Christy Vernet, DVM

Dr. Christy Vernet grew up in Palm Bay, Florida. In high school, she volunteered with the local wildlife hospital and several animal rescues, and then worked and volunteered as a zookeeper at the University of Florida during undergrad, focused on fruit bats and large cats.

As she worked closely with the veterinarian teams during their rounds, the knowledge she gained bolstered her confidence in moving from animal care to animal welfare. After graduating from the University of Florida in 2010, she went on to attend the College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 2018.

Dr. Vernet also attained a master's degree in Veterinary Forensics in 2018 from the University of Florida. In July of 2023, she joined our team, specializing in feline medicine, exotics, and surgery.

Asked what the most satisfying part of her job is, Dr. Vernet says, “Being the person at the moment that can help guide an owner through a difficult decision, or being the person to give care that makes a difference to an animal’s comfort, reuniting safe and happy with their owner again.”

She is a member of the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians, the American Association of Feline Practitioners, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the Florida Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Vernet has three cats: Zaphad, 15-years-old, Vicious, 13-years-old, and Arya, 10-years-old. She also has two dogs, a 12-year-old hound mix named Nellie and a seven-year-old terrier mix named Aiden. When she’s not working, she enjoys bird watching, hiking, and reading sci-fi novels. She and her husband Robert have one son named Douglass.