Dr. Rana Hafeez
Dr. Hafeez is our Senior Veterinarian with special interest in Small Animal surgeries I.e., Orthopedic Surgery (Cruciate ligament surgeries using MMP, TPLO, TTA Tight Rope techniques as well as Wedge resection, lateral imbrication technique for Patellar luxation.) Similarly, he also utilizes his surgical expertise while dealing with complex Fracture Repairs and Soft Tissue Surgeries. He also practices- Emergency Medicine, Hospitalization care, as well as being our only Exotic Animal Veterinarian on staff. Dr. Hafeez graduated Veterinary School in 1999 and has been an emergency vet before he became part of RLAH in 2005. Upon joining RLAH, Dr. Hafeez updated the hospital’s diagnostic abilities, and medications prescribed, therefore bringing the hospital into a more modern era. As a child Dr. Hafeez grew up around animals. He even took in strays and cared for wild animals! He grew up with a pack of spoiled German Shepherds, and even a Troublemaker Himalayan Monkey named Rocky! He has always shown an interest for every animal; Furry, Feathery, or Scaley. Even at an early age he was breeding finches. Dr. Hafeez has such a passion for the work he does, and it shows when he knows each detail about every one of his clients and treats them all as if they were his own.
Dr. Behzad Kayani
Dr. Kayani has been associated with Round Lake Animal Hospital for the last 5 years. He graduated Veterinary School in 2012. He has been working in the Chicago area since 2015 and joined us at RLAH in 2017. He has keen interest in small animal medicine and specialty surgery. He lives in the neighborhood with his two boys, who are ages 3 and 1, for whom he is planning to get their first pet soon.
Dr. Khader Shakir
Dr. Shakir Graduated from Madras veterinary college, Madras University in 1973. He was briefly posted at a Poultry farm, but then posted as an extension veterinarian at an Artificial Insemination Center. Some of the job requirements were, collection of semen, quality of semen, as well as performing A.I. on fertile cows to then follow up with a check for pregnancy. He emigrated to Chicago in September 1975. He was in the US Army active service Veterinary Corps, Kansas (Ft Leavenworth) from 1976-1980, from 1980-1986 he was US Army, Reserve Veterinary Corps, Chicago. (Ft Sheridan). Dr. Shakir obtained his ECFVG Certificate from AVMA 1984-1985. He has licenses to practice veterinary medicine in both Illinois and Florida. Dr. Shakir started a veterinary clinic from scratch in 1988 and named it “Riverside Animal Clinic” in Mchenry IL. He expanded into a full fledge Animal Hospital in only 5 years, with the addition of two doctors, he became a successful practice in McHenry County. While taking care of full-service clients, he also provided services for animal shelter organizations in both McHenry and Lake Counties. Other services he provided were to Cary City and surrounding city police department dogs, Rehab dogs, as well as caring for local nursing homes. Dr. Shakir was one of the initiators and partners of local Emergency Veterinary Hospital in McHenry County. He then moved on with his career and became a partner with Dr. Rana Hafeez and later Dr. Ali Raza Naqvi for Melrose Park Animal Hospital. He rebuilt, and ran the AHMP for 3 years, he trained a new graduate to become a full-fledged veterinarian. Dr. Shakir currently works as a relief Veterinarian at the Melrose Park Animal Hospital.
Dr. Ajaz Alvi
Dr. Alvi has been in small animal practice since 1977. He is licensed in Illinois, Wisconsin, Maryland, and Arizona. Also active in the American, Illinois State, and Chicago veterinary medical associations and has served as the executive secretary of the Illinois Academy of Veterinary Medicine for more than a decade. Dr. Alvi has held many positions in various boards and committees. He was chairperson of the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, Licensing and Disciplinary Board, and was a member of this board from 1997 to 2013. He was a member of PAVE board of the American Association of state boards and is a past president of Chicago Veterinary Medical Association. He received the prestigious Service Award in recognition in of meritorious service to the veterinary profession from the University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine at Urbana Champaign in 2002.
Dr. Lloyd Shaw
Dr. Shaw is one of our On Call Surgeons, he is the previous owner of Woodstock Veterinary Clinic with 53 years’ experience. Dr. Shaw graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 1969 and is currently a Staff Veterinarian with special interest in Orthopedic Surgery, Reproductive Medicine, and Bulldog Medicine.
Dr. Jeffrey House
Dr. House graduated from the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1976. He spent 1 1/2 years post-graduation as a faculty member at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. In 1978 he began practicing in the northwest suburban Chicago area.
Dr. House founded the Hoffman Estates Animal Hospital in 1985 and by 1989, the first time it was eligible, the hospital became an accredited member of the prestigious American Animal Hospital Association of which only 15% of all animal hospitals are members.
In 1989, Dr. House became board certified and a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP). Veterinary medicine in the United States is divided between general practitioners and those that have become “board certified”. The board-certified veterinarians are the only ones that are allowed to use the word “specialist” in their advertising. The advanced training, continuing education commitments and a difficult examination process has limited the number of clinical veterinarians with board certification to just 2% of the total number of practicing DVM’s.
