About Our Hospital

Dr. Amanda LaCroix is a 4th generation Vermonter who grew up in Essex. She attended the University of Vermont and obtained her veterinary degree from Cornell University. Before returning home Amanda worked at a small animal hospital in the Adirondacks. Since she was 3 years old Amanda knew she wanted to be a veterinarian. She gained some of her first experiences in the field working at River Cove prior to attending veterinary school. She is incredibly excited to return to the River Cove family. Amanda enjoys helping people work through their pet’s problems; she has a special interest in animal behavior. Compassionate care comes naturally to Amanda who believes that clear communication ensures a successful medical experience for both pet and owner. She also has a passion for shelter medicine which allows her to help those less fortunate. Most of her free time is spent outdoors exploring with her dogs – skiing, backpacking, hiking, kayaking, and running.

Dr. Patty Bartle graduated from the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. She is originally from Carlisle, Pennsylvania and received her undergraduate degree from East Stroudsburg University. She came to veterinary medicine as a second career after serving in the U.S. Peace Corps in Belize and working in a histology laboratory. Patty was drawn to veterinary medicine by the power of the human-animal bond. Patty lives in Winooski with her dog, Faye, and cat, Stewart. She loves being in nature and is an avid hiker in all seasons. In her free time you can find her exploring a trail in the mountains, floating in a swimming hole, cross-country skiing, sharing time with friends or at home where she enjoys cooking, reading and knitting.

Viola graduated from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary medicine in 2001. On graduation, she returned to her native New Jersey to complete an internship in small animal medicine and then continued to practice in New Jersey for several years. In 2007, she joined River Cove Animal Hospital where she continues her interest in complementary as well as conventional medicine. Viola shares her home with her partner Tom, two dogs, and two cats. She loves snow and enjoys snowshoeing and cross country skiing with her dogs. When the snow is gone, she rides her bike on the beautiful roads of Vermont.

Joel lives in Hinesburg, Vermont and feels lucky to practice veterinary medicine in the greater Burlington area. After graduating from Connecticut College, he received his veterinary degree from Cornell University in 2005. While in veterinary school, he was inducted into Phi Zeta, the national veterinary honor society. After working for a year in the Syracuse area while his wife finished veterinary school, he returned home to Vermont and joined the River Cove family. Joel thrives on the variety that veterinary medicine brings. He loves helping animals while cherishing his relationships with their owners. He and his wife, Jenny, have a son named Townsend and a daughter named Mabel. They share their home with three dogs, Tizzik, Taiga, and Potter. He also has a cat named Artemis and one horse, Regie. When not at the office, Joel can be found spending time with his family or in the woods with his dogs.

Originally from California, Dr. Levin earned his Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from the University of California at Davis in 1994 and received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University, School of Veterinary Medicine in 1999. Dr. Levin completed a one-year small animal medicine and surgery internship in 2000 at The Animal Medical Center in New York. Following his internship, he completed a three-year comprehensive residency in small animal orthopedics, soft tissue, and neurosurgery in 2003.

Since his residency, Dr. Levin has served as Staff Surgeon at small animal referral and emergency hospitals in California and New Jersey, as well as Chief of Surgery in Massachusetts and Vermont. Dr. Levin has received board certification and is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. His areas of special interest include orthopedic surgery and soft tissue surgery. Dr. Levin is trained in the Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) surgical procedure for the treatment of cranial cruciate ligament rupture and has performed thousands of these procedures in his career.