About Us

Meet the River Valley Animal Hospital team!

Location

400 Frontier Road
Barling, AR 72923

Click here for directions.

Contact Info

479-242-4628

Open Hours

Monday-Friday: 7:30 am - 9:00 pm (NO WALK INS accepted between 12:30 PM and 2:00 PM)

Saturday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Sun: CLOSED

Dr. Rachel South, DVM

Dr. Rachel South, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Rachel South is a founder of River Valley Animal Hospital. She graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine with her DVM degree in 2013 and completed her clinical year of the program at Oklahoma State University. Dr. South received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology at Loyola University Maryland. She is originally from Bel Air, Maryland. While attending Ross University in St. Kitts, West Indies, she met Dr. Trevor South. Upon completion of her DVM degree she moved to Arkansas where Dr. Trevor was already practicing!

Upon graduation Dr. South worked in an emergency practice while doing relief work for several day practices in Northwest Arkansas. Dr. South genuinely enjoys emergency and critical care medicine, falling in love with the fast-paced environment while she was a veterinary technician in Maryland before attending veterinary school.

Dr. Rachel is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association as well as the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with Dr. Trevor and their two children, traveling, riding her horses and trout fishing. She also enjoys spending time with her German Shorthaired Pointer named Blake and cat named Riley. Dr. South is eager to provide compassionate veterinary care to the area.

Dr. Trevor South, DVM

Dr. Trevor South, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Trevor South is a founder of River Valley Animal Hospital. He graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine with his DVM degree in 2011 and completed his clinical year of the program at Iowa State University. Dr. South received his Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science at Oklahoma State University. He is a Greenwood, Arkansas native graduating from Greenwood High School in 2003. While attending Ross University in St. Kitts, West Indies Dr. Trevor met his wife Dr. Rachel South and they decided to build a life and a practice in Arkansas.

Prior to building River Valley Animal Hospital, Dr. Trevor had started his own successful ambulatory veterinary practice serving the AR/OK community. His veterinary interests include dentistry, soft tissue surgery, equine lameness and herd health.

Dr. Trevor is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association as well as the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

In his free time Dr. Trevor enjoys spending time with Dr. Rachel and their two children, taking care of his cattle, trout fishing and hunting! Dr. South is excited to have the opportunity to offer the Fort Chaffee area and surrounding communities high quality medicine and care.

Dr. Kalah Tipton, DVM

Dr. Kalah Tipton, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Kalah Tipton has been an associate veterinarian at River Valley Animal Hospital since June 2017. She completed her Associate’s Degree in the honors program at Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton, OK, and her bachelor’s and doctorate degrees at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK.

She is originally from Eufaula, OK. Upon graduation from veterinary school in 2015, she began working in small animal general practice in southeast Oklahoma. Prior to and during veterinary school, she worked as an assistant in a variety of different veterinary settings across Oklahoma including small animal general practice, shelter animal caretaker, and multiple mixed animal general practices. Her interests include preventative medicine and soft tissue surgery.

Dr. Kalah Tipton is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association, Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association as well as the American Heartworm Society.

In her free time, Dr. Tipton enjoys time spent with her husband Randy, and their sons Cody and Lucas. They have a small farm in Oklahoma and have a shelter dog named Rylan along with four cats named Hazel, Punkin, Patch, and Dapper. When she’s not working, she enjoys projects like home renovation, furniture restoration/refurbishing, and sewing.

Dr. Brittney Brasuell, DVM

Dr. Brittney Brasuell, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Brittney Brasuell became a member of RVAH as an associate veterinarian in June 2022. She graduated from Ross University of Veterinary Medicine with her DVM degree in May 2022 and completed her clinical year at Oklahoma State University. Dr. Brasuell received a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a minor in small business and entrepreneurship at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock in 2016. She received a second bachelors in Animal Science at the University of Arkansas in 2017.

Dr. Brasuell started at RVAH as a technician and is excited to be back as a doctor and to be continuing her work with you and your fur babies. She enjoys working with large and small animals. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and soon to be joining the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association.

In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family and loved ones. She is currently building a homestead on 25 acres with her fiancé while remodeling their new house. Dr. Brasuell has two dogs named Storm and Dozer as well as two cats named Kurgan and Stitch.

Sophia

Sophia

Hospital Manager

Sophia joined RVAH in July of 2017 as a Veterinary Technician and is one of River Valley Animal Hospital’s Lead Veterinary Technicians. She found an interest in managing/overseeing the hospital and is now the Hospital Manager

She moved from Pueblo, Colorado to Oklahoma in 2015 and hasn’t looked back since! She first had an interest in the animal field by working in animal shelters and trying to save every animal she sees. Sophia’s favorite thing about animal medicine is that there is always something new to learn! She has 4 animals; her cat, Popoki, who traveled with her all the way from Colorado, and her 3 canine companions; Loki, Lola, and Scooby (pictured).

Her hobbies outside of work include home renovations, going to the lake with her dogs, floating, and spending time with her husband.

