Veterinarian
Dr. Gretchen Sanzone
Dr. Gretchen Sanzone

Practice Owner & Veterinarian

Dr. Gretchen Sanzone

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!

Management

Stephanie
Stephanie

RVT/Manager

Stephanie

Stephanie started her journey with Forever Friends in 2008 as a Lodging Attendant while interning at the Hospital, then becoming an RVT in2009. She has served as Lead Technician since 2010. Over the years, she has cared for countless patients, supported her teammates, and played an important role in helping Forever Friends grow.

Now, Stephanie is taking on an exciting new chapter! After completing her Undergraduate Certificate in Veterinary Practice Management, she will be gradually phasing off the treatment floor and transitioning into her new role as Practice Manager for Forever Friends. While she may be spending less time in scrubs and more time behind the scenes, her passion for our patients, clients, and team will remain at the heart of everything she does.

Outside of Forever Friends, Stephanie loves jet-setting with her husband, tending to her little farmette filled with goats and chickens, and wrangling her three dogs and two cats. She is a total foodie, loves a good home improvement project, and keeps life busy with all the things she enjoys. After nearly two decades with Forever Friends, Stephanie is excited to bring her experience, knowledge and love for the team into her new role-and we’re excited to see where this next chapter takes her!

Chardonnay
Chardonnay

Hospital Supervisor

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is the undisputed queen of Forever Friends Pet Care Center & Hospital. Her daily responsibilities include supervising the staff, judging everyone’s life choices, and making sure her personal standards of service are being met.

Nothing brings Chardonnay more joy than casually strolling past a canine patient, sitting just out of reach, and staring them directly in the eyes with the confidence of someone who knows there is absolutely nothing they can do about it. Barking? Whining? Excitement? Chardonnay remains completely unbothered.

When she isn’t terrorizing—or rather, supervising—the canine population, Chardonnay can be found lounging in a sunny window, napping in inappropriate places, wandering through the hospital like she owns it, or judging staff and clients from a safe and elevated location.

And then there are the Churus. Chardonnay firmly believes that Churu should be provided by her devoted peasants every five minutes, with no exceptions. She considers anything less than continuous Churu service to be a serious failure of management.

Despite her demanding personality and questionable work ethic, Chardonnay has an important role around Forever Friends. She brings a little humor to busy days, provides plenty of sass and reminds everyone that sometimes the best medicine is a ridiculously spoiled clinic cat. She does not seek approval. She simply exists—and expects everyone else to accommodate her. Her official motto?

“I don’t work here. I simply allow you all to work here.”

Registered Veterinary Technicians

Alex
Alex

RVT & Hydrotherapist

Alex

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
Stephanie

RVT

Stephanie

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.

Customer Service Representatives

Liz
Liz

Receptionist & Inventory Manager

Liz

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!

Jan
Jan

Care Center Receptionist

Jan

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.

Lodging Attendants

Matt
Matt

Lodging Attendant

Matt

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
Chris

Care Center Receptionist & Lodging Attendant

Chris

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.

Dawn
Dawn

Lodging Attendant

Dawn

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
Sophia

Lodging Attendant

Sophia

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!

Grooming Assistant

Julia
Julia

Assistant Groomer

Julia

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!