Our Vets

Dr Laurel Harris

Dr. Harris obtained her DVM from The Ohio State University in 1992. She practiced traditional small animal medicine, both general practice and emergency, prior to completing an internship at the Birmingham Zoo. She spent several years working in the zoo field, including a staff vet position at Utah's Hogle Zoo. Recognizing that a huge need existed for high-quality comprehensive veterinary care for the exotic pets in the Salt Lake Valley, she established WEPC in 2004. WEPC moved into their own facility at our current location in 2009, became fully exotic-exclusive in 2015, and underwent a remodel shortly after that, tripling the size of the original facility. Dr. Harris has provided backup veterinary support for the Tracy Aviary and worked as the consulting veterinarian for the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium. She is a member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians and the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians, also serving 6 years on the executive board of AEMV. Dr. Harris is an avid birder with a life list of over 700 species.

Dr Mary Dickerson

Dr. Mary Dickerson grew up in St. Louis, MO and graduated from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 2005.  She moved to Utah with her husband and daughters in 2014.  Dr. Dickerson has had an exciting and varied career taking care of everything from cats and dogs, to monkeys, sheep, pigs (and so much more) in a University setting, and now exotic pets.

Veterinary Technicians/ Assistants

Reed

Reed is our tech team lead and has been with us since late 2018. He is responsible for monitoring patients during surgery and making sure the clinic has what it needs.  He also manages a fantastic team of veterinary technicians. Loves animals and gives them the very best of care. You will see him in most of our demo videos on our website.

Shae

Shae has worked at WEPC since the summer of 2024. She has always loved animals and has had the goal of being a veterinarian since kindergarten! Shae is currently in college majoring in biology and has plans to go to vet school. She has previously worked in dog and cat veterinary care but realized that exotics speak to her more as she has owned over 30 species of reptiles, as well as amphibians and invertebrates. She currently owns 3 ball pythons of varying morphs, a savannah monitor, 2 plated lizards, a tiger salamander, and 2 tarantulas. She also has a sphynx cat and a tuxedo cat! 

Ella

Ella, is a valuable part of our tech team and the front desk! With a lifelong passion for animals, it is a dream for her to be working around exotics. She is currently working on her degree, so that one day she can become a Veterinarian. She loves all animals, insects included! 

Liza

Receptionists

Alannah

Alannah has loved animals since she was young and has known for a long time that she wanted to work with them in some caliber. She has always felt a very deep empathy with animals of all kinds and hates even killing aphids. After coming on board with WEPC as a receptionist with the option of becoming a tech in 2018, she realized quickly that vet tech work was not for her and is content working as WEPCs lead receptionist. She hopes to one day work with ambassador animals in education programs, but for now is gaining experience and knowledge with exotic animals. She currently has a milk snake, a hognose, and a leopard gecko, but has also had a cat, a bearded dragon, hamsters, red eared sliders, aquatic frogs, jumping spiders and even a hissing cockroach.

Ashlyn

Olivia

Olivia graduated in 2022 with an Associates Degree in Veterinary Technology. Currently in reception, she is excited to learn about all facets of veterinary medicine, and is ecstatic about working in exotics. She loves to crochet, play video games, watch her favorite shows, hang out with her animals, and recently acquired a robo hamster named Buck!