Get to Know Our Team!
The veterinary team at Aggie Animal Dental Center is composed of highly trained and experienced animal health professionals who have a genuine love for working with pets. Our veterinarians include a Board Certified Veterinary Dentist™, an associate veterinarian who has completed specialty training, and a resident veterinarian who is training to be a specialist in Dentistry & Oral Surgery. In addition, a Board Certified Anesthesiologist™ provides in-person or remote support.
Our support staff consists of 2 Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs), 1 technician assistant, and 2 client service representatives. We treat all of our patients as if they were our own pets, giving them the same loving attention and care. Dr. Lommer has been a Board-Certified specialist since 2000. In addition to being a Board Certified Veterinary Dentist™, Dr. Lommer is also a Fear-Free® Certified Professional. Watch this video to learn more about why our practice has chosen to implement Fear-Free® techniques. Please let us know if your pet has food allergies or other dietary restrictions, as treats are an integral part of Fear-Free® protocols. If you have an anxious pet, visit Fear-Free Happy Homes to learn about steps you can take to reduce your pet’s fear, anxiety, and stress.
Why Is Board Certification for Veterinary Specialists Important?
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Board of Veterinary Specialties recognizes only medical and surgical specialists who have completed board certification through their specialty organization. In North America, there is only one AVMA-recognized specialty college for veterinary dentistry in horses and pets: the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC). Board Certified Veterinary Dentist™ and Board Certified Equine Veterinary Dentist™ are titles reserved only for veterinarians who have successfully completed residency training and have passed the AVDC’s certifying examinations.
Our Veterinarians
Dr. Milinda Lommer
DVM, Dipl. AVDC; Certificate Holder, Zoo and Wildlife Dentistry; Fear-Free® Certified Professional
Board Certified Veterinary Dentist™
After graduating from Indiana University in 1991 with a B.S. in Biology and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Milinda moved to California to attend U.C. Davis’ School of Veterinary Medicine. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree with Phi Zeta honors in 1995.
After a one-year internship, Dr. Lommer returned to U.C. Davis, where she became the first veterinarian to complete UCD’s three-year residency program in Dentistry & Oral Surgery in 1999. She received the 1999 Peter Emily Outstanding Candidate Award from the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC), and became a Diplomate of the AVDC in 2000, earning the title Board Certified Veterinary Dentist™.
Dr. Lommer is an Associate Editor of the Veterinary Dentistry and Oromaxillofacial Surgery section of the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science. In addition, she serves as Chair of the Resident Education Committee for the AVDC and is a volunteer Associate Clinical Professor at U.C. Davis, where she assists with training residents in the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service and participating in clinical research projects.
Dr. Lommer has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to community service through extensive volunteer work. From 2014 to 2021, she ran the Boston Marathon 4 times, raising over $45,000 for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. In 2023, she volunteered more than 150 hours to the AVDC, UC Davis, and the SF and Oakland Zoos.
In August 2023 Dr. Lommer successfully completed the AVDC certifying examination for Zoo and Wildlife Dentistry.
Although Dr. Lommer graduated from U.C. Davis, home of the Aggies, the practice is actually named after her first cat, who joined the family when Milinda was 9 years old. Aggie was a devoted companion for over 19 years.
Dr. Tanner May
Associate Veterinarian, Practice Limited to Dentistry and Oral Surgery
Dr. Tanner May grew up outside of St. Louis, Missouri. He attended the University of Missouri for his undergraduate studies and then for veterinary school, graduating with his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2019.
After graduation, Dr. May practiced at a small animal general practice with locations in Columbia and Linn Creek, Missouri. He joined the Aggie Animal Dental Center team in January 2022 as a resident pursuing a specialization in dentistry and oral surgery. After completing his residency in 2024, Dr. May will remain on the Aggie team, continuing to provide excellent care to our patients and clients.
Dr. May enjoys making a difference In the lives of animals by restoring oral health, and his favorite aspect of dentistry and oral surgery is working with animals in zoos and wildlife sanctuaries. After he achieves Board Certification, he plans to pursue a Certificate in Zoo and Wildlife Dentistry.
