Dr. Tyler Hotaling
VMD/ Owner
Dr. Hotaling is a native of southern Vermont and was raised on a small farm. He received his BS in Animal Science from Cornell University in 2003, and then went on to the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine from which he graduated in 2007. Following graduation, Dr. Hotaling did a one year internship at the Colorado State University College of Veterinary followed by two years of working in mixed animal practice in the Fort Collins, CO area. He moved to Upstate NY in 2010, practicing in Albany for 10 years before moving to a practice in Old Chatham.
As a dedicated and enthusiastic generalist, Dr. Hotaling enjoys the variation and challenges of small animal general practice, but has particular interest and experience in anesthesia, dentistry, soft tissue surgery, and medicine. He has attended hours of continuing education on these topics as well as pain management and dermatology, and is a member of the AVMA, NYS and Capital District VMA’s. In addition to delivering high quality evidence based care, he strives to communicate thoroughly and effectively to allow for his clients to be integrally involved in the decision making of their pet’s care.
Dr. Hotaling lives in New Lebanon with his wife, who is also a veterinarian, and two school-aged children. They share their home with three dogs, and also maintain a small flock of chickens, and a herd of Angus-Highland cross beef cattle. He is an active member of his community, serving as a coach Averill Park Road Runners, and as a league officer and coach in the Nassau-Shatford Baseball League. When he is not at work or coaching you may find him spending time with his family, trail running, telemark skiing, and following Arsenal FC
Dr. Jonathan Duryea
Veterinarian
Dr. Duryea grew up in Warwick, NY in the Mid Hudson Valley, on his family’s small hobby farm with sheep, goats, rabbits and pets of all kinds. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Science at Cornell University. He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine in 1995. He has practiced at CVH since graduation for all but one year of practice on Cape Cod, MA.
He lives with his wife in Copake NY and when not working enjoys gardening, woodworking, cooking and sailing.
Dr. Melissa Klay
Veterinarian
Dr. Melissa Klay grew up in Saratoga County, NY. From a young age she knew that she wanted to become a veterinarian and earned her DVM from Cornell University in 2010. She completed a rotating internship at Oradell Animal Hospital in NJ and began practicing at Copake Veterinary Hospital in 2011. One of her favorite aspects of working at Copake Vet is the group of supportive and hard-working people she gets to work with every day. She finds joy in building relationships with clients and is grateful to be able to help pets and their owners.
Dr. Klay and her husband Sean have three wonderful children. They share their home with a pet rabbit named Pixel and a Standard Poodle named Tico. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, reading, and getting dragged along to various historic landmarks.
Melissa Hayes, LVT
Technician
Melissa Hayes, Licensed Veterinary Technician (AKA “Mel”), joined Copake Vet Hospital in 2012. She earned degrees in Animal Science and Horsemanship in Virginia, her Veterinary Technician/LVT designation from SUNY Delhi, and has been in Veterinary practice for 40 years. She has a special interest in surgical nursing and is known as one of our “cat whisperers”. Her time off is spent gardening, walking the rail trails, and with her partner Jeff who is also a veterinary professional.
Danielle D'Amato, LVT
Technician
Danielle, or “DD” as she’s affectionately known to all of us, is one of our Licensed Veterinary Technicians and has been with us since 2015. She has over 20 years of experience in veterinary medicine and is an alum of SUNY Ulster, where she obtained her A.A.S. in Veterinary Technology. In addition to her experience with companion animals, she has an extensive background in exotic and wildlife medicine and she is our go-to for all things bird and pocket-pet related. DD and her husband Matt share their home with their three children, their Golden Retriever Sven, French Bulldog Lemon, cat Chau, and several pocket-pets. In her very sparse free time, she enjoys crocheting, spending time in the woods, and birding.
