Meet the Team

Barrington Oaks Veterinary Hospital

Barrington Oaks Veterinary Hospital is a full-service veterinary medical facility, located in Elk River, MN. The professional and courteous staff at Barrington Oaks Veterinary Hospital seeks to provide the best possible medical care, surgical care and dental care for our highly-valued patients. We are committed to promoting responsible pet ownership, preventative health care and health-related educational opportunities for our clients. Barrington Oaks Veterinary Hospital strives to offer excellence in veterinary care to Elk River, MN and surrounding areas. Please take a moment to contact us today to learn more about our veterinary practice and for additional information about how Barrington Oaks Veterinary Hospital can serve the needs of you and your cherished pet.

DR. DENNIS GALLENBERG

Dr. Dennis graduated from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls with a BS in Animal Science. He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 1983. He founded Barrington Oaks Veterinary Hospital in 1986, with his medical interests including internal medicine, dentistry, surgery and canine sports medicine. Dr. Dennis’s hobbies are working with his Gordon setters and chocolate labrador retrievers, hunting and fishing.

DR. KIM GALLENBERG

She attended the University of Minnesota for Animal Science and received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 1983. After being classmates in Veterinary School, she and Dr. Dennis married in 1986, and she joined Barrington Oaks in 1988. Her veterinary interests include geriatric feline medicine, internal medicine, avian, and small mammal/pocket pet husbandry and care. Dr. Kim’s hobbies are showing her American Saddlebred horses, caring for her rescued Persians and Munchkin cats, and cheering for the Minnesota Vikings. Dr. Dennis and Dr. Kim have a daughter, Cameron, who also graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine.

DR. CAMERON GALLENBERG

Dr. Cameron was born and raised in Elk River, MN. She attended the University of Minnesota for her undergraduate degree in Animal Science and then the UMN College of Veterinary Medicine for her veterinary degree. She graduated in 2022. Her special interests include dentistry, ophthalmology and dermatology. She is joining both of her parents, Dr. Dennis and Dr. Kim, in the practice she was raised in. Her hobbies include showing her American Saddlebred horses, cheering for the Minnesota Vikings and spending time with Gordon Setter, Chinese Crested dogs, Persians and Munchkin cat.

DR. SARAH COTTOM

Dr. Sarah is a California native. She attended the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine with special interests in dermatology, ophthalmology, and internal medicine. She enjoys running, cooking, fishing and spending time with family and friends.

DR. LIZ PEPIN

Dr. Liz was born in Brooklyn Park, MN and has lived throughout the upper Midwest since. She is a graduate of Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and has been a small animal and exotic/pocket pet general practitioner since graduating in 2016. Her professional interests include ophthalmology and preventative medicine. She is married with 2 cats, 3 dogs and a flock of backyard chickens. Her hobbies include gardening and native landscaping, spending time outdoors with her family and traveling with friends.

DR. AMANDA POEPKE

Dr. Amanda grew up on a beef farm in Little Falls, MN. She completed her undergrad at St. Cloud State University with a degree in Biomedical Sciences. She went on the receive her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at the U of M. Her special interests include surgery, preventative medicine, nutrition, and internal medicine. When she’s not working she enjoys hunting, fishing, camping and spending time with her husband, daughter, 2 German Shepherds and 2 cats.

Team member Carrie with a small white and grey dog

CARRIE

Assistant Manager/Technician

Carrie has been at BOVH since January of 2002. She graduated from Minnesota School of Business and has been in the veterinary field for more than 25 years. She always knew from a very young age she would do something with animals. Her family always had pets growing up and she loved it! She has 3 children – A boy, & boy/girl who are twins! She loves to go boating and hang with the family in her spare time. She also has 2 dogs and a hamster.

TAMI

CVT

Tami grew up in Elk River and is an Elk River High School graduate. She then graduated from Piedmont Tech. School in SC, with her LVT in 2014. She moved to MN and received her CVT in 2016. She has one horse, 1 dog, and 2 cats. Tami’s interests include caring for her many pets, reading, cross-stitching and going on walks.

ALESHA

CVT

Alesha is a graduate of Minnesota School of Business in Dec. 2009, and obtained her CVT certification in Jan. 2010. She has been with Barrington Oaks since May 2014. Alesha has a special interest in exotics and specializes in them. Her hobbies are baking, crafting and enjoying a good book. She lives in Elk River with various exotic pets.

