Meet the Team

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 her 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. 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, and German Shepherd.

DR. JEAN IHNEN

Dr. Jean completed her undergraduate degree at UW-River Falls and her DVM at the University of Minnesota. She is an Elk River native and was an active 4H-er growing up, showing many species of animals at the Sherburne County Fair. Her work interests include internal medicine and palliative/hospice care. Away from work, she enjoys training and competing with her golden retrievers and riding her horses. She is grateful to work in her hometown.

LILLY

Practice Manager

Lilly was born and raised in Elk River, MN. She attended the University of Minnesota and has a Bachelor’s of Science and a background in program operations. She and her husband have a St. Bernard/Hound mix, Leia, who is always keeping them on their toes. In her spare time she enjoys spending time outdoors, baking, gardening, reading, or spending time with family. Lilly joined Barrington Oaks in January of 2024 as the Practice Manager.

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 Mounds View and is an Irondale Senior 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, quilting, 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.

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.

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.

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.

REBECCA

Veterinary Assistant

Rebecca originally went to school for wildlife ecology and studied conservation biology at UW Stevens Point. She found herself in the veterinary field and has been in it since 2021, as a veterinary assistant. She is obsessed with Siberian Huskies, to where she shows, breeds, and plans to race them. Her number of huskies continues to increase and has 1 dachshund as a companion. She also likes to paint in her spare time as well.

TY

Veterinary Assistant

Ty grew up in Elk River, MN. His grandparents were farmers so he has always had a love for animals. He first began working with animals in Austin, TX where he was a dog walker before getting into daycare/boarding and grooming. His interests include photography, writing, live music, and comedy shows. He has three dogs of his own and enjoys spending most of his free time in their company.

JILL

Veterinary Assistant

Jill has been at BOVH since January of 2023 as a veterinary assistant/technician and has previous animal assistant experience along with dog walking and dog sitting. Jill has always loved animals and has had a strong desire to work in the animal care field. She has been married for 25 years and has twin boys who are 17 and graduating. In her spare time, she enjoys lake life, nature, family time, and watching movies. Jill has 2 dogs, a toy schnauzer puppy and a miniature schnauzer that she shares with her parents.

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.

RENE

Kennel Assistant

Bio coming soon!

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 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.

EMILY

Receptionist

I’ve been at BOVH since February 2022. After being in the early childhood education field for over a decade, I am really enjoying my new line of work! I didn’t have many pets growing up, but I am more than making up for it now with 2 dogs, 4 cats, and the occasional flock of chickens. In my off hours, I enjoy music, reading, renaissance festivals, karate, and scouts with my husband and 2 children.