Brunswick Forest Veterinary Hospital is a state of the art AAHA accredited and certified Cat Friendly Practice that has been open and serving the greater Leland area since February of 2011. We offer preventative care, digital radiology, behavior modification, dental prophylaxis, in-house comprehensive lab work, bathing, boarding, and more. Bring all your furry, feathered, and scaley loved ones in to see us! Call us today to schedule an appointment!

Meet Our Team

DR. PATRICK TERRY
Owner and Veterinarian

Dr. Patrick Terry graduated from North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine class of 1995. He has been practicing in small animal, exotic, and wildlife since graduation with recent experience working for a major veterinary pharmaceutical company. He was also a member of the National Veterinary Response Team from 2002 to 2017. As a member he was deployed to six hurricanes, spending five weeks in Mississippi and New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and two weeks in Brooklyn, Coney Island, and the Rockaways after Hurricane Sandy. He attended the G8 Summitt in 2004 and aided as veterinarian to the bomb-sniffing dogs at the UN General Assembly & for the Pope's visit to the U.S. He is currently studying to become certified in Chinese Herbal Medicine to be applied in practice when completed. Dr.Terry has been an active Free Mason since 2004 and lives in the area with his wife, two boys, one dog, two cats, and guinea pig.

DR. RICHARD ZIELINSKI
Owner and Veterinarian

Dr. Rich Zielinski is originally from St. Croix, USVI. "Dr. Z" pursued his undergraduate degree at Wittenberg University in Ohio and graduated with a B.A. in Business Administration in 1991. He moved with his wife to North Carolina and received a B.S. in Microbiology at North Carolina State University. In 2003, he received his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University. Before moving to Leland to open Brunswick Forest Veterinary Hospital, he practiced in the Piedmont Triad area for eight years. Dr. Z is really excited and proud to now be a part of the coastal community. He currently lives in the area with his wife of 22 years, their two daughters, and two small mixed breed dogs.

TAMARA RINEHART
Registered Veterinary Technician

Tamara joined our team right before the pandemic start in 2020. She started her career in veterinary medicine working in emergency/specialty. She graduated from Front Range Community College in Fort Collins, Colorado with an A.S. In Veterinary Technology in 2016. She spent her last 6 months of tech school working at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital where she developed a passion for exotics, anesthesia and surgery. She moved to Raleigh, NC after graduation and worked as an Anesthesia technician at VSH/Blue Pearl in Durham before settling down in Wilmington. She enjoys hiking with her two dogs, Hela Bowie and Dixie and dressing up her bearded dragon, Jörmungandr.

EMILY LENNON
Registered Veterinary Technician

Emily came to us from the busy life at an animal emergency hospital where she monitored the patients in the intensive care unit. She joined our team in the summer of 2013 and works with us full-time assisting in surgery, appointments, and hospitalized cases. Originally, she is from Syracuse, New York, and bleeds orange in dedication to her hometown. Emily enjoys spending time at the beach, keeping up with Syracuse University sports, and all things Dave Matthews Band. She lives with her two children, and two cats, Bagherrah and Marmalade.

ERIN WEINZAPFEL
Registered Veterinary Technician

Erin was born and raised in northern California. She graduated from Piedmont Technical College receiving her Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology in 2013. North Carolina became home in 2013. She now lives in Leland with her horse, Pepsi, two dogs, Arlow and Lex, three cats, Squish, Rafiki and Mort, and two guinea pigs, Moose and Pickett. Erin has been with the team since February of 2015.

ARIANA SMITH
Registered Veterinary Technician

KAYLA "AJ" ROGERS
Receptionist

Ariana was born and raised in New Jersey and attended college in the mountains of North Carolina, where she graduated in 2015 with a B.S. in Biology and an Associate's Degree in Psychology. She joined our team in April 2016 after working as an assistant at a referral center. She is currently enrolled in an online Veterinary Technician Program to work towards becoming a Registered Technician. Ariana coaches a local girls soccer team and enjoys playing in her free time. She enjoys hiking and hanging with her pup on the beach. She currently lives in Wilmington with her dogs, Zee and Nova.

Kayla Rogers left a busy emergency clinic to join our team in 2020. She has grown up right here in Brunswick County. Kayla completed an Associate’s Degree from Brunswick Community College and received a Veterinary Assisting Certificate from Animal Behavior College. She has worked in many positions in the veterinary field, but has settled on receptionist so she can assist owners, but mostly because she can love on all the puppies without having to be the one to give them injections! Kayla cares for 4 cats, Mittens, Keanu, Vivi and Echo, each with their own special care requirement.

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