Support Staff
Melissa Watson
Staff Manager
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Jazmin Pena
Licensed Veterinary Technician
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Shasta Hunter
Licensed Veterinary Technician
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Hi, my name is Breanna, I am a passionate and driven individual with a strong interest in becoming a vet tech. Throughout my life, I have always been curious about animals and how interesting they are. I believe in continuously learning and growing, which has led me to go to school for a vet tech. With my skills and dedication, am eager to contribute to helping animals.
Hello! I’m Shasta, a devoted veterinary technician with a passion for animal care and education. I graduated from the Vet Tech Institute in 2017 and have spent the past seven years helping pets and their families. My heart truly lies in empowering pet owners with the knowledge they need to provide the best care for their fur babies.
When I’m not working, you can find me enjoying the great outdoors with my husband and daughter, or at a dog show. Our family includes American Bullies, a French Bulldog, a Dachshund, a Great Pyrenees, a Pitbull mix and a Golden Retriever mix. Each one has a special place in our hearts and brings joy to our lives. I’m here to make a difference – one paw at a time.
Hello, I’m Jazmin Pena, a dedicated and passionate Licensed Veterinary Technician at Delaware Animal Clinic. With a strong interest in surgery, I particularly enjoy assisting with dental cleanings and ensuring the well-being of our furry patients. When I’m not working, you can find me spending quality time with my three energetic boys and loving family. I’m grateful for the opportunity to balance my professional and personal life, and I’m always eager to provide top-notch care to our clients and their beloved pets.
Currently serving as a Staff Manager, I am dedicated to the veterinary field with over 10 years of experience. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from A&M-Commerce and have a strong passion for the outdoors.
Dawn Karnicki is the veterinarian owner of Delaware Animal Clinic. “Dr. Dawn” grew up in Beaumont and knew from an early age that she had a passion for helping to care for other living things. She remembers “rescuing” earthworms that washed up out of the ground whenever Beaumont flooded. As a young girl, she even wrote a letter of comfort to a tree that had to be cut down at her childhood home, then afterwards she sat and read books to the resulting log pile.
Throughout her undergraduate years at Baylor University, Dawn debated between pursuing a career in veterinary medicine or human medicine. She ultimately decided she could have the best of both worlds if she followed in her father’s footsteps and became a human physician, while at the same time having “lots of pets”. Dr. Dawn graduated with her Medical Doctor degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in 1996. She moved to Chicago, Illinois for her post-graduate internship and residency training. Soon realizing that her true passion was veterinary medicine, Dr. Dawn “retired” from human medicine so she could follow her dream of becoming a DVM.
Dr. Dawn graduated from the University of Illinois School of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. She then began her veterinary journey as an associate DVM working for 5 years in a small animal veterinary practice in Decatur, Illinois. Greatly missing her Texas family and home, Dr. Dawn moved back to Beaumont in 2008 to take over as veterinarian and owner of Delaware Animal Clinic.
This unique path into veterinary medicine inspired Dr. Dawn’s love of exceptional quality, personalized patient care. Her goal is to promote the highest standard of compassionate and progressive veterinary medical care for your pet. You are just as likely to find her hunkering down on the floor to help relieve anxiety during the exam of a nervous dog as she is to be in front of her computer researching the most current recommendations in specialized veterinary care. She strongly believes that both cuddles and continuing education are vital, equally important components of veterinary medicine. She is extremely proud of Delaware Animal Clinic’s status as an Accredited Practice of the American Animal Hospital Association. Dr. Dawn is also a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Texas Veterinary Medical Association, Southeast Texas Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Feline Practitioners and Veterinary Information Network.
Four dogs, six cats, and an African grey parrot are kind enough to “allow” Dr. Dawn and her husband, Barry, to share their home in Beaumont. Dawn is an aspiring grill master and home chef, and you can find her many weekends cooking for her family. She loves seeing new places and trying new foods and has traveled extensively. In her free time, she also likes to do hydroponic gardening, solve crossword puzzles and spend time with family. Dawn values sharing her knowledge and love of animals with youth of our communities and has opened her doors to young people wanting to volunteer and learn more about veterinary medicine.
