Helen Szalajka, DVM
Medical Director
Dr. Helen Szalajka is a Wisconsin girl through and through. She was born and raised in a small town called Chetek and attended the University of Wisconsin Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 1997. She started working at the Spooner Veterinary Clinic and Care Animal Clinics at that time, finding the wide variety of cases and the home town atmosphere very satisfying. 
Her human family consists of her husband Rick, and stepsons Alex and Joe. Her animal family is diverse, with Rufus the Shih-Tzu and Morgan the lab mix, and her cats Dubya and Mo. Dr. Szalajka has also ventured into freshwater fish and currently has three tanks in her home. In her spare time, Dr. Szalajka enjoys traveling internationally and domestic, gardening, and rooting for the Packers at Lambeau field. 
Kim Ammann, DVM
Dr. Ammann studied Business Administration at UW-Whitewater, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1982. Returning to college to pursue a career in veterinary medicine, she completed her undergraduate requirements for veterinary school at UW-River Falls in 1993, and graduated from UW-Madison School of Vererinary Medicine in 1997. She worked in Woodbury, MN for 9 years before coming to Spooner Veterinary Clinic in 2007. She enjoys a wide variety of medical and surgical services that we offer to our patients. One special area of interest is avian species, both pet birds and wild raptors. She holds state and federal licenses in Wildlife Rehabilitation and limits her cases to injured and orphaned birds of prey. She shares her home with a variety of species, most of whom have been homeless and in need. Her favorite dog breed is the Samoyed, which explains the perpetual dog hair in her home! 
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Allen Pederson, DVM
Dr. Pederson was born and raised in Hayward. After four years in the U.S. Coast Guard, he attended the University of Wisconsin-River Falls before going to veterinary school at the University of Minnesota. After he graduated, Dr. Pederson worked for two years with the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic before returning to Minnesota to work at a mixed animal practice. He then came to Spooner, taking a break to spend a few years as a field worker for the Christian Veterinary Mission in Honduras. Now, Dr. Pederson spends his free time intruding on his grown children's lives, attending music and sporting events for his high school-aged son, and enjoying outdoor sports.
Brian Paulson, DVM
Dr. Paulson was born and raised in Mayville, North Dakota. He graduated from North Dakota State University in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in Zoology. He then attended Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated with his DVM in 2017.
​Dr. Paulson and his wife recently moved to the area with their dog (Wilson) and 3 cats (Jinxie, Tucker, and Pip Squeak). When not at work, he enjoys spending time with family and enjoying the outdoors.  ​
Gary Sloniker, DVM (Retired)
Dr Sloniker graduated from the University of Minnesota-College of Veterinary Medicine in 1977 after studying Pre-Vet at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He and his wife Cindy then moved to Spooner and joined the staff at Spooner Veterinary Clinic. At that time the practice was 75% large animal and 25% small animal. In 1987 they opened their sister office, Care Animal Clinic, in Hayward. Over the years the practice changed and by 1999, the clinics became 100% small animal. In 2014, after 37 years, Dr Sloniker became part-time and fills in at both clinics as needed.
Dr Sloniker has 2 daughters, 3 grandchildren, and a yellow Labrador Retriever named Dufie. He also has a small hobby farm where he raises beef and hogs. In his spare time, Dr Sloniker enjoys fishing, hunting, camping, trapshooting, and his grandchildren. He is an elder at his church, serves on the board of directors in the Spooner-Trego Lions Club, and is Chairman of the board at Indianhead Credit Union in Spooner.