dr Goetz completed a vigorous internship in Small Animal Surgery and Internal Medicine in Irving, Texas (between Dallas and Fort Worth). Her work included in-depth training in emergency medicine, complete internal medicine cases, complex surgical cases, and a rotation in both Veterinary Dermatology and Veterinary Ophthalmology.

After the internship, Dr Goetz moved back to North Carolina. She worked as a relief veterinarian for 6 months at Tri County Veterinary Service in Eli Whitney North Carolina (they have a traffic light now but were a one flashing light town back then). There she learned that treating the staff, clients, and patients like family is one of the most important things. She then worked at Bowman Animal Hospital for eight years.

Dr Goetz had always said she never wanted to have children or open her own Veterinary Practice. One day that all changed and she decided to do both! Her daughter, Celeste, was born in October 2005. She then opened Animal Hospital at Brier Creek in July 2007 so she could practice “Where Pets Are Family”.

The AHBC team practices Fear Free Veterinary Medicine and Low Stress Handling. We also live by our Core Values, PETS: Patient care, Education of the team and pet parents, Trust and Honesty, and Sincerity, friendliness and kindness.

Hobbies and Fun

Dr Goetz’s many hobbies include gardening, sewing, making jewelry, and taking care of her many fur children. Her husband, Kevin is a Systems Controls Programmer who enjoys gardening, computers, and taking care of his fish tank, fish pond, and chickens.

Dr Goetz’s daughter, who now goes by Lynx, is a senior in high school and looking forward to college next year. They are most interested in pursuing a career in psychology with an emphasis in music therapy.