Meet Our Dedicated Team: Expertise, Empathy, and Collaborative Care
At Ruff Day Vet, our team is unified by a deep commitment to exceptional pet care, rooted in a blend of diverse expertise, profound empathy, and a genuinely collaborative spirit. We are a multidisciplinary group, each bringing unique strengths to create a practice that truly understands and cares for your beloved companion. We combine our knowledge and dedication to provide high-touch service that helps individual pets and owners gain resilience and develop resourcefulness, fostering effective problem-solving, goal setting, and progressive improvement as a team. Beyond our credentials, we deeply care and are committed to loving your pet almost as much as you do.
Dr. Heather Misener, DVM, CVAT, CCRT, CVNN
As Co-Founder, Medical Director, and Veterinarian of Ruff Day Vet + Pet Gym, Dr. Heather Misener brings a profound dedication to integrative care. A distinguished UC Davis graduate (2012) with extensive training in emergency and surgery, she honed her skills as a full-time ER Vet and later as Medical Director at a large corporate practice. It was her personal journey through illness and her beloved senior dog Ralphie's health struggles that revealed the limitations of conventional medicine and ignited her passion for deeper healing. This led to rigorous, specialized training, earning certifications as a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVAT), Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT), and Certified Veterinary Natural Nutritionist (CVNN).
Today, Dr. Heather exclusively focuses on complex pain and mobility conditions, chronic diseases, and enhancing true quality of life. Her philosophy is centered on empowering owners through clear education and fostering a fear-free environment where pets are comfortable and willing participants in their care. She applies her extensive conventional and specialized integrative expertise to partner with you, guiding your cherished companion toward lasting comfort and optimal vitality.
Adam Yoshida, Co-Founder, Director of Practice Experience & Innovation, CCSC
As Co-Founder and Director of Practice Experience & Innovation at Ruff Day Vet + Pet Gym, Adam Yoshida brings a uniquely multi-lens perspective to shaping your and your pet's journey. Drawing from his background as an emergency preparedness and response specialist and hospice caretaker, he deeply understands health from every angle. His insights into how environment and interaction impact healing outcomes directly inform the meticulous design of your entire clinic visit, ensuring it feels comfortable and supportive for both pets and their people.
As a Certified Canine Strength and Conditioning Coach (CSCC), Adam applies advanced human movement principles to animals, assisting Dr. Heather with positive conditioning techniques that prioritize your pet's comfort and willing participation in our Ruff Day Pet Gym. With a background in science communication, he crafts much of Ruff Day Vet + Pet Gym's public messaging, translating complex concepts into accessible insights that empower owners and elevate the standard of care.
Eva Davis, LVT
Eva Davis, a Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT), brings a deep and continually expanding understanding of veterinary medicine to Ruff Day Vet + Pet Gym. Her unique background in Zoo Animal Technology, including working with exotic animals like elephants, has honed her exceptional ability to be present and centered when working with scared and anxious animals – a skill that greatly enhances patient comfort in our clinic. Eva is passionate about maximizing quality of life and minimizing suffering for all animals, a dedication that extends to empowering owners by helping them navigate caregiving challenges. She personally embraces this philosophy, applying rehabilitation and strength exercises with her own cats, Hamali and Kamari.
Chloe and Wesley, Our Feline and Canine Advisors
More than just pets, Wesley the cat, a charming feral-born survivor from our own backyard, and Chloe the dog, rescued as a puppy from an unlikely start after being left in a Tupperware by the highway, are the heart and soul of Ruff Day Vet + Pet Gym. These best buddies inspire our commitment to exceptional pet care and serve as our live-in R&D team. Their unique personalities inform our approach to pet behavior and needs, and they are the models behind our logo and marketing materials. They remind us daily that the 'superpower of pets' is their ability to enhance our human capabilities, driving our mission to promote longevity and quality of life for all animals.