Meet Our Team in Peoria, IL
Prairie Animal Hospital is composed of compassionate individuals united by the same goal: providing high quality, lifelong care for pets and exceptional service for their families. Our team loves what we do and strives to offer veterinary care that enhances the human-animal bond you share with your beloved companion. Our team is proudly Fear Free and Cat Friendly Certified, which means we can assess and treat your pet in a low-stress environment, making each visit to our animal hospital more positive for both you and your pet.
Get to know our team and schedule an appointment with us today!
Rachael Kuhn-Siegel, DVM Veterinarian / Owner
Dr. Rachael Kuhn-Siegel, as a veterinarian, wishes to challenge the status quo by helping animals live the healthiest lives they can. Her goal with this clinic is to make the veterinary experience as kind and stress-free as possible for patients and their fur parents (owner). That is why she has started her behavior-centered fear-free veterinary practice. One of our goals is for patients to like their vet and vet staff so that we can treat them more quickly and effectively when they hurt. This helps the veterinary team get them on the way to health more quickly and efficiently.
Dr. Rachael is the owner and practicing veterinarian at Prairie Animal Hospital. She graduated with her bachelor’s in Science from Iowa State University and earned a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University’s Veterinary College in 2005. After graduation, Dr. Rachael practiced veterinary medicine throughout the United States as a Navy wife. In 2011, Dr. Rachael and her family returned to just outside Peoria, IL, to be closer to her family.
In her “spare” time, she loves to garden, hike, ride her bike, and go horseback riding with her three children and husband. She currently has six furry family members, including one dog (Charlie) and five cats (Marigold, Pierre, Peanut, Sister, and Bushy.)
Dr. Rachael loves preventative medicine and specializes in urgent care medicine. She is proud to be Fear Free Certified.
Jaclyn Hoerr, BVMS, CVA Veterinarian
Illinois. Because she earned her degree in the UK, her credentials are BVMS, which is equivalent to DVM. Dr. Hoerr became certified in veterinary acupuncture (CVA) after training with the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. Her beloved pets include Mason (a yellow Labrador Retriever), Cabernet (a tabby cat who goes by Cabby), and tuxedo cats Nora and Stevie (who were bottle fed foster fails).
In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, spending time outdoors, drinking tea (a habit she picked up in Scotland), live music, and hanging out with friends and family.
Jessica
Vet Assistant / Inventory Manager
Bio coming soon!
Riley
Veterinary Assistant
From a young age, Riley dreamed of working with animals every day in a veterinary clinic—an aspiration that became a reality at Prairie Animal Hospital. Before joining the clinic, she spent about five years working with large animals, specializing in the breeding and training of high-end horses and mules.
At home, she has a small zoo of her own, including a horse named Grace, two cats named Rusty and Milo, and a chocolate lab named Fern. Her favorite aspects of working at Prairie Animal Hospital are caring for patients and continuously learning along the way.
Saffron
Jenna
Certified Veterinary Technician
Sera
Certified Veterinary Technician
Sera is a Certified Veterinary Technician who earned their Associate in Applied Science from Black Hawk College in 2022 and successfully passed the VTNE in 2023. Originally from the Quad Cities, Sera moved to Peoria in April 2024 with their beloved cat, Sam.
With a strong passion for laboratory work—from blood cytology to identifying infections—Sera brings precision and enthusiasm to every diagnostic challenge. They are especially interested in conservation and wildlife rehabilitation, and are a proud advocate for environmental protection and sustainability.
Sera combines technical skill with a deep love for animals and the planet, making them a valued member of our team.
Scully
Customer Service Representative
Originally from Upstate New York, a devoted cat dad to Big Mac and Nuggets. A lifelong Dungeons & Dragons enthusiast, musician, and unapologetic geek with a soft spot for strong coffee and immersive adventures.
Paige
Veterinary Assistant
I’m 19 years old and have been working in a veterinary clinic since I was 16. I started out as a kennel attendant and moved up to a veterinary assistant shortly after. I love working in the laboratory and assisting with rooms! I have 3 dogs at home named Prince, Hercules, and Luna. I also have two sisters and two nieces who I love spending time with outside of work.
Francis
Virtual Assistant
Bio coming soon!
Valeri Farmer-Dougan, Ph.D
Dog Trainer
- Certified Dog Behavior Consultant. (CDBC), International Association of Animal Behaviorist Consultants (IAABC)
- Accredited Dog Trainer (ADT), International Association Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC).
- Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP)
- Member, Association for Professional Dog Trainers (APDT#81155)
- Fear Free Certified® Professional
- Professor Emeritus, Departments of Psychology/School of Biological Sciences Illinois State University
Spencer
In Loving Memory
Spencer was 12 years old. He first bought this clinic by faking his heart disease and possibly contacting the TV lawyers, however he will not confirm or deny how he got his catnip treat money. He quit his first home and doc offered him a job saving him from boredom at the shelter. He definitely knows who owns the place. He has spent most of his life “working” as door greeter at the clinic or trying to steal patient’s treats. He has lots of experience with lots of other pets and treats them all with the same “are you going to eat that?” stare.
His hobbies include professional napping, disapproving stares, and eating as many times a day as possible. Garfield is his personal hero.