Meet the Team
Our Veterinarians
Dr. H. Thomas Ferstl, Jr
Owner & Senior Veterinarian
Dr. Ferstl graduated from Millington High School in June 1969. He attended Michigan State University for a year before accepting an appointment to The United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland June 1970. He returned to Michigan State University at the end of September 1970 to pursue a career in Veterinary Medicine. He graduated from Michigan State University in June 1973 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Microbiology and Public Health. He graduated from Michigan State University's College of Veterinary Medicine June 1976 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree. During the next year, Dr. Ferstl was employed at three Veterinary practices, including practicing at his father’s practice, founded June 6, 1949, in Millington, MI. He spent the next three years traveling the country, writing, doing independent study, and living in Germany for 8 months studying the German Language. On his return from Germany, December 30, 1979, he worked with his father in his father's practice in Millington, practicing large and small animal medicine and surgery until his father’s death in November 1995. From 1995 until the present, Dr Ferstl concentrated on Small Animal Veterinary Medicine, with a special interest in surgery. During this time, the practice grew from two employees to 18 employees, and from an original footprint of 800 square feet in 1949 to an over 7000 square feet footprint in 2023, and a second clinic in Vassar, MI, 4-Paws Veterinary Clinic, that is a practice equipped for rehabilitation and pain management.
Dr Ferstl enjoys practicing The Martial Art Sun Moo Kwan Hapkido, a Korean martial art over 2500 years old. He also enjoys reading, writing, herding cats, teaching dogs to wrestle, and plotting to take over the world. (His best plot: Teaching cats to rap, turn them loose all over the world, and pick up the pieces.) Occasionally, Dr. Ferstl will get into an argument with a horse over who is psychologically smarter, a horse or a man. The horse will laugh at Dr. Ferstl’s arguments, and Dr Ferstl, in a pique, will challenge the horse to a hundred-yard dash. Dr Ferstl wins the first 60 yards but gets creamed in the last 40 yards. The challenges continue. And lastly, if you stay up late on a summer’s balmy night, you can catch Dr Ferstl trying to teach an opossum to stay awake and read.
Dr. Barbara Guile
Veterinarian
Dr. Guile is a life-long resident of Tuscola County. She received her Bachelor of Science from Saginaw Valley State University in 1997. She then continued her education at Central Michigan University where she graduated with her Master of Science in 2004. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Michigan State University in 2008. Dr. Guile has been working at the Ferstl Veterinary Hospital since 1999. She enjoys spending time with her family and caring for special needs cats and dogs. She has recently opened our sister location, 4-Paws Veterinary Clinic located in Vassar, MI to pursue her interest in rehabilitation and pain management.
Our Staff
Rebecca Stalsberg
Practice Manager
Rebecca has been here since 2018. She started off as a receptionist when moving back home from North Carolina and is the current Practice Manager. She handles everything from clients, to patient care, and being a tech as well. She has an Associates Degree in Business Management from Delta College. She is a mother to a young boy and has a dog – Axl Rose, and three cats -Sparty, Seven, and Swiffer. When she is not managing the office, she enjoys spending time with family, reading, and playing video games.
Hannah Ylitalo
Veterinary Technician
Hannah currently attends SVSU and is planning on becoming a veterinarian. She has a love for all animals. In her free time, she loves spending quality time with her pets.
Sara Lossing
Veterinary Technician
Sara has been a tech here since 2021. She has two cats (Abby and Sophie), a dog (Charlie), and a rabbit (Heather). She received an associates degree from Mott Community College in Science and a Certificate in Veterinary Assisting. She also has a bachelor’s degree from Michigan Technological University in Biology. Sara is currently in the process of applying to vet school. In her free time she enjoys photography, birdwatching, and camping.
Makayla Mitchell
Veterinary Technician
Makayla has been working here since 2021 as a vet tech. She is currently attending Baker College to get her associates degree in Veterinary Technology. She enjoys spending her free time with her three dogs and horse.
Bailee Love
Veterinary Technician
Bailee was hired in March of 2023. She is currently working on her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science at Michigan State University. In the next few years, she plans on applying and attending vet school at Michigan State. In her free time, she loves to be outdoors and spend time with her family and pets.
Gage Baumgartner
Veterinary Technician
Gage is a student at Michigan State University, with a major in Animal Science. He plans on attending vet school, hopefull at Michigan State. He loves working with animals and likes watching soccer and playing video games in his free time.
Sarah Raths
Veterinary Technician
Sarah is a student at Macomb Community College, and she will be applying to the Veterinary Technician Program in February 2025. In her free time, she loves playing video games with her friends, going on hikes in new places, and visiting local coffee shops.
Rachael Radick
Kennel Aid/Receptionist
Rachael has been here since 2020. While starting out as a receptionist, she has since learned other aspects of the job and will help where needed. Whether it be as kennel aid, front desk, or tech. She specializes in client satisfaction and uses her experience to make sure every pet and owner have a good experience. She moved here from Texas in 2012, and Michigan has since become her home. While the adjustment from Texas to Michigan was difficult, she is proud to say she followed her nana’s footsteps in working with animals. Her love for animals is what keeps her going, just like her nana. When she is not taking care of animals at the office, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and spending time with her niece and nephew.
Brittany Wright
Receptionist
Brittany was hired on in 2022 as a front desk receptionist. She worked as a child care taker previously before coming here. She has a soft heart and love for animals and has had that love since a young age. Outside of the office she is a wife and a mother of six. She loves spending time with her family and her dog Yoshi.
Janeen Bartholomew
Receptionist
Janeen was hired with us in September of 2024 as a Front Desk Receptionist. Prior to her employement she was a CNA. She is married and loves animals. She currently has four dogs (Oakley, Daisy, Trigger, and Gauge). Outside of work, Janeen loved to spend time with her family, camping, fishing, hunting, and crafting.
Madison Gwizdala
Kennel Aid
Madison was hired in March of 2023, as a front desk receptionist. She was a receptionist and dog groomer for a small business owner for 2 years prior. She has taken a pre-vet class and won 3rd place in the HOSA Medical Reading while attending. She has always had a passion and drive for animals. She would love to work with livestock and horses but enjoys all animals. She is the oldest of 10 siblings and loves being outdoors, reading, and playing with her 3 pets, (one dog and 2 cats).
Alena Riedel
Kennel Aid
After high school, Alena plans to peruse her passion for animals and do something in the Vet field. She loves working with animals and has had that passion since she was a little girl. In her free time, she likes to play volleyball, go off roading, and play with her pets. She has 3 dogs, 2 cats, a turtle, a bunny, a bearded dragon, and a hedgehog.