Meet Our Team

David M. Elsom, DVM

Dr. Elsom graduated from Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine.  He owned a veterinary practice in Mobridge, SD for 12 years before buying Spearfish Animal Hospital in 1999. In August 2008 he opened Cremations at Lone Tree - an animal cremation facility. In April 2018 he opened Paws & Relax - a dog boarding and play-care facility. His care and patience with animals is apparent in all he does.
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Jackie Martin, DVM

Dr. Martin graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and practiced in Iowa for several years before relocating to Spearfish. 
Dr. Jackie enjoys general medicine, surgery, acupuncture and working with hobby farm animals. 
In her spare time you will find her exploring the hills with her boxers Elmer and Elna.

Melanie Garbel, DVM

Originally from St. Louis, Dr. Melanie Garbel moved to the Black Hills 8 years ago after graduating from the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She met her husband in vet school; he is a large animal veterinarian in the area. Together they have a daughter who also loves animals! 

Dr. Garbel takes an interest in dermatology and preventative care, but her niche is in orthopedics; specifically fracture repairs and TPLOs. 

Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, spending time with family and exploring the Black Hills.

Steph

Registered Veterinary Technician /
​Back Office Manager
Steph started her career in veterinary oncology and emergency medicine while going to school in Seattle, WA. After graduating as a Veterinary Technician she moved back to the Black Hills in 2010 and joined Spearfish Animal Hospital. 

​Steph enjoys time with her two children, husband, 1 cat and 2 dogs. She also loves  being out in nature, flower gardening, the winter weather and the outdoor activities that come with it. 

Shanae

Veterinary Receptionist /
Front Office Manager / HR
Shanae is a Wyoming native who enrolled in the Veterinary Technology program in Torrington and worked at a local veterinary hospital. She made a move to the Black Hills and joined our team at Spearfish Animal Hospital in 2020. 

Amanda

Veterinary Technician
Amanda graduated from National American University and joined Spearfish Animal Hospital in 2019. In addition to her technician duties at the hospital, Amanda also manages our pet cremation business,  Cremations at Lone Tree.

​Amanda enjoys collecting plants, asking the staff to babysit them while she goes on vacation just to come back and learn...they're all dead. 
On a brighter note you will never catch her without her canine side kicks in tow!

Lexi

Veterinary Technician
Lexi has always been passionate about animals and what better way to fulfill this passion than by working at SAH! She graduated from SDSU with degrees in animal science and wildlife and fisheries sciences. In her free time she enjoys documenting her dogs' every waking moment, spending time outside and painting.

Rachael

Veterinary Technician
Rachael is our relief technician; you may see her when one of our technicians is on vacation or we need extra help. She graduated in 2002 in Michigan and started working at Spearfish Animal Hospital in 2005. When she's not at the clinic she's tending to her children, chickens, cats, dogs, flowers and crafting.

Jodi

Receptionist
Jodi was one of our long time clients until we had an opening and gladly welcomed her to our team! Jodi has a heart of gold and a soft touch that makes clients feel welcome and cared about in our clinic. In her free time she loves spending it with her pups, Franklin and Bowie and her husband.

Sheryl

Groomer
Sheryl started as a groomer's assistant in 2010 and has blossomed into a very talented groomer herself. Her always positive attitude, calm demeanor and patience helps keep our clients comfortable while they're in for their spa days.

Lucy

Grooming Assistant
Lucy is a retired teacher from Custer who relocated to the Spearfish area. She loves the outdoors, people and especially, animals. We tend to get spoiled regularly with treats in the break room, too!

Brooke

Kennel Manager
Brooke has worked in and out of veterinary medicine and animal boarding for over a decade. She is a certified dog trainer and is currently studying environmental sciences. Her heart belongs on the west coast and she has a goal of making it out there one day.

Scurvy

Kennel Attendant
Preferably known only by his nickname "Scurvy," he has been with SAH since 2013 and keeps a close watch on our kennel visitors during evenings. He's always willing to lend a helping hand where he needs to and always checks in with our technicians whenever he has a concern after hours.  And don't forget the comedic relief he provides!

Destyn

Kennel Attendant
Destyn is a retired USPS worker who keeps our boarding dogs happy and our clinic sparkling clean. Attention to detail is one of her many wonderful qualities.  She loves spending her free time with her grandbabies.

Greeley

Kennel Attendant
Greeley is a student at Black Hills State University. She spends time with our boarding animals throughout the week to take a break from her studies. 
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​Company
policies
Payment is due in full at the time of service, for all clients.
New clients may be subject to a non-refundable deposit to reserve their appointment at our discretion.
Surgical and dental procedures require a $200 deposit that will go toward their bill after services are rendered. Deposits are only refundable if the office is notified of cancelation at least 48 hours prior to appointment.
© Spearfish Animal Hospital 2025