Our Staff

Lauren Summers, CVT

Lead Veterinary Technician

Lauren wanted to help animals ever since she was very young. She used to go hiking with her Grandpa, learning about all the wildlife they would come across. She helped “rescue” baby birds and rabbits that were injured and released them back into the wild. Since then she always wanted to work with animals.

Lauren went to YTI in 2013 and graduated in 2015. She became certified shortly after graduation. She has worked in general practices and ER (as relief tech) for most of her veterinary career. She started at Columbia Animal Shelter in 2022. With this being her first shelter medicine job, she enjoys the change as being able to help animals who get surrendered or left behind to find new homes. She enjoys surgery the most! As she gets to be the one who monitors the pateints for public spay/neuter days, TNRs, and fixing the shelter pets.

On the weekends, Lauren goes camping and boating with her family during the summer. She likes taking hikes with her dogs and the kids. She has 3 step children Aubree – 11 years old, Elaira – 6 years old, and Cayden who is 18 years old. She has a 9 month old Golden Retriever (Nala) and a 2 year old Goldendoodle (Zara). Recently, she had to put down her best friend Oaklyn, due to being diagnosed with Lymphoma. She also has a cat named Clara Sushi, she is a siamese mix, that was surrendered at Patton Vet Hospital because she was hit by a car.

Dr. Nikki Waltemire, MLAS, DVM, MBA

Medical Director & Veterinarian

Dr. Nikki Waltemire joined the Columbia Animal Shelter in September 2022. She was born in York and grew up in Yoe, PA. As a graduate of Dallastown Area High School, she then attended Shippensburg University to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a minor in Spanish. Veterinary school did not come right away for Dr. Nikki, and so she attended Drexel University to obtain a Master’s in Laboratory Animal Science. It was during this time that she began to appreciate the role animals play in both advancements in human and animal health.

Finally, in the fall of 2011, she was accepted to St. Matthew’s University School of Veterinary Medicine on Grand Cayman Island. After over three years of beautiful beaches and sunshine, she moved to Indiana to attend Purdue University for her clinical year. Also, while in veterinary school, she obtained a Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Health Care Management from Davenport University.

Following graduation from veterinary school, Dr. Nikki spent the first 8 years of her career working in private practice, as well as relief work in emergency medicine. When she was presented with the opportunity to become the Medical Director and Veterinarian at the Columbia Animal Shelter, she eagerly accepted the position.

Dr. Nikki wanted to become a veterinarian since she was 8 years old and has never once considered any other career choice. Her true passion and determination are focused on animals and working with their pet parents to provide them with the best quality of life. She is an advocate for preventative healthcare because, quite simply, prevention is always easier, safer, and cheaper.

Dr. Nikki has a passion for all things cats! She enjoys various aspects of feline medicine, surgery, and behavior. Cats are most certainly not small dogs, and their emotional, mental, and physical needs are different as well. As Columbia Animal Shelter’s Medical Director, Dr. Nikki hopes to further her passion for cats by also being an advocate for those animals surrendered to the shelter for whatever reason. She also would like to keep more cats in their homes and help educate feline pet parents on why cats do the things they do, and how we can help them.

Working at the shelter, Dr. Nikki enjoys providing the oversight veterinary care for the shelter animals, educating the staff, volunteers, and local community on the uniqueness of our feline friends. She also hopes to convey a standard of care for all companion animals, and to promote feline friendly homes with potential adopters.

In her free time away from the shelter, she enjoys quality time with her furkids, parents, three sisters, and nieces and nephews. Dr. Nikki is a fur mom to two St. Bernards (Rosalie and Danny) and six cats (Benjamin, Lilian, Jules, Kit Kat, Jamie Tartt, and Karma). Those last three cats are all adopted from CAS! She also enjoys reading anything by Jodi Picoult, World War II history, coffee from small town cafes, bookstores, and collecting an unnecessary number of notebooks with cats on them. >'<

Michelle Unkow

Client Services Coordinator

Michelle started as a volunteer with the Columbia Animal Shelter in 2019 and was hired as an official staff member during the height of the COVID pandemic in 2020. A York County, PA native, she has lived in Columbia for nearly two decades with her husband, 2 children, dogs, and cats.

As a former nurse, she is tickled to be able to transfer her compassion and knowledge to the 4-legged set. She is a life-long animal lover and has never been without at least one (and often many more than one) animal in her home. She is committed to helping the local community with the shelter’s available services including low-cost spay/neuter clinics, wellness clinics, TNR clinics, surrenders, and adoptions.

Outside of the shelter Michelle loves to putter in her garden. She’s also a musician, playing flute and piccolo in local community bands as well as performing in orchestra pits for local theater and high school productions.

Olivia Menard

Veterinary Assistant

Olivia started as a volunteer with the Columbia Animal Shelter in May of 2021. She attended Lancaster County Career and Technology Center (LCCTC) for their Veterinary Assistant program during her senior year of high school, where she gained her Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA) designation. Olivia was hired as an official staff member after her externship from LCCTC in June of 2022.

She is currently attending York Technical Institute (YTI) in hopes of becoming a Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT).

Originally from Mississippi, Olivia was raised for half of her life in Jacksonville, FL. Now residing in Columbia, PA, with her mother, sister and many pets including five cats, one dog, and a leopard gecko. Outside of the shelter, Olivia enjoys hanging out with friends and family and of course spending time with her pets!

Kate Haldeman

Receptionist/Animal Caretaker/Vet Assistant

Kate started as a volunteer at Columbia Animal Shelter in July of 2022 and was thrilled to become a full-time staff member in February of 2023.

After making the tough decision to leave the corporate world behind, she loves that she now gets to spend her days surrounded by animals.

Her position also affords her the great joy of getting to interact with families every day to help them adopt their perfect new addition!

Her absolute favorite part of her job is taking care of the animals and helping the shyest of kitties blossom so that they can get adopted.

In her personal life, Kate has rescued many dogs and cats over the years. Although she grew up with only dogs in her family’s home, as an adult she has finally accepted the fact that she has become a “Crazy Cat Lady”.

Outside of the shelter, Kate enjoys caring for her own rescue cats and helping the feral cats that live in her neighborhood. She’s also an avid walker and enjoys working in her backyard, doing projects around her house, and spending time with her family (especially her sister).

She is a graduate of La Salle University.=