Animal Care Center | Our Doctors

Dr. Pam Nichols earned her doctorate in veterinary medicine from Colorado State University in 1996. She opened the Animal Care Center in West Bountiful, Utah in 1999, and was awarded AAHA certification that year.

The hospital won the Veterinary Economics Practice of Excellence in 2001. After earning her rehabilitation certification in 2004, Dr. Nichols opened The K-9 Rehab Center. She now divides her time between rehabilitation and general veterinary medicine. Dr. Nichols is a nationally recognized speaker on the importance of rehabilitation in veterinary medicine, and was honored with the 2006 Spirit of the American Woman Business Owner of the Year award. She has a 13 year old daughter Elaine, and a multitude of dogs and horses.

Dr. Kara Tassone was born and raised in Utah. Where she attended Bonneville High School and Weber State University. She completed her DVM at St. George’s University in January 2007. Then she spent her Clinical Year at the University of Illinois where she especially enjoyed her studies in dentistry, internal medicine, and oncology.

During her education, Dr. Kara served on many council and committees including being elected as the national president of the Student American Veterinary Medical Association. She is currently serving on the UVMA state board and is President-elect of the Northern Utah Veterinary Medical Association. Her motto has always been "lead to inspire," because she believes that we should all take every opportunity to better the world around us- no matter what arena we enjoy.

After completing her formal education Dr. Kara spent a year in a small animal medicine and surgery internship at the Animal Referral and Emergency Center of Arizona. During this year she was able to spend time with Veterinary Specialists in a variety of circumstances, including radiology, surgery, emergency medicine, oncology, cardiology, & dermatology. She then worked as a relief emergency veterinarian in the Phoenix area, before making her way back to Utah where she fell in love with Animal Care Center and the greatest staff in the world.

Dr. Kara enjoys all of her canine and feline patients and she loves preventing problems as well as treating them. She has a strong interest in dermatology, emergency, dentistry & internal medicine. She also has a very special spot in her heart for brachycephalic (short-faced) pets and all of there unique features/problems.

Kara is married to her veterinary classmate Dr. Michael Lemmon. They have a handsome, easy going Boston terrier puppy named Bosco, a sweet yet demonic pug, named Ziva, and a lovable problem child, boxer-bulldog mix, named Gubaru. Dr. Kara and her husband, enjoy riding their motorcycles, hiking, camping, working in the yard, and doing anything that keeps them outside in the fresh air.

Dr. Kara is ecstatic to be a part of the Animal Care Center team, and is excited to work with you to take care of all of your pets’ health care needs.

Dr. Verona Scheurich graduated from Colorado State University in 2005, where she first developed a passion for acupuncture. This interest developed into a complex senior project that evaluated the clinical benefits of acupuncture in a patient with pulmonary cancer. She also worked with a variety of exotic animals and pets in every aspect of veterinary medicine, from internal medicine to anesthesiology, all of which she enjoyed.

Before moving to Utah, Dr. Verona worked in a very dynamic five doctor practice in North Dartmouth, MA where she was able to focus a great deal of her time on acupuncture therapy. She also completed a Companion Animal Acupuncture Certification Program through Colorado State University that required over 140 hours of formal training. As well as a love of this discipline, Verona also has a strong interest in feline medicine, internal medicine, and anesthesiology.

Verona lives in Sugarhouse with her beautiful and loving daughter Frankie, whose smile is the light of her life. She also shares her life with a handsome little dog named Max who she acquired 17 years ago at the Belly Dance Festival in Liberty Park. She also has a cat named Boo, who was a stray kitty, originally found by one of Animal Care Center’s great clients. Boo then worked his way into Verona’s heart, life, and rocking chair.

Growing up in Sandy, Utah, with four siblings, Dr. Verona developed a love of being in the open air which she maintains to this day. In fact, in her limited spare time, Verona enjoys spending time with her daughter, doing Yoga, hiking, biking, cross country skiing, and occasionally rock climbing.

Dr. Verona looks forward to meeting you and your pets on your next visit to the Animal Care Center.