Kirk Teschke, DVM
Veterinarian, Co-Founder
Dr. Kirk Teschke grew up in Jacksonville before attending the University of Florida for his undergraduate and graduate studies and received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1995. With the help of his business partner, Dr. Larry Scrabis, they opened Estero Animal Hospital in 2001 along with their first employee, Barbara, who ran the front desk. Their first day they had five appointments, despite not having advertised yet, and the success has only grown from there.
Dr. Teschke chose veterinary medicine because he really felt that it fit his personality; he loved the science of medicine and, of course, working with animals. He has a passion for surgical procedures as each one is different, provides a learning experience, and he never knows what kind of challenge he will have to face.
Dr. Teschke is a fan of the band U2 and the UF Gators. He has eight pets: one dog, three cats, and four chickens.
Jennifer Dewe-Mathews, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Jennifer Dewe-Mathews grew up in New City, a suburb of New York City, before moving to Ithaca, NY to earn her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Cornell University. She then spent two years in Washington D.C. obtaining her Master of Arts in Developmental Biology from American University, before moving back to the tundra of Ithaca. She completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University in 2003, and then followed up with a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus, NJ.
Dr. Dewe-Mathews reluctantly moved to Florida in 2004, one week before Hurricane Charlie welcomed her to the south, and it took seven years for her to adapt; however, has no regrets about moving away from the snow.
Dr. Dewe-Mathews joined Estero Animal Hospital in 2008 just prior to the practice’s move to its bigger, current location. For two months, she worked in the clinic located at Albertson’s Plaza, and she remembers the clinic being so small that the largest cage could only accommodate an 80-pound dog. She remembers one day opening the bathroom door and a St. Bernard came running out as the bathroom was the only place large enough to house the dog that had been dropped off for radiographs.
Dr. Dewe-Mathews enjoys internal medicine, mainly chronic kidney disease, immune mediated diseases, and thyroid disease, and the challenges of case work up and management. She also has a strong interest in feline medicine, managing the obesity epidemic in our pets, and helping owners handle behavior concerns such as separation anxiety, storm anxiety, and nervous urination.
Dr. Dewe-Mathews is a big supporter of animal adoption and shelters, and she hopes that one day all the dogs and cats in shelters will find their forever homes.
David Cray, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. David Cray grew up in Mount Laurel, NJ. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Notre Dame before attending veterinary school at Tufts University. He chose veterinary medicine because taking care of animals is the most fulfilling career he could imagine, and the science of medicine appeals to his nerdy side.
Dr. Cray enjoys the focus of surgery and the challenges of exotic patients. He enjoys client education as he believes that informed owners are the best defense against illness or injury in pets.
Dr. Cray moved to Florida five years ago with his wife, and together they have a beagle, Maddie, and a golden retriever, Neeko. Their dogs compete passively, but continuously, to see who can be the neediest.
Amelia Foster, DVM, CVA
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Amelia Foster grew up mostly in New England, MA with a splash of Florida and Texas. She earned her undergraduate degree at Boston University in 1987, attended veterinary school at Tufts University in 1992, and then joined the school of hard knocks, enlisting in the US Army from 1984 to 2019. Hooaahh!
Dr. Foster is a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist and has interests in internal medicine and soft tissue surgery. She enjoys the challenge of figuring out what is wrong with an animal when they cannot speak for themselves. It is rewarding to her to be a part of her patients’ families and keep their pets healthy through every stage of life.
Dr. Foster moved to Florida from Maine in 2005 with her husband so that they could be closer to his family in Naples; arriving just after Hurricane Wilma! Together, they have two boxers, two goats, one cat, and one cycloptic atopic, epileptic, and very pretty pit bull.