Staff

Sabrina Garvin, President and Co-Founder

Sabrina, began getting involved with wildlife rehabilitation as an apprentice over twenty years ago. From humble beginnings, only rehabilitating a handful squirrels a year, a strong passion for wildlife grew and grew over time. She began to reach out to experts across the country for their knowledge and experience, always in the search of finding better techniques and tips for the wild animals that would come into her care. And, as Roanoke grew and the community needed a place to bring injured, orphaned, and sick wildlife, her part-time hobby grew into a full-time commitment and became what is now known as the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke.

Dr. Lucky Garvin, Co-Founder

Dr. Garvin is a retired ER doctor who has supported the Center’s work and mission from humble beginnings over twenty years ago — and is in a way responsible for the Center’s existence by suggesting that Sabrina start a new hobby, which ended up being wildlife veterinary hospital! Dr. Garvin is always there to help whenever the going gets tough, especially with late night squirrel feeds during the spring and fall.

Chester Leonard, Executive Director

Chester graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.S. with a strong focus on pathogenic bacteriology, a minor in Spanish, and completed some graduate work focused on epidemiology. He first started volunteering with wildlife when he was 10 years old and has been an avid supporter of animals ever since. He volunteered periodically with the Center since its inception in 2002, before joining as a staff member in 2018. Currently, his main role is focused on administration, fundraising, and communications on the importance of protecting wildlife. His passions are his family, traveling the world, and golf.

Karen Thomason, DVM

Dr. Thomason graduated from the University of California-Davis with a major in mathematics and a minor in biology. She was then accepted at the veterinary school there, which is widely considered to be the best in the world, and graduated in 1986. She then worked in a mixed animal practice in California. After a few years in California she moved to Floyd, VA where she opened a mixed animal practice, which then morphed into small animal practice, where she was for 28 years before joining our staff.

Ernesto Dominguez, DVM, DACVPM, CWR

Dr. Dominguez grew up in Mexico City. where he studied medicine for two years, but left to pursue his real passion: veterinary medicine. He graduated from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) School of Veterinary Medicine in 2013. After getting his degree, he completed multiple postgraduate training programs in wildlife centers and zoos around the world, including the Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic, Arcas Wildlife Center in Guatemala, The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, African Safari Zoo in Mexico, The Wildlife Center of Virginia, and the Johannesburg Zoo in South Africa. In 2016, he completed an internship in Raptor Medicine and Surgery at the Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota. From 2016-2020 he was the Hospital Director at The Wildlife Center of Virginia. Dr. Dominguez has more than 10 scientific publications and book chapters in his curriculum. He currently splits his time between an exotic pet practice and our Center. He is passionate about wildlife, their welfare, and strives for the gold standard of their care.

Allyson Lee, Licensed Veterinary Technician

Allyson has over thirty years of wildlife rehabilitation experience and predominantly specializes in reptiles (mainly box turtles). Allyson has worked overseas providing medical care for various turtle species after multiple disasters and confiscations. She combined her love of veterinary medicine and her passion for wildlife rehabilitation by joining the Center in 2020. In addition to her work with animals, Allyson also works as a search and rescue volunteer with her HRD dog, Annie. She takes every opportunity to enjoy wildlife in their natural habitat while hiking, paddle boarding, and creating photographs.

Lark Kellogg, Operations Manager, Bat Specialist

Lark enjoys caring for all animals here at the center, like opossums, raptors, and songbirds, but he especially loves bats, vultures, foxes, bobcats, and snakes. He is currently working with biologists at Radford University to study the rostral secretions of hoary bats. In his spare time Lark likes to read, hike, and relax at home with his cat. Lark’s favorite animals are the disc-winged bats (the entire genus!).

Levi Stiverson, Outreach Coordinator, Shift Leader, Bird Specialist

Levi cares for and trains our non-releasable educational animals and presents the majority of our educational programs in addition to rehabbing. She also specializes in care of raptors and songbirds. Outside of work, Levi likes crafting (especially sewing), getting tattoos, watching Adventure Time, and geeking out about birds of prey. Levi lives just down the road from the Center and her favorite animal is the Eurasian Eagle-Owl.
*Hair color subject to change.

Casey Pruess, Shift Leader, Non-rabies Mammal Specialist

Casey has been helping wildlife since his childhood where he assisted his mother, who was a permitted wildlife rehabber. He graduated from James Madison University, majoring in political science with a minor in biology. Since then, Casey has gained more experience by volunteering to catch and tag sharks and rays in Florida. In his free time, Casey enjoys hiking, fishing, and kayaking. Casey’s favorite animal in general are sharks, with his favorite depending on the vibe of the day – today, it is between Basking Sharks and Ninja Lanternsharks!

Katherine McGrath, Intern/Volunteer Coordinator, Shift Leader, Wildlife Rehabilitator

Katherine is a graduate of Le Moyne college with a major in biology and minor in psychology who found their love for wildlife rehab after a internship at the Wildlife Center of Virginia. When not working, she likes to animate, garden, and spend time with her pets. Katherine’s favorite animals are big cats, but the tiger holds a special place in her heart.

MJ, Megan Johnston, Wildlife Rehabilitator, Front Desk 

MJ, a Roanoke native, joined the Wildlife Center earlier this year, bringing a passion for making a positive impact daily. She takes great joy in rehabilitating baby animals of all species and values the strong sense of camaraderie shared with her colleagues as they work together to make a difference. MJ also enjoys engaging with community members who are dedicated to wildlife conservation, always offering a warm welcome at the front desk.

Outside of the center, MJ indulges in drawing, playing video games, baking, and watching her favorite animes, including Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood and Apothecary Diaries. She is also devoted to caring for her three dogs and two cats when not assisting at the Wildlife Center.

Jonna Stauffer, Wildlife Rehabilitator

Jonna was born and raised in Roanoke and served 6 years in the US Army as an aircraft mechanic, traveling all over Europe and Asia during her time. Since leaving the military, she has been pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology and working towards her LVT license. This is her first year working in wildlife rehabilitation, where she has enjoyed working with raptors the most. However, her favorite animals are anything whale or shark related. In her spare time outside of schoolwork, she typically enjoys the outdoors with her dog Cooper, riding motorcycles, or working out.

Dylan Broyles, Wildlife Rehabilitator

Dylan is currently working towards an Engineering Degree as well as applying to Veterinary School. He fell in love with Wildlife Rehabilitation while working for the center as an intern. In his spare time, he enjoys exercising, playing video games, and building things in his workshop.

Melissa Daniel, Weekday Front Desk Staff

Melissa answers our phones, greets people when they drop animals off at the door, inputs paperwork, does case updates, and more! Outside of work, Melissa also operates her own local pottery business called Swamp Deer Pottery And Other Stuff out of her home. Melissa can’t decide what her favorite animal is (she listed a bunch!), but she is our resident mealworm queen and helps provide care for the mealworms we use for feeding patients!

Kayla Short, Weekend Front Desk Staff, Social Media Manager

Kayla has lived in Southwest Virginia her entire life. Her background is in music education, but she quickly found her passion for snakes and wildlife a few years back, and that spark has brought her here! In addition to her work at the Center, she works with reptile genetics at her other job at Rare Genetics, Inc in Christiansburg, and also raises captive bred North American Colubrid snakes. Kayla’s favorite animal is the Black Rat Snake.