ASHLEY

Veterinary Assistant

She started her career at BOVH in April of 2021. She graduated from St. Catherine University in 2018 with a degree in biology where she also played softball. She still enjoys playing today on her co-ed slow pitch team. Although she never had any pets growing up, she has always had compassion for animals. She currently has a bunny, and someday plans on getting a dog.

Team member Anna with a yellow Labrador

ANNA

Veterinary Assistant

Anna has been a veterinary assistant with Barrington Oaks since 2006. She has three Labrador retrievers and two cats. Her hobbies include dog training, hunting and fishing. She enjoys being outdoors. Anna has her Associate Degree in Business Management and hopes to one day open a boarding and training facility.

Catie

CATIE

Veterinary Assistant

Catie received her Bachelor of Arts in Biology through St. Catherine University in 2013. While completing her undergraduate studies, she began her veterinary career and re-directed her course of study to a veterinary focus. Catie has been with BOVH since2014 and is currently a Veterinary Assistant with the clinic. She has a special interest in internal medicine cases, feline medicine, small mammals and exotics. When not working, Catie enjoys spending time with her 2 sons and volunteering with local animal rescue

LIZ

Veterinary Assistant

She has been at Barrington Oaks since November of 2020. She has a strong passion to work with dogs and cats but also has interests in large/farm animals! Liz has a Labrador named Bailey, a German Shorthair named Oakley and many chickens! Some of her hobbies include fishing, hunting, ATV riding and snowmobiling. She is also a BIG hockey fan and loves cheering for the MN Wild.

Jenn

JENN

Veterinary Assistant

Jenn has been with Barrington since February of 2022. Before entering veterinary medicine, she was a dog trainer for almost 4 years. On her days off, she enjoys watching horror movies, playing video games, reading and spending time with her family. She has one bully mix named Tig, one cat named Idjit and one crayfish named Gandalf the Cray.

HAILEY

Veterinary Assistant

Hailey has been with Barrington since the beginning of 2021. She quickly became known as the ‘baby tech’. Before Barrington, She trained hunting dogs and now has 2 of her very own, Kaiser and Kane. She loves all things Labrador Retrievers and chickens. Outside of work, she enjoys duck hunting and four-wheeling. She also has an obsession with Stitch from Lilo and Stitch!

Sky

Sky

Veterinary Assistant

Sky started working at BOVH in July of  2022. Her favorite part about the job is working with our exotic pets! During her free time she enjoys spending time at home with her dog, cat, chinchilla, rabbits and birds! Sky also enjoys watching movies and playing games with her boyfriend.

Sandra

SANDRA

Groomer

Sandra has always loved animals and started grooming in 2001 which led her to her passion. She has been competing and showing in dog competitions for over 20 years. Sandra states she will never be without a dog (or more)! She has been grooming here at Barrington since 2017 and exclaims she has the best job!

JESSICA

Kennel Assistant

Jessica was hired as a Kennel Assistant by BOVH in October of 2021. Not only has she owned a variety of animals throughout her life, including horses, cats, dogs and a variety of exotics,  she also has extensive experience breaking and training horses and dogs. Prior to employment at BOVH she was a childcare professional for over two decades. Being a fearless leader by accepting difficult cases comes as second nature to her: something she is extremely passionate about!  Additionally, Jessica is a writer, an artist, and a fur mom to 12 pet rats and one shy rescue cat named Nellie.

Team member Pam with a orange and white cat

PAM

Receptionist

Pam has had the great pleasure of working with the BOVH family since 1988! She believes the best part of her job is visiting with clients and their pets. She grew up in Lake Benton, Minnesota, she and her husband have 4 kids- 2 boys and 2 girls! She loves to read, sew by hand, bake, ride a motorcycle with her husband Eric, and playing with her cats and dogs.

CHERYL

Receptionist

Cheryl joined the Barrington Oaks Veterinary Hospital team in August of 2021 as a receptionist. She worked in a pediatric practice for 34 years and found she enjoyed working with clients and their pets just as much! She looks forward to meeting the variety of animals we get to see on a daily basis. She and her husband and have two dogs and one cat at home, Her passion for the last 27 years has been horses and she enjoys her time helping her daughter at her stable.

Jennifer

Jennifer

Receptionist

Jennifer has been at BOVH since January of 2022. She graduated from Anoka Technical College in 2006 and has only been in the veterinary field for 2years. She has always loved animals and nature since she was a young child. She has 2 cats, Halo and Cassiel and is married to her high school sweetheart. Jennifer and her husband have 3 amazing adult children! Her favorite past times include kayaking, camping and fishing.