Dr. Joel Robbins is a Western Nebraska native, born and raised in Alliance, Nebraska.  He attended the University of Nebraska Lincoln for his undergraduate studies and completed his doctorate in veterinary medicine at Kansas State University.  Dr. Robbins became a partner of Pioneer Animal Clinic in 2012 and is a small and large animal clinician. He also works on his family ranch in Alliance where he and his wife, Corrina, are raising 2 beautiful children.

Dr. Kim Walker is the daughter of a military officer and moved with her family throughout her childhood. She attended the University of Oklahoma for her undergraduate degree in Microbiology and the University of Oklahoma for her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Walker is a small animal clinician at Pioneer Animal Clinic, and has her master’s degree in parasitology, and is certified in acupuncture for all species. Dr. Walker is known for her comprehensive knowledge and is often consulted when difficult cases are presented. Dr. Walker spends her days off working at her family ranch northeast of Alliance, Nebraska.

Dr. Dale Kurtz was born and raised in Dillon, Montana.  He completed his undergraduate degree at Montana State University and went on to continue his education at Colorado State University where he graduated with his doctorate in veterinary medicine in 1972. Dr. Kurtz’s first position was at an equine practice in Connecticut. In 1976, Dr. Kurtz and Dr. Arden Wohlers purchased Pioneer Animal Clinic, and he maintained his share in the practice until 2016. Dr. Kurtz has an incredible knowledge for equine medicine including lameness evaluation, reproduction, and dentistry. He is currently working part time, seeing horses only.  He has been breeding and racing thoroughbred horses of his own for years.

Dr. Cares grew up on a ranch in Minatare, Nebraska, and has always been interested in veterinary medicine. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from the University of Nebraska followed by her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine throughout Nebraska’s cooperative program with Iowa State University. Dr. Cares worked at Pioneer Animal Clinic as an assistant during her summer breaks throughout her undergraduate studies and veterinary school. She joined Pioneer Animal Clinic as an Associate Veterinarian in June of 2018.  Since then she has discovered a passion for working with cats and dogs. She is excited to be back in Western Nebraska and looks forward to making a home here with her husband and pets.

Dr. John Dwyer was raised on a small row crop and cow outfit in rural Missouri.  He holds an undergraduate degree in Animal Science from Southwest Missouri State University and completed his DVM at Kansas State in 2016.  Prior to attending veterinary school, Dr. Dwyer worked in production agriculture and the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.  Before joining Pioneer Animal Clinic in 2021, he worked in mixed animal practice in rural Kansas. Dr. Dwyer works on all species, but prefers bovine herd health medicine and equine primary care and reproduction.  He has an interest in stockmanship and grazing management techniques.

Dr. Darla Dwyer was raised on the family farm in Kansas. She attended Kansas State University for her undergraduate studies and graduated from veterinary school in 2013. Dr. Dwyer spent her career in mixed practice in rural Kansas before joining Pioneer Animal Clinic in 2021. She really enjoys the variety that working in mixed practice on all species brings. Her specific interests are surgery, bovine herd health medicine, and swine practice.

Elsa joined Pioneer Animal Clinic in 2010 and worked as a full-time small animal technician assistant for 3 years before leaving to help at her family’s Mexican restaurant.  Her love for animals brought her back to practice in 2018.  She is wonderful with the animals and the clients speaks fluent Spanish, and can at times be found helping out at the front desk when needed.  Elsa is married with two beautiful daughters.  They share their home with 3 dogs and a cat.

Liz has worked in veterinary clinics her entire adult life.  She joined Pioneer Animal Clinic in 2016 as a Veterinary Assistant.  Liz grew up in Idaho and received her bachelor’s degree in Science in Natural Horsemanship, with a minor in Equine Science from the University of Montana Western in 2015.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son, and riding and working with horses.

Gracie was raised in Western Nebraska.  She graduated from Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in 2014 with her degree in veterinary technology.  She loves to work with both companion animals and livestock, and her main interests are emergency medicine and cattle work.  In her spare time, Gracie enjoys traveling, gardening, helping her husband on their farm, and spending time with her 2 young sons, farm animals, and friends/family.

Prior to moving to Western Nebraska, Gwyn worked in a vet clinic in Colorado for 13 years. She worked a 500 head ranch for 16 years, and currently runs a small herd with her son, Dorry, on their ranch north of Bayard, Nebraska.  Gwyn joined Pioneer Animal Clinic some years ago and worked full time for a while.  She has since returned as a very part-time (but very handy!) barn assistant, filling in on weekends here and there.  She keeps herself busy with horseback riding, training horses, and giving riding lessons.  She has 4 horses of her own.

Rylee was born and raised in Torrington, Wyoming.  She grew up knowing she wanted to help animals.  She is currently studying veterinary technology at Eastern Wyoming College, where she plans to obtain an Associates of Applied Science degree in Veterinary Technology.  Rylee has a love for the outdoors.  In her free tine she likes to hang out with family and her 2 cats and dog.

Caitlyn grew up in a small town in Arkansas on a farm, where she developed a love for all animals. She grew that love into a career by working in an animal shelter and at a small animal vet clinic in Georgia. She aspires to go back to college for a degree in veterinary technology now that she is settled in Nebraska. In her spare time, she enjoys doing anything outdoors, reading, painting, and hanging out with her husband and their two daughters.

Morgan was raised in Wright, Wyoming and graduated from Nebraska of Technical Agriculture in 2022 with a degree in Veterinary Technology. Morgan loves working with both large and small animals, but has really grown to like the large animal side of things. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, painting, and spending time with her very spoiled cat Blue, friends and family.

John moved her in May 2021 from Ohio for new career opportunities after graduating. He is well versed in plant identification which comes in handy for various toxicities. His career goal is to end up as a megafauna technician in a AZA accredited facility. In his spare time, John likes to work on his novel, game with his friends, and to spend time with his wife and pets.