Meet Our
Veterinary Team

Meet the wonderful veterinarians and staff of Animal Medical Service. We take great pride in providing excellent care for your pets!

animal medical service team

Meet Our Veterinary Staff

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Dr. Lutz K.G. Harfst, Veterinarian, Owner
Dr. Harfst has been providing excellent veterinary care to the communities of the Yakima Valley for more than 15 years. He has upheld a strong commitment to bringing quality care at affordable prices to our area. His commitment to quality and value is carried over from the foundation of our practice as the Yakima Spay and Neuter clinic. Dr. Harfst took a special interest in equine medicine and worked in some of the top jumper and dressage barns in Europe before making a move back to the Yakima Valley. When he is not at the clinic or on a farm, call you are most likely to find Dr. Harfst spending time with his wife and children at their farm, Marble Hills Stables.
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Jaquie, Practice Manager
Jaquie joined our team in 2016. Jaquie was born in Prosser. She was raised in Yakima after living briefly in California. This is the first veterinary clinic she has ever worked at and shares a great passion with animals. She has built great relationships with the clients and their pets for the last almost 6 years. Jaquie and her husband Bob live on their farm out in West Valley. She has 4 English Mastiffs, 4 horses, 12 chickens, 2 turkeys, 3 cats and 1 Blue Fronted Amazon that she rescued. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her kids, husband and all the animals on the farm. She loves to hunt, fish, go camping, riding horses, and riding quads. She really loves spending time outside. Jaquie’s son is currently enlisted in the Marines. Jaquie’s daughter is looking at enrolling in to college and pursue her future degree.
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Cathy, Receptionist
Cathy and her husband Steve live on a small farm with chickens, ducks, turkeys and the occasional pig or two. She also raises dairy goats. Both Cathy and Steve are licensed falconers and enjoy hunting with hawks and falcons. She currently has a Great Horned Owl named Bert.

Cathy is also a violinist. She has performed with symphonies and orchestras in Washington, Oregon and Canada. She has been a member of the Yakima String Quartet as well. Cathy has worked for Dr Harfst 8.5 years.

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Ashley, LVT
Ashley joined our team in 2017. She is originally from rainy Western Washington. She graduated as a Veterinary Technician from Pima Medical Institute in Renton. She spent two years at the Northwest Spay and Neuter Center in Tacoma before moving to the Yakima Valley. She has a hairless Chinese Crested named Murdock and a cranky old cat named Abby. She has kept lizards, fish, goats, and miniature horses in the past.

In her spare time, she is a very avid reader. She reads a bit of everything, but especially enjoys Christian historical fiction and sci-fi/fantasy. She also loves playing video games (Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild gets 11 out of 10 in her book) and watching old movies (especially musicals!). She is a big fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and has a collection of a dozen or so Captain America mugs. She also knits, crochets, and does cross-stitch.

Her favorite drink is hot tea (even in the heat of summer) and she has a large collection of loose-leaf teas that she enjoys. Ashley is a committed Christian woman, goes to Memorial Bible Church in Gleed, WA, and has been to Israel.

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Halie, Veterinarian Assistant
Halie has been a Veterinary Assistant for over two years. Halie joined our team in 2020. Halie graduated from West Valley High School. Halie was a part of the JROTC Program at West Valley and was on the Rifle Team as well.

Halie has always had a dream of being a veterinarian and is currently a student at YVC. She is taking courses that will help her get into the Vet Program at WSU. While Halie is not working or going to school, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, backpacking, and camping with her friends and family. She also loves to paint, write and decorate cakes.

Halie has a terrier mix named Remington and a Doxie mix named Winchester. She hopes to one day have her own farm with a large variety of animals.

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Shane, LVT
Shane joined our team in 2021. Shane grew up in Montana for 20 years. He moved to Yakima for 15 years to be closer to family. Shane graduated as Veterinarian Technician through YVCC in 2008. Shane has worked in multiple emergency vet clinics. He worked at Pet Emergency Service in Yakima. He also lived in Seattle for six years working in two emergency clinics. He really likes the fast pace of emergency clinics. He moved back to Montana for a year to help his family. Shane decided that Yakima has his heart and moved back two years ago.

He has a son who is enlisted in the Marines. He will also be welcoming a daughter in March of 2022. Shane enjoys camping, hiking, cooking, baking, all types of fishing, live music, getting new vinyl records, tying flies, and making spinning lures when he is not working.

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Tarin, Receptionist/Veterinarian Assistant
Tarin has spent most of her adult life in the Yakima Valley. She has a love for all animals, including reptiles. She has a 33-year-old Ball Python snake named Monty, three dogs, a cat, six chickens, fish, and other reptiles. Tarin worked with Dr. Harfst from 1994 to 1995. Tarin rejoined our crew in December of 2021.

Tarin and her husband will eventually be moving to a Caribbean island to spend all of their time in white sands and crystal clear-blue, warm water.