Meet Our Doctors
Dr. John Gitau Chege, BVM
Veterinarian/Practice Owner
Dr. Chege is passionate about what he does—caring for your pets as if they were his own. A highly skilled veterinary professional with decades of hands-on experience, he provides thoughtful, thorough care across a wide range of needs, from routine wellness to more complex medical cases.
Dr. Chege has been practicing veterinary medicine in California since 2008. He lives in the Clovis area with his wife, Mercy, and their son, Alex—along with their cats Grayson and Dora, their dogs Momo and Bailey, and their tortoise, Kobe.
Dr. Chege earned his Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Medicine in 1996 from the University of Nairobi, Kenya — Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Upper Kabete Campus). He later completed the AVMA Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) program and became licensed by the California Veterinary Medical Board in 2008. Before becoming licensed, he worked for several years as a registered veterinary technician in fast-paced emergency hospitals throughout the San Francisco Bay Area—an experience that shaped his calm, methodical approach to critical care.
Emergency and urgent care medicine remain central to Dr. Chege’s clinical background. Over the years, he has worked as a veterinarian in a variety of hospital settings in the Bay Area and Central Valley, including PETS Referral Center (Berkeley), Beacon Veterinary Specialists (Fremont), the San Francisco SPCA (San Francisco—Fillmore & Mission Street locations), Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital (Berkeley), IronHorse VetCare (Dublin), and 24/7 PetVets right here in Fresno, to name a few. That breadth of experience helps him stay decisive, detail-oriented, and steady—especially when pets need timely, critical care.
His clinical interests include general practice, emergency/urgent care medicine, surgery, and dermatology. Above all, Dr. Chege believes great veterinary care is built on trust and communication, and he strives to form long-lasting partnerships with clients—so pets can live longer, healthier, and happier lives.
Dr. Jessica Starr, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Starr had dreamed of becoming a veterinarian since she was four years old. Growing up surrounded by animals — from dogs and cats to rabbits and parrots — sparked a lifelong passion for ensuring pets live happy, healthy lives.
Born and raised in California’s Central Valley, Dr. Starr has lived in Clovis most of her life. She graduated from Clovis High School in 2018 before attending California State University, Fresno, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science with a Pre-Veterinary emphasis in 2022, graduating magna cum laude.
While completing her undergraduate studies, Dr. Starr worked as a veterinary assistant at Northpointe Animal Hospital, gaining valuable hands-on experience and developing meaningful relationships with clients and their pets. She then attended the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, where she earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in May 2026.
Throughout veterinary school, Dr. Starr consistently returned to Northpointe Animal Hospital during school breaks, continuing to grow her clinical experience while working closely with Dr. Chege, whose mentorship helped shape her approach to patient care and client communication.
After veterinary school, Dr. Starr returned home to Clovis with her husband, her two cats named Biscuits and Gravy, and her two large dogs named Hana and Kiko. She is extremely excited to return to her hometown and help take care of the pets in her community!
Her clinical interests include ultrasound, radiology, general practice, and the incorporation of Fear Free techniques whenever possible to create a more comfortable experience for both pets and their owners. Dr. Starr is passionate about building trusting relationships with clients and helping families make informed decisions about their pets’ health and well-being.
Meet Our Team
Shelby Rolfe
Veterinary Technician
Serenia
Hospital Cat
Katherinn Hernandez
Veterinary Technician
Damaris Blanco
Veterinary Assistant
Ashley Blackwell, RVT
Practice Manager
Gail Gonzalez
Receptionist
Guadalupe Crosland-Davis
Veterinary Assistant
Cristal Ramirez Carrasco, RVT
Veterinary Technician
Daisy Armenta, RVT
Veterinary Technician
Jennifer Sanchez
Receptionist
Jacqueline M
"They are compassionate, patient, kind and understanding"
I am so thankful for Dr. Chege and the whole team here. They are compassionate, patient, kind and understanding. They were able to work us in during an emergency situation and treated us with so much respect and kindness even though it was our first time visiting the clinic. I highly recommend them to anyone seeking compassionate care for their animals.