Lindsey Baillargeon, LVT
Technician
Lindsey is our newest LVT, having passed her VTNE this summer! She previously graduated with an A.A.S. degree from SUNY Ulster in 2021. Her favorite animal to work with is cats. While at work she is a bubbly team player, always willing to help her team or a pet in need. She is known by her skills in makeup at work where she will come in matching her scrubs. Lindsey is a mother to her special needs son, Jerry. She helps her mother’s non-profit rescue called Itty Bitty Kitty Rescue where she fosters neonatal kittens until they are big enough to go to their forever home. In her spare time she loves to crochet, wood burn art, and garden.
Patricia Dwyer
Assistant
Patty is one of our veterinary assistants. She has an associate’s degree in Veterinary and Animal Science. She has been in the field for 7 years. Patty shares a home with her husband, two small children, a beagle named Baxter and an old kitty named Theodore. She also has many chickens. When she’s not working, Patty enjoys spending time with her family, working out, doing extreme races, crocheting, gardening and hanging out with her chickens.
Ehren Melius
Assistant
Ehren Melius joined our team in May, 2024 as a Veterinary Assistant. Before coming to work with us, Ehren spent nearly two decades working in the Animal Welfare field. He began his career at the Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA where he worked for twelve years as their Shelter Manager. In 2012, Ehren moved on to work for the ASPCA’s Field Investigation and Response Team, serving as their Emergency Shelter Director and later their Medical Operations Director. With his love for animals and a commitment to compassionate care, Ehren brings his passion to the Copake Veterinary Hospital’s team to provide top quality care for our clients’ pets.
Ehren recently moved back to Copake, NY, allowing him to be closer to friends and family. Outside of work, he enjoys kayaking and backpacking when he’s not catering to his cat Slinky.
Trisha Burlingame
Assistant/Clinic Coordinator
Trisha is one of our veterinary assistants and has been a part of our team since 2021. Trisha is very versatile you will often see her filling in wherever she is needed because there are not many tasks or roles she can’t do! She previously worked in excavation before coming into the veterinary world. She also has some background in human medicine. On her free time she enjoys spending time with her family which includes her husband Zach, their two year old daughter Ella Mae, as well as their two Dalmatians, Maverick and Dude, and their 16 year old mixed breed Diesel.
Sam Luca
Assistant
Sam was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and has been with Copake Vet since January of 2023. She enjoys working as an assistant and receptionist while she pursues her Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology through SUNY Ulster Community College. After earning a Bachelor of Science from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Sam became a committed volunteer at a large animal rescue and began working at the local humane society. She has a background in Karen Pryor positive reinforcement training for puppy foundation skills and canine behavioral management. Sam spends her time off hiking and entertaining her two cats, Oliver and Oakley.
Stephanie and Sunny
Assistant/Clinic Coordinator
Stephanie has worked in a multitude of roles here at our hospital since 1999. At times you might see her checking in clients and pets, assisting doctors in procedures or appointments, answering the phones or assisting our staff by filling whatever position fits the needs of the practice. You may also recognize Stephanie’s dog Sunny who happily manned the curbside check-in booth with her when she was called in to help during the Covid-19 pandemic. Her free time is filled with several homesteading projects, taking care of her chickens, her 17 year old cat Sulli, and vacationing near any lake, mountain, or ocean with her husband Christian and their family and friends!
Nancy Spano
Receptionist
Nancy Spano has been a receptionist at Copake Veterinary Hospital since 2016. Prior to then she was a dental assistant for close to 30 years. She was raised on her family’s farm in Columbia County and currently lives at home with her husband, has two grown daughters, three grandchildren, a dog named Koda and a cat named Smudge. In her spare time she enjoys cooking and trying new recipes as well as doing crossword puzzles.
Bonnie Silvernail
Receptionist
Bonnie is the new Receptionist at Copake Veterinary Hospital but already feels right at home. After years of working various jobs including owning and operating her own hair salon, she has decided to work in her hometown of Copake. Bonnie and her husband Jimmy have raised four children and have six grandchildren. In her spare time Bonnie enjoys hanging out with family and friends and her three dogs.