Heather

Heather

Lead Veterinary Technician

Heather has been with RVAH since the very first day the doors were open in January, 2017. She is one of the RVAH Lead Technicians and has worked as a veterinary assistant for 10+ years.

She has had a lifelong love for animals, especially horses. That love inspired her to run with the Old Fort Days Dandies during highschool. After highschool she ran with another quadrille called the 4:13 Riders, and although she doesn’t rodeo anymore, she still has horses in her life and couldn’t imagine her life without them!

Heather is extremely supportive of rescue/adoption and especially spaying/neutering for pet population control and health. She is obsessed with corgis, thanks to a little dog named Bitty, and now has a whole gaggle of rescue Corgis!

In her free time she likes to spend time with her husband, JoNate, and daughter, Kaylie Jane. She enjoys gardening, doing 4-H activities with her daughter, raising chickens and is infatuated with glitter.

Melissa

Melissa

Lead Veterinary Technician

Melissa joined RVAH in October 2022 as a Lead Certified Veterinary Technician.

After graduating with an associate’s degree in veterinary technology and becoming a registered veterinary technician in southern California, she moved to Booneville, Arkansas, and comes with 19+ years of experience. Currently, she is working to obtain her bachelor’s degree in veterinary science. Her veterinary interests are dentistry, cardiology, emergency and critical care, large animal, and internal medicine.

When she is not at work tending to your ‘fur’ children or studying, she enjoys fishing, floating, kayaking, testing firearms, playing guitar, off-roading, cooking like a Master Chef, and tending to her chickens, cats (Junebug, Mojo, Eerie, & Itsy), pug Maxi, and cockatiels. In the winter, she looks forward to park and backcountry snowboarding with her husband, Kyle.

CeCe

CeCe

Veterinary Technician

Cece joined RVAH in April of 2020 as a Veterinary Technician. She has worked in the veterinary industry since 2014 and she started her veterinary career at a clinic in Southern California while attending college for her degree. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance from the University at California State Fullerton. She works with the Oklahoma Boston Terrier Rescue as a transport and foster, and she is also an instructor at Marvin Altman Fitness Center for Zumba Dance Classes! She has 9 senior boston terriers who keep her very busy!

Her love for Boston Terriers began with her childhood pet, named Kelly, a lovable Boston Terrier. Her love of animals grew more with age, and she knew she was going to work with animals as an adult. When she is not working her passions include musicals, concerts, ballets, animal-welfare, fitness, and spending quality time with her friends.

Chris

Chris

Veterinary Technician

Chris joined the RVAH team in Summer of 2018 as a Veterinary Technician! He is a resident of Lavaca, AR where he attended and graduated Lavaca High School in 2011. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biology through the University of Arkansas- Fort Smith in 2016.

Chris has recently completed his Associate’s of Applied Science degree in veterinary technology through Murray State College in Tishomingo, OK. After completion of his veterinary technology degree, Chris has completed and passed his national veterinary technician exam allowing him to be a certified veterinary technician in Oklahoma and Arkansas.

In his spare time Chris enjoys fishing, hunting and camping with his family and friends. Chris also has two companions at home that he enjoys spending time with, a Quarter-horse named Chigger, and a corn snake named Katari.

Savannah

Savannah

Veterinary Technician

Savannah was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, and graduated from Western Carolina University in 2017 with her B.A. in social work. Her love and compassion for both humans and animals have inspired her to pair the two together and one day work in animal-assisted therapy. Savannah moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas, in July of 2020 and has fallen in love with the Natural State.

Outside of work, Savannah loves spending most of her time exploring her new home, going on spur of the moment adventures, and traveling.

She also adores her Australian Shepherd/Rottweiler mix fur-child named Kobe, and her Labrador Retriever/Border Collie Mix, Jax. Savannah has worked in the field of Vet Med since early 2017 and loves to continuously learn new information to help better the world for animals!

Aleighsha

Aleighsha

Veterinary Technician

Aleighsha joined RVAH in February 2019 as a Kennel Technician and is currently working on cross-training for other positions in the hospital. She has worked with animals constantly since 2015 volunteering at a local animal shelter.

Aleighsha has known since the age of five that she would dedicate her career to serving and helping animals. Her favorite part of veterinary medicine is ensuring that our clients and their pets have a happy and efficient visit.

She currently has Willow, a senior lab mix and “foster-fail” that she adopted from the Humane Society. She also rescued Rowdy and Biggie Smalls who are both very active Terrier mixes. Aleighsha is a cat momma of Archie and recently found Magnolia. She also has a Green Water Dragon named Gimley.

Her hobbies outside of work consist of watching Netflix, going kayaking, sleeping, and taking all of her dogs for hikes in the Natural State.

Kyla

Kyla

Customer Service Representative/Technician

Kyla joined the River Valley Animal Hospital team as a Customer Service Representative in April of 2021 and has since been cross-training to be a tech since January of 2022.

From a very young age, Kyla has always been very passionate about animals. During high school, she often found herself fostering stray kittens and trying to help reduce the cat population around her hometown. She also has experience assisting on a poultry farm and with cattle as well. After graduating in 2019 from Mansfield High School, she relocated to a small town in Texas. Although she is a Texas Native, after 2 years she decided to come back to the Natural State!

