Spay Neuter Clinic of the CarolinasVeterinary team

Antonia Gardner grew up in northwest Florida, attending undergraduate school at the University of West Florida in Pensacola. She graduated with her veterinary degree from the University of Florida in 2004, after which she completed a small animal/ exotic internship at Florida Veterinary Specialists and North Bay Animal Hospital. In 2005 she moved to SE Florida and began a diverse career, practicing small animal and emergency medicine, spay, and neuter of exotic pets, and becoming the medical director at the South Florida Wildlife Center. Besides her clinical responsibilities, Dr. Gardner enjoys research, lecturing, and mentoring veterinary students. In 2022, Dr. Gardner, husband Dr. Makowski, and son Cayeden were thrilled to move to Charlotte NC, to enjoy the beautiful scenery and seasons that North Carolina has to offer. They are looking forward to hiking, rafting, camping, and other outdoor activities. Dr. Gardner is a self-described “bird nerd”, and currently shares her home with two spoiled dogs, Wennie and Nugget, and a chunky, demanding guinea pig named G. Fluff. She is looking forward to serving Spay Neuter Clinic of the Carolina’s clientele and learning more about the greater Charlotte area!

Dr. Carmichael grew up in Tennessee and completed his veterinary training at the University of Tennessee after undergraduate training at Baylor University.  Before moving to Charlotte, he spent most of the last 15 years living and practicing in Wyoming. He is passionate about providing the best care for pets and working with owners to exceed expectations of care. Dr. Carmichael and his wife have a wild two year old son that entertains them constantly. They enjoy adventures in the woods and mountains, tennis, skiing, and biking to restaurants and breweries. Dr. Carmichael recently completed training for an additional career as a pharmacist and is excited about the opportunities that provides as well as how it intersects with veterinary medicine. 

Since graduating, she has gained valuable experience in emergency and general practice, developing as a skilled surgeon and dedicated patient advocate. She enjoys working with chronic disease management, preventative care, breed-specific therapy, and dental disease treatment, including extractions. With extensive knowledge in metabolic disease, allergies, skin conditions, and nutrition, she is committed to providing comprehensive care.

She is fear-free certified and passionate about advocating for fearful patients. She takes the time to educate clients and collaborates with them to develop personalized treatment and preventative care plans tailored to each pet’s unique needs.

Dr. Barnes is married and the proud mother of two young boys, along with two border collies and rabbits. Outside of work, when she’s not caring for animals, she enjoys tending to her garden. A fun fact about her is that she sang the National Anthem at her Auburn DVM graduation ceremony. War Eagle!

She is excited to be part of this team and looks forward to caring for your pets as if they were her own.

Tammy has been instrumental in building, up-fitting, remodeling, staffing, and opening other veterinary facilities in the area and has implemented and organized multiple local low-cost spay/neuter and vaccine clinics for the public. Tammy also helps with several local animal hospitals and rescue groups, and even sat on a Charlotte area Board of Directors for a non-profit organization as their Treasurer for 4 years.

Tammy currently has one dog, one mouse, and one cat, but her house is often filled with squirrels, opossums, and other wildlife. In her spare time, she enjoys singing, gardening, and watching her favorite college sports.

Cris was born and raised in California. After graduating from high school, she took a summer trip to North Carolina to visit her Aunt and has lived here ever since. Cris was about 6 years old when she discovered her passion for animals. She has been in the veterinary field since 1996 and is also a full-time pet sitter. During her spare time, she enjoys the comforts of home with her cats, Charlotte and Momma Kitty.

I was born and raised in Peoria, IL. I have always loved animals since I was little, and seeing I was too young to work at eight years old, my sister and I started a pet-sitting business in our neighborhood, and I kept it going for over ten years, expanding to other surrounding areas. I was able to start my veterinary career in a clinic when I was 16 years old.

I have also lived in Youngstown, Ohio, where I worked as a vet assistant before moving to Monroe, North Carolina, where I plan on getting my veterinary technician degree.

In my free time, I enjoy making bread, organizing, riding horses, or doing anything else outdoors. I currently have one dog (German shepherd/sheltie mix) named Maya and a calico kitty named Hannah.

In her free time, she loves playing video games, reading books, thrifting, hiking, solving jigsaw puzzles, and creating all kinds of art, such as jewelry and drawing. Her favorite part of working with animals is connecting with animals and the people who care for them, as well as learning all the quirks of the animals themselves.

Laura was born in Bogotá, Colombia. Since she was a child, she has always had a strong sense of caring for animals. She began rescuing stray animals at the age of 10 and eventually studied veterinary medicine to help them in a clinical setting. She has lived in the United States since 2024 and seeks to continue her studies and her passion for animals.

She has a beautiful cat named Motita, who has been with her since she was a child. During their time together, she has experienced the endless and unconditional love of a pet.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and practicing her favorite sport, taekwondo, which she has practiced since she was 13.

Stephanie was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. Stephanie got her first dog at the age of 17; this new interest led to her stepping into the veterinary field, which later sparked and fueled her passion even more for helping animals. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the city for new things to do and new places to eat with her boyfriend, but when she’s home, she loves spending time with all 3 of her fur babies, and baking all kinds of homemade doggie treats.