Doctors

Dr. Dave is a Florida Gator through and through! After he graduated from the University of Florida School of Veterinary Medicine in 1990, he moved to Colorado with his wife and spent the next 5 years working in over 80 veterinary clinics in the Denver Metro area as a relief vet. He has worked primarily with small animal companion pets over the past 26 years and has a special interest in exotic animal medicine especially reptiles. In the past he has owned several pythons and boa constrictors, but his favorite reptiles were the menagerie of turtles he raised as a boy in Florida.  Dr. Dave is an educator – he takes every opportunity to teach his clients about the care of their pets. He, along with his wife and 2 daughters, have raised 4 puppies for Canine Companions for Independence: three of these four puppies have graduated and are placed in wonderful homes.  The fourth pup, Hendrix, was released back to the Spechts and is “livin’ the life” of camping, daily walks and sometimes he even gets to be “vet-clinic-dog” for the day!

Dr. Tonja Anderson graduated from Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2020.  While she is a newly minted doctor, she is not new to veterinary medicine having worked in small animal veterinary offices (including a feline-only practice) for 15 years prior to veterinary school.  Dr. Anderson is originally from Louisiana, where she received her bachelor’s degree in English.  Her professional interests include dentistry, soft tissue surgery, preventative and internal medicine, and building lasting relationships with her clients and patients.  Dr. Anderson lives in Littleton with her husband and their tribe of pets including hound dogs, a mixed breed rescue that is her constant shadow, and magnificent Siberian cats.  In her free time she enjoys reading, binging on podcasts, crocheting, and escaping to the mountains whenever the chance arises.

Dr. Maddy Hirshan graduated from Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts in 2018. The following year she completed a rigorous small animal medicine and surgery internship at VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital in Denver. Dr. Hirshan then worked in small animal general practice for one year before joining SouthPark Animal Clinic. She has always wanted to be a vet and has strived to meet her goal for many years. Her areas of interest include internal medicine, emergency medicine, and surgery. She is originally from New York and relocated to Denver with her boyfriend, Ian. They now live in Littleton with their dog, Coriander, and two cats, Clove and Sage. In her free time, Dr. Hirshan enjoys cooking, baking, hiking, as well as exploring the growing Denver food scene. She looks forward to forming long-term relationships with her clients and patients at SouthPark!

Dr. Mary Anne Smith is a Denver native and she graduated from Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1978.  After graduation she returned to the Denver Metro area and for over 40 years Dr. Mary Anne has walked along side pet owners through the excitement of their new puppy, through the worry of illness and surgery, and even through the sadness of their pet’s passing.  Her compassion and dedication to both her clients and her patients is unsurpassed!  She is notably skilled in companion animal medicine and surgery.  She has worked as an associate and emergency veterinarian and also was partner/owner of Arapahoe Veterinary Hospital in Littleton.  Dr. Mary Anne recently retired from veterinary medicine in April 2019, but you still might occasionally see her around as she takes on a day or two to help us out.  Now that she is retired, she will have much more time doing all the things she loves:  gardening, hiking, camping, spending time on her friend’s ranch…..but especially spending time with her chickens.