In 1997, Dr. House became board certified for a second time within the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. His board certification this time was in the Feline Species. There are only 53 board certified “Feline Specialists” in the United States and Dr. House is one of only 3 veterinarians in the country to be dual certified, twice, by the ABVP. He has served as a mentor for other veterinarians that are striving to achieve board certification status.
In 2010 Dr. House founded Mobile Veterinary Ultrasound Inc, a diagnostic imaging company that provides soft tissue and cardiac ultrasounds for other veterinarians in the Chicago area.
His Specialties include Oncology, cardiology, Internal medicine, diagnostic imaging, and feline care.
Yalitza T.
Yalitza has been with RLAH for 2 years, she started as a receptionist and is now our Morning Manager. She has one dog, Shadow, who is a 5 yr. old Lhasa Apso mix. Yalitza really enjoys spending her off time doing things with her family, spending time with friends and getting her nails done.
Caitlyn K.
Caitlyn is our Middle Manager and has been with RLAH for the past 3 years. She really enjoys the company of her six animals. Baxter who is a 12 yr old Corgi mix and her Domestic Shorthair cats; Titus 5yrs, Chillquan 6yrs, Loki & Thor who are both 2yrs and Lola who is 12yrs and a Domestic Longhair. When Caitlyn isn’t here helping our hospitalized patients, she really enjoys spending time Reading.
Carrie K.
Carrie has been with RLAH since 2020, she started as a receptionist and is now the Night Manager. She basically has her own Personal Zoo at home with three dogs- Belle who is a 10yr old American Bulldog, Mina is a 7yr old Pomeranian, Louis Vuitton aka L.V. is a 2yr old Pomeranian. Two Cats- Duckie 14yrs, and Buster who is 9yrs. She also has Two Guinea Pigs Blair & Jinkx, Four Sugar Gliders Lou 9yrs, Bane 4yrs, Harley Quinn 5yrs, and Poison Ivy 5yrs and Three Dumpy Treefrogs- Libby, Tazer Face and Shy Ronnie. Carrie really enjoys grooming her Dogs, Painting, and going to Comic Book conventions whenever she’s not at work.
Kristine W.
Kristine has been with RLAH since May of 2006. She started as a receptionist and is now found her calling working in the Middle helping all our hospitalized patients. She has a full house with her 6 Gerbils and Fish, Jiggs who is a 6yr old Lab Mix. Her Three Cavalier King Charles- King Kong is 13yrs old, Gracie is 7yrs old and Dottie is 6yrs old. She also has a 12 yr. old Domestic Short Hair cat named Bagheera. In Kristine’s off time, she really enjoys being Outside/ Hiking, or going to Concerts.
Stephanie R.
Stephanie has been a Receptionist with RLAH for the past year. She has three dogs Remi who is a 2yr old Lab/Pit mix, Jack who is a 4yr old Dalmatian/Pit mix and Mya who is a 6yr old Pit Bull. Stephanie enjoys catching up with Friends and family when she isn’t working, but she also loves to hang out with her dogs.
Sam R.
Sam has been working in the Middle at RLAH for the Past 2 years. She has a full house with her three dogs, Lola a 9yr old Cockapoo, Walter a 9yr old Yorkipoo and Magneto a 7yr old Black Russian Terrier. She also has two cats, Henry a 5yr old Ragdoll and Bean a 8yr old Siamese mix. Finally, she has her three Guinea Pigs, Bobo who is her special needs Abyssinian, Penny an Abyssinian and Fran a Peruvian. In Sams spare time she likes to spend time at home with her husband and pets, sewing and getting together for movies and good food with friends.
Maggie H.
Maggie has been working in the Kennel at RLAH for the past year. She has three cats, Theo a 14yr old DSH, CeeCee a 9mth old DSH and Izabella a 5yr old Blue Russian. Maggie also has a 1 ½yr old Bearded Dragon named Beardie, and a 3yr old Lion Main Rabbit named Betty White. When she has free time, she loves being outside/ swimming/ and walking trails, doing yoga and Meditating. She also loves to sleep, do arts and crafts and hang out with family and friends.
Coral W.
Coral has just recently joined us at RLAH in the past couple months. She is our morning Kennel and is also training to be in the Middle. Coral has two dogs, Loki a 2yr old German Shepard and a 1yr old German Shepard named Judas. When Coral isn’t working, she enjoys being outside, which is a good thing because she lives on a farm and there is always something to do.
Suzanne L.
Suzanne has been part of the RLAH for the past 6mths working as a receptionist. She has three dogs, Kona a 10yr old Husky, Beamer a 7yr old Pit mix, and Nala an 8yr old Husky mix. She also has one Domestic Shorthair who is 19yrs old named Kitter. When Suzanne has free time, she loves to spend time with her friends, family and pets. She loves working on small house projects and reading.
Samantha T.
Samantha has been with RLAH 4mths, she helps oversee the Phones and Scheduling Appointments. She has two Domestic Shorthair Cats that are brothers- Thor is 2yrs old and Loki just turned 1yr. A few things Samantha enjoys are spending time with her family, walking in the forest preserve and going to the movies.