Dr. Gretchen Sanzone has been caring for the pets and families of Forever Friends since October 2015, and proudly became the owner of the practice just two months later. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2001 and brings more than two decades of veterinary experience to her work.

Her special medical interests include behavior and pain management, but what she loves most is watching her patients grow, thrive, and enjoy long, healthy lives. She is especially proud of the lasting relationships she has built with her coworkers, clients, and their beloved pets.

Outside of the hospital, Gretchen enjoys CrossFit, reading, hiking and a good crime podcast! Her home is always full of furry companions, including her three dogs—Bo, June, and Patrick—and two cats, T’Challa and Nyx.

When she’s not caring for patients, you can usually find her spending time with her husband and their two grown children. And if there’s one thing that will always make her smile, it’s a yummy donut!

Dr. Sanzone feels incredibly fortunate to do what she loves every day and to be part of the Forever Friends family!

Alex joined the Forever Friends family in 2009 after graduating from Cuyahoga Community College’s Veterinary Technology program. Since then, he has become an invaluable part of our team, serving as both a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) and our talented Hydrotherapist.

One of Alex’s favorite parts of his job is working with dogs in our hydrotherapy pool. Whether he’s helping an injured pup get back on their paws or giving a senior dog a little extra pep in their step, Alex loves watching his patients build strength, confidence, and quality of life.

At home, Alex enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter, and handsome cat, Nooksy. His family loves to travel and explore, and they’ve visited more than a dozen zoos from Colorado to Mexico! Their adventures also include cruising, hiking, and enjoying plenty of time at amusement parks.

When Alex isn’t caring for patients or planning the family’s next adventure, you might find him enjoying a good game of poker or adding to his impressive collection of Halloween decorations!

Alex brings a unique combination of veterinary expertise, compassion, and a love for keeping pets moving and feeling their best. We’re lucky to have him as part of our team!

Stephanie graduated from Stautzenberger College in 2019 with an Associate’s Degree in Animal Science and has been a valued member of the Forever Friends family for more than 8 years as a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT).

One of Stephanie’s favorite areas of veterinary medicine is dentistry. She loves helping both dogs and cats feel more comfortable by providing quality dental care—because healthy teeth make for happier smiles! She also treasures working alongside her amazing coworkers and watching her patients grow and change over the years. There’s nothing quite like seeing a puppy become a lifelong patient!

Outside of Forever Friends, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, and pets. When she isn’t working, you might find her curled up with a good book or coaching at a cheerleading competition. And after a busy day, there’s one thing that makes everything even better—a slice of cheesecake!

Stephanie’s passion for veterinary medicine, her love of dentistry, and the relationships she builds with both pets and their families make her a special part of the Forever Friends team.

With more than 40 years of dedication to Forever Friends, Liz is truly part of the heart and history of our team! She began her journey as a doctor’s assistant, caring for both small animals and horses, and has since grown into her roles as a Receptionist and Inventory Manager at the hospital.

Liz has always loved helping clients and their furry family members live happy, healthy lives, and her years of experience bring a wealth of knowledge, compassion, and a familiar, friendly face to Forever Friends.

When she’s not at the hospital, Liz enjoys spending time with her husband, grandchildren, and cats. She also loves trail riding with their horses, traveling, gardening, and reading a good book. With a lifelong love of animals, Liz truly embodies what it means to be a Forever Friend!

With an educational background in Medical Assisting, she began her career working in a doctor’s office before realizing that her true passion was caring for four-legged patients!

She has been a valued member of the Forever Friends family for an incredible 23 years and is the receptionist at our Care Center. One of her favorite parts of her job is meeting new clients and their pets while continuing to build the special relationships she has developed with the many families who have trusted Forever Friends with their pets over the years.

When she’s not at Forever Friends, she enjoys spending time with her family and her own furry crew—including two Golden Retrievers and two cats. Outside of work, she loves baking and reading a good book.

Tawnie is one of the newest additions to the Forever Friends family, joining our team last year as a Hospital Receptionist. She quickly became a familiar, friendly face at the front desk and loves being part of a team that cares for both pets and the people who love them.

At home, Tawnie has a full house of her own with one dog, three cats, five kids, and her husband! Needless to say, life is always busy—and never boring!

When she’s not welcoming clients at Forever Friends, Tawnie enjoys tackling home improvement projects and spending quality time with her family. Some of their favorite adventures include visiting zoos, enjoying a day at Cedar Point, or simply relaxing together with a good movie.

Tawnie loves getting to know our clients, creating welcoming experiences, and being part of the Forever Friends family!

Matt has been an invaluable member of the Forever Friends family for more than 10 years, working as a Lodging Attendant at our Care Center. His favorite part of the job is caring for our boarding guests, earning their trust, and making every dog feel right at home—just like they’re one of his own!

Matt has a special companion who sometimes joins him at work—his dog, EmmyLou! EmmyLou is a social butterfly and a favorite doggy daycare bestie, so she definitely knows how to keep the fun going while Dad is at work!

Whether he’s caring for our overnight guests or spending time with his four-legged friends, Matt brings a genuine love for animals and a commitment to making every pet feel safe, happy, and loved during their stay at Forever Friends.

Chris has been part of the Forever Friends family for over 10 years, and throughout that time, he’s had the opportunity to care for both people and their pets in his roles as a Care Center Receptionist and Lodging Attendant. He loves spending time with our furry guests and helping make sure every pet feels comfortable, cared for, and right at home.

When he’s not busy taking care of our guests, Chris enjoys getting creative! You might find him sketching, creating art, or enjoying his favorite music. At home, he has two cats of his own, Angie and Bug, who keep him well supplied with feline companionship.

For the past 6 years, Dawn has been part of the Forever Friends family—and she’s been happily spoiling pets ever since! As a valued Lodging Attendant on our Care Center team, Dawn loves getting to know each pet and helping make sure they feel safe, happy, and right at home during their stay with us.

One of her favorite parts of the job is working alongside her wonderful coworkers and, of course, spending time with all of the furry guests in her care.

When Dawn isn’t at Forever Friends, she has quite the crew waiting for her at home—5 dogs, 5 cats, and a mini pony! With that much animal love in her life, it’s safe to say Dawn has never met a pet she couldn’t spoil!

Sophia has been part of the Forever Friends team for the past 2 years, and she has quickly become one of our Care Center guests’ biggest fans! As a valued member of our team, Sophia loves caring for animals and making sure every pet gets plenty of attention, love, and—of course—a little extra spoiling during their stay.

Outside of Forever Friends, Sophia puts her creativity to work as a Nail Technician—because who doesn’t love a good pedi?! When she’s not pampering people or pets, Sophia enjoys life at home with her two cats.

And one more fun fact: Sophia is vegan and has a big heart for animals of all kinds!

Please welcome Julia, the newest member of the Forever Friends team! As our Assistant Groomer, Julia is excited to continue learning and perfecting her grooming skills while helping every pet look and feel their very best. She loves bringing out each dog and cat’s unique personality with a fresh, stylish look—and making sure they leave feeling pampered, confident, and fabulous!

We’re excited to have Julia on the team and can’t wait to see all the happy, freshly groomed faces she helps create!