Kyla is currently furthering her education in vet med by going to school to get her degree as a Certified Veterinary Technician.

Outside of work, Kyla enjoys spending time with her family- Devan, her significant other, and their 4 furbabies: three tabby cats, Roman, Rolynn, and Ronin, and Monty, their German Shepherd.

 
She also enjoys painting, binge-watching TV series, and fostering/volunteering for local cat rescues. Kyla is ecstatic to be a part of the RVAH team and ready to greet you and your 4 legged friends!
Shelby

Shelby

Veterinary Technician

Shelby obtained her Veterinarian Assistant Certification at ICTC in 2018. She is an Oklahoma native that has been in the field for 4 years. Shelby joined our team as a Veterinary Technician in October 2022.

She is a bright new face around the hospital! She is excited to get to know all of the River Valley animals in the area and give them the best care possible.

In Shelby’s spare time you might find her on a kayak down the Illinois river with her husband and daughter. Shelby loves the sunshine and the fresh air of an early morning hike. Wherever her adventures take her; she takes every step with a full heart.

Cassidy

Cassidy

Customer Service Representative

Cassidy joined the RVAH family in April 2019! She began her journey in the animal industry in 2015 and has practiced as a pet groomer, Veterinary Practice Manager, and CSR. She graduated Cum Laude with her Bachelor’s Degree from UAFS in Theatre with a Minor in English Literature in 2015.
 

In her free time, she enjoys attending concerts, traveling, cooking, gardening, and listening to true-crime podcasts!

She has an intense passion and dedication to the animal field and is especially interested in feline medicine, client education, veterinary social media, and enriching the human/animal bond. 

 
Cassidy truly aims to make RVAH the most welcoming, friendly, and approachable clinic in the area; with a constant adoration for creating communities, she also keeps RVAH clients up to date on social media! She loves serving the River Valley community and strives to keep RVAH the best of the best.
Katelynn

Katelynn

Customer Service Representative

Katelynn was born in Tulsa, OK, and relocated to Greenwood, AR, at the age of 5!

She is a proud 2020 graduate of Greenwood High School, where she began to foster her love for animals, big and small! She’s had a passion for animals since she could talk and started her pet career as a Kennel Assistant in 2021. You’ll now see her as the smiling face that greets you at our front desk!

In her free time, she loves going to the lake and is an avid hunter, fisher, and outdoorsman! She loves spending time with her current pets: Zephyr, Cutter, and Tulip, and loves honoring and remembering her past pets who’ve passed over the Rainbow Bridge – Boone, Harper, Oakley, and Tallulah.

She is ecstatic to be a part of the RVAH family and to continue to expand her knowledge in veterinary medicine by helping people and their pets!

Sam

Sam

Customer Service Representative

Sam has been with RVAH since August 2022 as a CSR!

She has been in the pet industry for 17 years, including retail management and grooming. She enjoys exotic pets, specifically birds and hamsters, and currently owns 2 dogs, 1 parrot, 1 hamster, and fish. She has always loved animals and was a foster for many years.

She was born and raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia, moving to Arkansas in 2018 with her husband and two children. Outside of work, Sam enjoys collecting house plants, drinking coffee, cooking, shopping, gardening, and being with her family.

Allison

Allison

Kennel Technician

Allison started at RVAH in May of 2021. Allison is incredibly passionate about working in the veterinary field and has been a goal since she was a small child. Allison has two chihuahuas named Nugget and Charley and two bearded dragons, Montry and Clover. She enjoys spending time with her family and boyfriend; including going on vacations and spending time with their animals.
Laura

Laura

Kennel Technician

Laura joined the RVAH family in the Fall of 2021 as a Kennel Technician! She has studied at Petra Allied Health and Penn Foster for Veterinary Assistant education, and absolutely adores bonding with her boarding patients. 
 
Laura enjoys making memories with her three beautiful children, husband, and family in the River Valley. She has 3 dogs- Lily, Loki, and Oliver, a Bearded Dragon named Rocket, and a Leopard Gecko named Leo. 
 
She is passionate about continuing her education in Veterinary Medicine and healing animals with compassion and kindness.
Ashley

Ashley

Kennel Technician

Ashley joined RVAH in 2021 as a Kennel Technician! She graduated from Southside High School in May of 2022 and is attending Oklahoma State University for Zoology!

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her dog, Slater, hanging out with friends, and shopping!

Weasley

Weasley

CEO

Caring for the pets of Barling, AR and the surrounding communities.

River Valley Animal Hospital is proud to serve the River Valley area and Eastern Oklahoma. We are dedicated to providing the highest level of veterinary medicine along with friendly, compassionate service.

Location

400 Frontier Road
Barling, AR 72923

Click here for directions.

Contact Info

479-242-4628

Open Hours

Monday-Friday: 7:30 am - 9:00 pm (NO WALK INS accepted between 12:30 PM and 2:00 PM)
Saturday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday: CLOSED

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If this is an emergency, please call us directly at 479-242-7824.

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