Our Staff
Meet our team!
Meet the veterinarians of West Main Animal Hospital! We’re pleased to provide exceptional veterinary care for your pets.
URGENT cARE
If your pet has an urgent medical need, please call us for faster service. We offer limited same-day appointments and urgent care services.
Get to know our team!
The team at West Main Animal Hospital is committed to providing the
highest quality care for your pet.
Dr. Diane Wittenberg
DVM
Bio coming soon!
Dr. Deborah Tegarden
DVM
Debbie Tegarden, DVM, had a lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian. Growing up in a Portland suburb, she pursued a biology degree at Portland State University before attending veterinary programs at Oregon State and Washington State. After working for 12 years as a small animal veterinarian in Seattle, Debbie moved to Southern Oregon to raise her two boys. In 2012, she purchased West Main Animal Hospital and prioritized comprehensive dental care. With a passion for dentistry, Debbie steadily grew the practice, attending dental forums, seeking guidance from specialists, and continuously expanding her knowledge. She remains dedicated to improving the breath, health, and comfort of dogs and cats.
“I love what I do and look forward to many more years of accomplishing wonderful breath and happy, healthy, pain-free mouths in your dogs and cats.”
Dr. Laura Powell
DVM
Dr. Laura Fredricks Powell earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University in 2008 she started as an associate in the Rogue Valley and after 4 years decided to see what other opportunities were out there. However, ever since she was a kid, she wanted to become a veterinarian since she was the star of the week in 1st grade. Since then, her life goals have been surrounded with volunteering, and gaining new experiences to help me in my career. She did relief work for 2 years and was able to find a clinic that had good mentorship, which is where she ended up purchasing the practice. After growing the business for years, she sold it for a better work-life balance. She uses her experiences to be flexible and flow with the needs of her patients. Her main areas of interest include Surgery, Dentistry, and urgent or emergency care. She takes pride in doing what is best for both her patients and clients. Working and discussing with the families to keep everyone informed and involved in the process and the treatment plan. She believes that treating each patient is like treating part of the family, they need compassion, patience, and loving care. Outside of her veterinary work, she enjoys traveling, camping, hiking, and gardening spending time with family: her husband David and two daughters Heidi 9, and Nora 8. A fun fact about Dr. Powell: she is a 4-time Ironman Athlete and an avid Peloton rider. Her beloved pets include a Samoyed dog named Gracie, and a new orange kitten named Ginger Soft Paws.
Dr. Rhiannon Dabkowski
DVM
Rhiannon Dabkowski, a native of San Diego, CA, pursued her veterinary education at UC Davis. Prior to her veterinary career, she worked as a medical device engineer. Rhiannon’s passion for tangibly assisting people and animals led her to transition to veterinary medicine. Specializing in surgery, improving the quality of life for geriatric pets, and enjoying the adorable moments with puppies and kittens, Rhiannon finds fulfillment in her work. Outside of the clinic, she engages in triathlons, goes on outdoor adventures with her dogs, and cherishes time with her family.
“I love helping senior pets feel better. There are many options using medicine, exercise, supplements, and non-traditional modalities to make them more comfortable so they can enjoy their senior years.”
Dr. Patty DeWet
DVM
Dr. Patty DeWet is a 1988 graduate of Purdue’s School of Veterinary Medicine. She retired in 2018 after 30 years in small animal practice as associate, relief doctor and partner at a busy four doctor practice in Southern California. She moved to Southern Oregon to join her life partner and home is now 11 acres in the Applegate Valley. After a three-month “retirement”, she started back to work as a relief veterinarian at West Main Animal Hospital (she met Dr. Tegarden and Dr. Leonard while searching for veterinary dental care for her own pets!). She is grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the doctors and support staff at West Main Animal Hospital and to continue serving pets and people in the community.
Dr. Nicki Leonard
DVM
Nicki Leonard, DVM, was raised in Washington State and pursued her veterinary degree at Washington State University. She places a strong emphasis on expanding her dentistry skills and promoting general wellness for her patients. Since 2016, Nicki has been proud to be a part of West Main Animal Hospital. Alongside her husband, two children, two dogs, and three cats, she finds joy in caring for animals and supporting their owners. Nicki’s childhood experiences and admiration for the veterinarians who cared for her family’s hobby farm sparked her lifelong passion for working with animals.
“I’ve known I wanted to work with animals since I was a kid, watching the vet who came out to take care of our hobby farm at the time. I’ve been so grateful to be able to care for four-legged family members and help their people along the way.”