Dr. Nicole Belair, Owner & DVM

Dr. Belair joined the Pachaug Animal Hospital family in December 2019, upon Dr. Gay’s retirement. She grew up in Central Massachusetts and began her veterinary career as a volunteer at Westside Animal Clinic in Worcester shortly after starting high school. Throughout high school and college, she worked her way through the practice, gaining lots of experience and mentorship in all aspects of veterinary medicine. 

Dr. Belair earned her undergraduate degree from Assumption College in 2003 and then moved to Canada to attend veterinary school. She earned her DVM from the University of Prince Edward Island’s Atlantic Veterinary College in 2008. From there she completed a rotating internship at Kansas State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital where she received advanced training in surgery, emergency care and internal medicine. 

In 2009, Dr. Belair returned to southern New England and has been in general practice in Rhode Island and Connecticut ever since. Over the years she has pursued training in holistic medicine, nutrition, physical rehabilitation, ultrasound and clinical pathology. In 2019, she became certified as a veterinary acupuncturist through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. 

Dr. Belair loves all pets except snakes, treats mostly dogs and cats, and has soft spots for geriatric pets and Labrador retrievers. She lives in Moosup with two Labradors, Lennie and Fin, cats Norman and Carol, and is a keeper of honeybees.      

Ellie, Veterinary Technician

Hi There! My name is Ellie and I have been working at Pachaug Animal Hospital since May of 2018. You will mainly see me up at the front desk, but I am also currently cross-training to be a technician.

I have lived in Voluntown for my whole life and love to spend my days outside hiking and kayaking in our beautiful Pachaug Forest. My fur family consists of an extra-large black lab named Benny, a yellow lab named Maddie, and three cats named Lester, Pepper, and Louise. I am very passionate about animals and always treat all our furry patients like they are my own pets. I currently am earning my veterinary technician certification through Penn Foster college. It has helped greatly while simultaneously learning hands-on skills throughout the course of the work day. Stop in and say hi!

Liam, Veterinary Technician

Liam began his career in 2010 working as a kennel assistant, and quickly worked his way to becoming a technician over the next few years. Over the past decade, he has built experience in general practice, emergency, and specialty medicine with a focus on surgery and anesthesia.

Liam started working with Dr. Belair in 2018 and when the opportunity arose, he jumped on board with the crew at Pachaug Animal Hospital in 2020. Liam started as a surgery technician but is now a full-time technician.

In his free time, Liam enjoys taking their cat Dexter on strolls across their property in Moosup, playing tabletop games with his family, and enjoying the natural sights of Connecticut.

Becky, Veterinary Technician

Hi friends! Howl you doin’? I’m Becky and

 may have a familiar face to this local community. After graduating from East Lyme High School in 2011, my family and I moved to the Voluntown/ Griswold area. My career at Pachaug Animal Hospital is quickly approaching the 5 year milestone, although it feels like it’s been fur-ever. I’m also excited to mention I’m currently enrolled through Penn Foster College to obtain my Veterinary Technician Certification. 

My coworkers would describe me as having quite the punny bone. I’m pretty sure my daily jokes help them get through even the ruff-est of days. When I’m not being hounded to write my “about me”, I love spending time with my 2 dogs and 3 cats.  I also enjoy purr-fecting my culinary skills (Bone Appetit!), having a ball outdoors, and did I mention living for the puns of life? That being said, I’m paws-itively honored to be a part of the Pachaug team.

Paw-lease, hold the ap-paws.

Dog-gone it, I’m good.

Rhonda, Veterinary Technician

I started my career with animals 30 years ago, working for a local show kennel.  When I started business school, I made extra money working in the kennel of a small vet practice and when I graduated I realized I much preferred working in the veterinary field over a business office so I accepted a full time position as a technician trainee. 

Since then I have worked almost every veterinary support staff position at various hospitals, from surgery and dental technician to office manager.  I’m very excited to be part of the team here at Pachaug and am looking forward to working with our patients and clients.

Riley, Hospital Cat

Riley is an 13-year-old kitty who weaseled her way into Lydia’s life when she was a young stray by repeatedly breaking into her basement. Their family decided to keep her, and she spent the next decade living as a happy, fat house cat.

Her situation changed in late summer 2020 and Riley was suddenly without a lap to call her own. Dr. Belair was kind enough to offer a new place to call home, on one condition: Riley needed to enroll in Pachaug’s very first Fitness Camp. She has successfully lost 8.5 lbs since being an active member of our Fitness Camp over the past two years!

She now spends her time doing “sprints” up and down the hall, periodic leg lifts (when she needs to groom that hard-to-reach spot), and climbing into people’s laps for cuddles.

Vivian Louise, our long-lived and much-loved resident hospital cat, took her last nap on September 4, 2020.

It’s said that some cats have nine lives. If that’s the case, Vivian Louise lived multitudes.

Her kittenhood was spent with her brother, Godfrey, and Dr. Gay and Luchi, who adopted the duo in August 2001. The next year, Vivian Louise broke her leg under mysterious circumstances – never begrudge a lady her secrets – and, after being treated and recuperating here at PAH, she stayed on, excelling in her role as clinic mascot.

During her 19 remarkable years on this earth, she specialized in walking across keyboards, knocking things off counters, and dunking her head in whatever water glass she could find. Long-time clients probably remember seeing her sneaking into exam rooms and roaming the hospital halls as if she owned them.  

Rest in Peace, Vivian Louise, the very queen of cats.