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.


Haley Olsen-Hodges, Director of Operations

Haley primarily specializes in birds (mostly songbirds) but has done a little of everything. Haley also coordinates our research with Radford University and Virginia Tech. Outside of rehab, Haley likes bird banding, birdwatching, writing, history/geopolitics (especially interested in current events, ex-Soviet states (especially Estonia and Moldova), and the Nordics), and playing DnD. Haley’s favorite animal is the White-throated Sparrow (pictured here!). Additionally, Haley holds a B.S. in wildlife conservation (concentration in human dimensions) with a minor in entomology from Virginia Tech and is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist.


Dr. 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.


Dr. 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, LVT

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 photography.


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.


Lark Kellogg, Shift Leader, 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!).


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!


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

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.

5985 Coleman Road, Roanoke, VA 24018

1-540-798-9836

swvawildlifecenter@gmail.com