Dr. Tyler Hotaling
VMD/ Owner
Dr. Hotaling, a native of southern Vermont, grew up on a small family farm—an experience that shaped his lifelong commitment to animal care. He earned his BS in Animal Science from Cornell University in 2003 and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2007. Following an internship at Colorado State University and two years in mixed animal practice in Fort Collins, he returned to the Northeast in 2010. After practicing in Albany and Old Chatham for over a decade, Dr. Hotaling became the owner of Copake Veterinary Hospital in March 2024.
A dedicated generalist, Dr. Hotaling thrives on the variety of small animal practice. He holds particular interests in anesthesia, dentistry, and soft tissue surgery. He has recently expanded his surgical offerings to include advanced orthopedic fracture repair and internal fixation. By the fall of 2026, he expects to offer Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) procedures to his patients.
Dr. Hotaling is an active member of the AVMA, NYSVMS, and the Capital District VMS. He is a frequent contributor to the wider veterinary community, sharing his experience as a panelist and podcast guest on new practice ownership. Above all, he is committed to evidence-based care and clear communication, ensuring clients are empowered partners in their pet’s health.
He lives in New Lebanon with his wife—also a veterinarian—and their two children. Together, they manage a herd of Angus-Highland cross cattle and share their home with two dogs and one cat. Long active in his local community, he previously served for many years as a coach and officer for his local youth baseball league. When he isn’t at the hospital, you’ll likely find him spending time with his family, trail running, telemark skiing, or cheering on Arsenal FC.
Dr. Jonathan Duryea (Retired)
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.
Dr. Emily Reilly
Veterinarian
Dr. Reilly was born and raised in East Chatham, NY, Dr. Reilly’s lifelong passion for animals is evident from her childhood, which included caring for a variety of pets such as dogs, chickens, ducks, sheep, rabbits, ferrets, gerbils, and an iguana. During her teenage years, she actively participated in 4H, showing chickens and sheep.
Dr. Reilly spent six years in Guatemala beginning at the age of 19, managing a large animal rescue with 320 dogs and 60 cats. It was there that she began her journey into veterinary medicine, working alongside a local veterinarian and speaking exclusively in Spanish.
Dr. Reilly holds an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice and Applied Sciences. Initially considering a career in animal law, she went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from SUNY at Albany and her Doctorate from Cornell University in 2025. Her studies at Cornell included a focus on wildlife, with two rotations at the wildlife hospital, an experience she greatly enjoyed.
Outside of her professional life, Dr. Reilly has a wide range of interests. She enjoys cooking and fishing with her husband, gardening, and spending time outdoors. Although she dabbles in a bit of everything her favorite hobbies include a wide variety of fiber arts including cross stitch, quilting and knitting among her top favorites. After graduation and settling into her new home Dr. Reilly is looking forward to getting a dog, with a border collie being her top choice.
Dr. Lauren Scanlon
Veterinarian
We are pleased to introduce Dr. Scanlon our newest associate veterinarian. Dr Scanlon was born and raised in Southern California but has been living in Massachusetts since 2009. Her parents are from New York/Connecticut so she does have extensive family in the area and strong ties to this coast. She earned her BA from Bark College at Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington, MA with a double major in Chemistry and Political Ecology in 2013. She graduated from Tufts Cummings School Of Veterinary Medicine in 2021 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and International Veterinary Medicine (IVM) Post Graduate Certificate. During her time in vet school, she was also the co-president of the Veterinary Business Management Association. She then went into general practice in Great Barrington, MA.
Dr. Scanlon loves general practice for the ability to address the variety of needs of the patient as well as the long-term relationships with clients and their pets. She is also committed to evidence-based care and clear communication. She hopes to hone and expand her skills with continued learning both within the practice and at lectures and learning opportunities at Veterinary Universities and elsewhere.
She lives in Sheffield, MA with her husband and two children, two Catahoula leopard dogs, three bobbed tail cats, and one fire morph crested gecko. When she is not working, she loves spending time with her kids and helping with their various sports. In her spare time, she likes to hike and garden.
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 passed her VTNE. 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.
Kimberley Eckerle, LVT
Technician
Kimberley is one of our newest Licensed Veterinary Technicians here at the clinic, she graduated SUNY Delhi in 2015,and is a dedicated animal lover! When she’s not at work, you’ll find her enjoying quality time with her two beloved older cats, riding her horse Meru or getting lost in a good book.
Amanda Clark, LVT
Technician
Amanda Clark, LVT, is a highly experienced and compassionate Licensed Veterinary Technician who graduated from Northwestern Connecticut Community College (now part of CT State Community College) in 2007. With over 18 years in the field, Amanda has dedicated her career to providing excellent care for animals, thriving particularly when helping those with special needs.
Her deep love for pets is also evident at home, where she cares for three beloved companions: her two cats, Cheddar Bob, who is blind, and Momma Kitty, who is an impressive 20 years old, and Walter, a recently rescued dog who keeps the household lively.
When she’s not at the clinic, Amanda enjoys a variety of outdoor activities that connect her with nature, including gardening, taking relaxing nature walks, and camping.
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.
Mackenzie Milton
Assistant
Mackenzie Milton, or “Kenzie” as most of her friends call her, is one of our veterinary assistants. Being a local to Amenia, NY Mackenzie is very familiar with our practice and the area. Mackenzie attended Dutchess Community College obtaining an associate’s degree in biology, she is currently attending SUNY Cobleskill to pursue her career in veterinary medicine and receive a bachelors degree in animal science to work towards becoming veterinarian. Mackenzie is also a fifth-generation volunteer firefighter who loves spending time with her loved ones, outdoors, and with animals, especially dogs and horses. She loves learning as much as she can from the Doctors and staff here at CVH. She is always open to do whatever is needed, whenever it is needed, is always up for a challenge, and is ecstatic to be part of the CVH team!
Trisha Burlingame
Assistant/Clinic Coordinator
Trisha has been a member of our team as a Veterinary Assistant since 2021. She is renowned for her exceptional versatility, often seen filling in wherever she is needed—there’s virtually no task or role she can’t handle! Trisha brings a unique set of skills to the clinic, with previous professional experience in excavation and a background in human medicine. Outside of work, her world revolves around her family: her husband, Zach, their four-year-old daughter, Ella Mae, and their lively crew of four Dalmatians: Maverick, Dude, Cedar, and Rocky.
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 and vacationing near any lake, mountain, or ocean with her husband Christian and their family and friends!
Nancy S.
Receptionist
Nancy has been a receptionist at Copake Veterinary Hospital since 2016. Prior to then she was a dental assistant for nearly 30 years. She was raised on her family’s farm in Columbia County. Nancy has two grown daughters, three grandchildren, a dog named Koda and a cat named Smudge. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, trying new recipes, and 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.