Meet Our Team

​Dr. Heather Shaffer

Veterinarian

Heather Shaffer is a native of Romney, West Virginia.  After graduating from Hampshire High School in 1997.  Heather received her Bachelors of Science degree in Biology from Fairmont State College in 2001, attended West Virginia University, and obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Tuskegee University in 2007. Heather now lives in Augusta with her husband and 4 children where she has a small farm with horses, cattle, and pigs.  Heather has a Golden Retriever named Hudson and a Great Dane named Ally.  She has several cats including Huckleberry, Blackie, and Mocha, as well as a Flemish Giant Cross rabbit named Carrot.  Her hobbies include photography, horseback riding, coaching youth sports, and attending WVU sporting events.   Heather’s special interests in the veterinary field include soft tissue surgery, dentistry, ultrasonography, and feline internal medicine.  In addition, she enjoys taking care of small pocket pets.  Heather wanted to be a veterinarian from the time she was 5 years old.  She worked with Dr. Hott in 1996-97 as a high school student.  Heather brings 14 years of experience to the practice and is very excited to work back in Hampshire County.  
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​Brittany Baker

Veterinary Technician

Brittany Baker grew up in Kirby, West Virginia. After graduating from Hampshire High School in 2008, she pursued a bachelor’s degree in Animal and Nutritional Sciences and graduated in 2012.  Desiring to increase her knowledge in the field of veterinary medicine, Brittany enrolled in a veterinary technology program with Penn Foster and received her associate’s degree in veterinary technology in 2015.  She has been working in the veterinary field for 12 years. Brittany currently lives in Augusta with her husband Richard and son Jake. She has a golden retriever named Hickory and two cats, Smokey and Warble. She enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and being outdoors. Brittany’s special interests in the veterinary field include hematology, anesthesia, and surgery.  Brittany is thankful to have the opportunity to work back in her hometown. 
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​Katie Simmons

Receptionist

Katie had been a force at Augusta Animal Hospital since 1993.  After a career in the travel industry, Katie joined the AAH team as lead receptionist and jack of all trades.  Katie's knowledge of the inner workings of an animal hospital are unmatched.  In addition to her work here, Katie has spent years volunteering in the community.  She shares her home with her husband Dexter, son Tyler, and pets Patch, Dakota, and Swiper, all of whom are
re-homed pets.  Katie's hobbies include dog-training, gardening and antique furniture.  

Emily Reid

Veterinary Assistant

Emily Reid began volunteering at Augusta Animal Hospital in summer of 2020.  After getting her feet wet and enjoying the work, she officially joined the staff a few months later.  Emily has loved animals her entire life and has aspired to work in veterinary medicine since she was 8 years old.  She has had her share of furry friends from dogs and cats to goats and horses. Emily is also familiar with pigs as she is a fourth-year member in the Hampshire High School’s American Berkshire Program.  Emily will be soon be graduating from Hampshire Senior High School and will study veterinary technology at Mountwest Community and Technical College in the fall of 2021.  Emily strives each day to treat every animal as if it was one of her own. Her American Pit Bull Terrier, Honey, means the world to her, so she knows how much other people’s pets mean to them.  Once finished school, Emily hopes to return to Hampshire County to give back to the community that has been so supportive of her.   

Dr. Lowell Hott

Owner and Advising Veterinarian

Dr. Hott began practicing veterinary medicine in 1979 after graduating from Tuskegee Institute School of Veterinary Medicine.  After a year working in both small and large animal medicine in Oakland, Maryland, Dr. Hott returned to his community and established Augusta Animal Hospital.
His desire to fill a need for veterinary medicine in the community soon evolved into an extremely busy mixed animal practice.  Now unofficially retired, Dr. Hott is eager to pursue other interests which include  improving wildlife habitat on his farm, gardening, landscaping, fixing things. and travelling when it once again becomes safe.  Dr. Hott is very happy after 41 years to be passing the torch on to Dr. Heather Shaffer.

Dottie Eddis

Office Manager

After graduating with a B.S. in Wildlife Resources from West Virginia University, Dottie transferred her knowledge of biology to veterinary medicine and became Dr. Hott's assistant in 1980.  Together they grew the practice--embracing new technologies including an in-house lab, digital radiography, laser surgery, and a fully-integrated computer system.  She and Lowell share their lives with six rescue cats and their wonder-dog Dewy.  When she is (rarely) not working, Dottie loves to play music, garden, cook, paint furniture, and travel adventurously.  She is an avid reader and a life-long learner and is eager to take on new challenges in retirement.