BluePearl Pet Hospital
Olympia, WA
Our Vets

Dr. Garrett Ballou’s clinical interests include emergency cases and surgeries like gastrointestinal surgery, traumatic hernia repair, nephrectomy, splenectomy, reproductive surgeries, endoscopy and amputation.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman
• Bachelor of Science, Western Washington University, Bellingham

Dr. Kaley Boone’s clinical interests include infectious diseases and critical care medicine.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ
• Master of Public Health, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ
• Bachelor of Science, Biological Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe

Dr. Boone enjoys exploring Washington with her Australian shepherds named Axel and Ziya, baking at home with her husband, painting, embroidery and prioritizing self-care.

• Bachelor of Science, Veterinary, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, St. George's University, True Blue, Grenada

Dr. Talwinder Dhanjal is committed to collaborative clinical practice, focusing on enhancing patient care. His professional interests include diagnostic imaging, internal medicine and soft tissue surgery.

• Internship, Radiology, University of Missouri, Columbia
• Internship, Small Animal Internal Medicine, VCA Animal Specialty & Emergency Center, Los Angeles, CA
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Veterinary Specialty Center of Seattle, Lynnwood, WA
• Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India

Outside of the hospital, Dr. Dhanjal enjoys exploring the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, hiking scenic trails and visiting national parks.

• Clinical Rotation, Iowa State University, Ames
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies
• Bachelor of Science, Veterinary Medical Technology, Wilson College, Chambersburg, PA

Dr. Winter Herron is passionate about all aspects of radiology, with a special love for ultrasound.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Radiology
• Residency, Diagnostic Imaging, Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital, Woburn
• Internship, Diagnostic Imaging, Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital, Woburn
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Friendship Hospital for Animals, Washington, D.C.
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman
• Bachelor of Science, Zoology, Washington State University, Pullman

Outside of the hospital, Dr. Herron enjoys taking in as much light as possible by hiking, kayaking and painting. She and her husband share a toothless cat named Jefferson.

Dr. Daniel Hicks sees neurology and neurosurgery as a combination of internal medicine and surgery and views every case as unique and an intriguing challenge. He is particularly interested in Wobbler syndrome and surgery including spinal, intracranial and neuro-oncologic.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Neurology)
• Residency, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Washington State University, Pullman
• Master of Science, Veterinary Science, Washington State University, Pullman
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Washington State University, Pullman
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman
• Bachelor of Science, Business, Montana State University, Bozeman

Co-founder of Heeling Hearts Australian Cattle Dog Rescue, it’s no surprise that Dr. Hicks has four Australian cattle dogs. But they are only a small portion of the farmyard menagerie he takes care of with his wife and three kids. They also have a border collie, donkey, four goats, two cats and multiple ducks. Dr. Hicks’ hobbies include canine agility and obedience performance, livestock herding, hiking with his goats and dogs, grilling and trail running.

Publications and articles

Dr. Heather Knapp-Hoch’s professional interests include soft tissue, oncologic, minimally invasive, neurologic and orthopedic surgeries. She is also passionate about interventional radiology, including urethral and tracheal stenting and subcutaneous ureteral bypass (SUB) placement.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons (Small Animal)
• Residency, Small Animal Surgery, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman
• Master of Science, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Washington State University, Pullman
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Long Island University, Southampton, NY

Dr. Emily Mouat’s soft tissue and orthopedic surgery experience includes:

• TPLO and MPL stabilizations
• Angular limb deformity corrections
• Amputations
• Spleen, gall bladder, adrenal gland and kidney removals
• Liver lobectomies
• Cystomies
• Gastric dilation and volvulus (GDV) correction and gastropexy
• Ovariohysterectomy
• Enterotomy
• Gastrotomy
• Resection and anastomosis
• Lung lobectomy
• Pericardiectomy
• Persistent right aortic arch ligation and transection for vascular ring anomaly
• Thoracic duct ligation for chylothorax

She also performs simple and complex mass removals and manages bandage care for wounds and trauma.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons (Small Animal)
• Residency, Surgery, Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, NJ
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, NJ
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Bachelor of Science, Chemistry, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY

Dr. Catherine Peng is committed to providing compassionate cardiac care to all patients and their owners. Her professional interests include long-term management of congestive heart failure, identification of complex congenital heart disease and advanced arrhythmia diagnosis and treatment. She is a strong believer in cardiac education and enjoys practicing shared clinical decision-making with pet owners, which means working collaboratively with owners to formulate a personalized treatment plan for their individual pet and care goals.

• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Cardiology)
• Residency, Cardiology, CVCA Cardiac Care for Pets, Cockeysville, MD
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg
• Bachelor of Science, Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Maine, Orono

Outside of the hospital, Dr. Peng enjoys traveling, reading, horseback riding and exploring the Pacific Northwest via hiking and camping. She shares her household with her husband and their two dogs and two cats (Payton, Kara, Cassie and Luca).

Dr. Zong Peng enjoys a wide variety of soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries, with particular interests in minimally invasive surgery and arthroscopy, such as elbow and stifle arthroscopy. He is committed to providing individualized surgical care and helping patients achieve the best possible outcomes.

• Master of Science, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Residency, Small Animal Surgery, Texas A&M University, College Station
• Internship, Small Animal Surgery, Friendship Hospital for Animals, Washington, DC
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Michigan State University, East Lansing
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville

Outside of the hospital, Dr. Peng enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and their pets. He also enjoys maintaining saltwater reef aquariums.

Dr. George Pirie has been practicing veterinary medicine since 2011, with experience at several facilities across Georgia, California, Pennsylvania and now Washington. His primary clinical interest is emergency medicine, with additional interests in orthopedic cases and lameness. At BluePearl, he enjoys helping as many pets as possible while collaborating with the dedicated staff to advance patient care and expand treatment options for pets.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Georgia, Athens

Since moving to Washington in 2022, Dr. Pirie has been enjoying everything the state has to offer, especially camping, hiking and motor sports activities. At home, he relaxes with his five dogs and one cat or works on woodworking projects, primarily creating wall art and furniture pieces.

• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, LeadER Animal Specialty Hospital, Cooper City, FL
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Metropolitan State College of Denver, CO

Dr. Agata Skarbek’s clinical interests include pain management, diagnostic imaging, and gastrointestinal and endocrine emergencies. She enjoys guiding owners in making the best decisions for them and their beloved pets.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Washington State University, Pullman
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, Washington State University, Pullman

Dr. Skarbek enjoys reading books, hiking, skiing, weightlifting, and spending time with her fiancé and her chihuahua terrier mix named Toby.

Dr. Gurmukh Thandi’s clinical interests include surgery, endoscopic foreign body removal, and emergency and urgent care. 

• Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India

Dr. Thandi is an avid gymgoer who loves playing basketball and cheering on the LA Lakers and Seattle Seahawks. He and his wife, who is also a veterinarian, have an American Bully, aka the sweetest boy ever.

Dr. Shannon Tyler’s clinical interests include preventative medicine, heartworm disease, soft tissue surgery and anything feline related.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies
• Bachelor of Science, Columbus State University, GA

Dr. Naomi Weinberg has a passion for surgical repair and correction as well as ophthalmology.

• Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
• Internship, Large Animal Medicine & Surgery, West Coast Equine, Somis, CA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis
• Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, University of California, Davis

In her free time, Dr. Weinberg enjoys riding horses, reading, drawing, painting and napping next to a bonfire with her dogs, Cheesecake, Jellybean, Crumble Cake and Squirt (aka Piglet).

Dr. Rebecca Weiske’s clinical interests include round cell tumors and guiding owners through complicated treatment decisions. She believes that prioritizing a patient’s quality of life and the bond between owners and their pets is one of the most important aspects of veterinary oncology. Her goal is to help families make treatment choices that best serve them and their pet.

• Residency, Medical Oncology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
• Master of Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, VCA SouthPaws Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Center, Fairfax, VA
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg
• Bachelor of Science, Dairy Science and Animal & Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg

Outside of the hospital, Dr. Weiske enjoys reading, spending time with her pets and family and visiting as many bakeries as possible.

Dr. Caitlin Yung is passionate about all aspects of oncology, particularly the management of lymphoma. An avid patient advocate, she prioritizes keeping pets as comfortable as possible for as long as possible, with a soft spot for feline patients (especially the orange ones!).

• Residency, Medical Oncology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
• Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
• Clinical Rotation, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies
• Bachelor of Science, Biological Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Originally from New Jersey, Dr. Yung loves trying out new recipes, going for runs and hiking with her dog and husband. She also enjoys feeding her cat treats.