In December 2023, Dr. May, Dr. Lommer, and a team of veterinarians and technicians from the Oakland Zoo traveled to the ARCAS Wildlife Rescue Center in Flores, Guatemala, where they successfully removed a badly infected canine tooth from a jaguar that had been rescued from the illegal wildlife trade as a kitten.
Dr. Colin Boyd
Resident in Dentistry and Oral Surgery
Dr. Colin Boyd was born and raised in Ireland. He attended veterinary school at the University of Glasgow, graduating in 2016. Dr. Boyd worked in general practice and emergency medicine for 8 years in the UK, Colorado, and locally in Marin.
After realizing the profound and immediate impact dental care was having on his patients, Dr. Boyd decided to pursue specialization. He joined the Aggie team in 2024, starting a 3-year residency program with the goal of becoming a board-certified specialist in dentistry and oral maxillofacial surgery.
Dr. Boyd lives in Petaluma with his wife and Dachshund Ronan. Outside of work, he can usually be found outside, hiking, mountain biking, skiing, or enjoying the Bay Area’s food scene.
Our Staff
Jennifer Tacy
RVT, Fear Free® Certified Level 3 Professional
Practice Manager
Jennifer has been working in the veterinary field for over 25 years. She gained most of her experience working at San Francisco Pet Hospital as a Registered Veterinary Technician and Hospital Manager. She cultivated long-term client/patient relationships for the 20+ years she was there.
Jennifer earned an American Red Cross Animal Rescue Award in 2010 for helping save a Maltese from a dog attack. She also worked with New Door Ventures, a youth program geared to giving young adults their first job experience, and sponsored numerous young adults with internships at SFPH.
At the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, she joined Claremont Veterinary Hospital with new ownership to elevate its client relationships and patient care.
She joined Aggie Animal Dental Center in March 2024 and aims to build more relationships with our clients and their companions. While she is an animal person, she currently (amazingly) only has two cats, both magnificent black females named Milton and Bradley.
Renee Artigues
Fear Free® Certified Professional
Veterinary Assistant
A California native, Renee attended Rutgers University in New Jersey, graduating in 2016 with a B.S. in Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, and returned to California in 2018.
After working at the San Francisco Zoo, Renee joined the staff of Aggie Animal Dental Center in January 2019 as a Client Service Representative.
She became a Veterinary Assistant in January 2023 and is currently attending classes at Santa Rosa Junior College to qualify to become a Registered Veterinary Technician.
Ophelie Birrer
RVT, Fear Free® Certified Professional
Registered Veterinary Technician
Ophelie grew up in a small farming town in rural France, where she loved being around animals of all kinds.
After receiving diplomas in Animal Husbandry and Animal Care from Lycée Charles Baltet in Troyes, France, Ophelie worked as a kennel attendant at a dog breeding and training facility and volunteered with rabbits, horses, sheep, and cattle in France before relocating to California in 2009.
While working as a handler at Camp K9 in Corte Madera, she completed the veterinary technician course of study at Santa Rosa Junior College and began working as a veterinary technician at a small animal hospital in San Rafael in 2017.
She became a Registered Veterinary Technician in 2019 and joined the team at Aggie Animal Dental Center in July 2020.
Maria Cantu-Torres
Fear Free® Certified Professional
Client Service Representative
Maria earned an Associate of Science degree from Heald College in Concord, CA in 2008 and has worked in customer service for over 15 years.
Her love of animals led her to begin working as a CSR in the veterinary field in 2017. She joined the Aggie Animal Dental Center team in January 2023. She excels at helping clients both on the phone and in person.
Maria also keeps the office jovial with a ‘Dad Joke of the Day’ and is our Social Director, planning celebrations for each staff member’s birthday and work anniversary and planning fun outings for the Aggie Animal Dental Center team.
Vincent Weisman
Bio Coming Soon
Kiki Erlin
Bio Coming Soon