Dr. Plantz has been a veterinarian for 10 years, but has worked in the veterinary field for a little over 20 years. As a kid, Dr. Plantz helped bottle-feed a litter of orphaned kittens (one of which she named Tiger and was her companion for 19 years) and decided then that she wanted a career in veterinary medicine.  She routinely treats a wide variety of species including dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds (many types of parrots as well as pet chickens), and non-venomous reptiles. 

Dr. Plantz takes pride in educating clients while providing high quality medicine to all species with an emphasis on preventative care. When not at the clinic, she enjoys giving back to the profession; volunteering to teach veterinary students about exotic pet medicine at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine.  In her free time, she volunteers as the Medical Director at Wild Paws Midwest Animal Sanctuary, a start-up animal sanctuary in western Wisconsin.  Dr. Plantz also enjoys being a chauffeur to a bright and confident daughter Samantha, shuttling her between school, 4H, swimming, and playtime with friends.  Dr. Plantz and Samantha have two cats, “Cupcake” and “Buttercup”, and a gerbil named “Cookie” .  

Dr. Polanco graduated in 2022 from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. He has always had a passion for exotic animals and has kept an assortment of snakes, lizards, and fish throughout his life. While raising his exotic pets, he saw the need for veterinary care that was not always available to non-traditional species and dedicated his career to providing care for all animals, especially the scaly ones. In his free time, he can be found working on one of his reef systems, tending to his assortment of reptiles at home, or volunteering with the Minnesota Herpetological Society.

Dr. Kelsey Springer is thrilled to join the team at Homey Gnome Veterinary Clinic as an associate veterinarian. She completed her education at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2023. Throughout her veterinary journey, Dr. Springer has been an active volunteer with organizations such as the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, The Raptor Center, House Rabbit Society, and several humane societies. Her experience spans a wide range of species, from ruby-crowned kinglets to Percheron horses. Dr. Springer finds great joy in learning something new from each animal and client she encounters.

In her leisure time, Dr. Springer enjoys crocheting, kayaking, listening to audiobooks, birding, and traveling. She is currently challenging herself to learn the ancient game of Go/Baduk, although she admits to being a disappointing student so far. At home, Dr. Springer shares her life with her young son Milo, her partner Frank, two energetic cats named Pixy Stix and Sour Patch Kid, and a vibrant canary named Kevin.

She loves working in this field and helping the wide array of different creatures that we see. She enjoys that there’s never a dull moment and working with exotics as well as small animals adds variety to her days. She loves seeing all the patients that come in as babies and watching them grow over the years. Forming a bond with these animals as well as their owners is one of the best aspects of her job.

Sarah graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Animal Science with an emphasis in Veterinary Technology from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls in 2015 and graduated with her Associate’s Degree in Veterinary Technology from Argosy University in 2015. She became certified as a veterinary technician in 2015.

When not at work, Sarah enjoys spending time outdoors with family, friends, and fur children. Her favorite place to be is on the Chippewa River, paddle boarding and tubing with her husband, dogs, parents, and close friends. She also enjoys running 5Ks with friends and loves the perk of the ice-cold beer and food that awaits runners at the finish line.

She has a 23-year-old talkative Timneh parrot named Sweetie, two dogs, a Standard Poodle named Francois and a mixed breed named Remi, and a cat named Chowder.

Hello, my name is Annie and I joined Homey Gnome in 2024!

I grew up as a farm girl riding horses, and caring for rabbits, and cats! My love for animals and learning led me to complete my Veterinary Technician degree with DCTC. I’ve gained a love for exotic animals and now own 4 sugar gliders and a ball python.

I spend my free time singing and playing various instruments, as well as hanging out with friends in my church. I love to hike, kayak, and explore nature with friends and family!

I started my career as a Data Analyst at 3M. I had an early retirement in 2010 after 35 years. That gave me the opportunity to spend time with my disabled son until he passed in 2011. I was content for a while in retirement but felt a need to do more. I worked for a short time as a caregiver for a company, but it wasn’t a good fit for me. Then an opportunity was presented to me to apply for a job as a receptionist for a veterinary clinic. I worked there for over 4 years and retired again. Well, that lasted a year and now I am back as a receptionist for Homey Gnome. I missed the animals, the clients, and being around co-workers that makes me happy.

My husband and I have 2 cairn terriers, Joie and Annie. They keep me busy. We go for walks twice a day and they love to help me in the garden

Kelsey has worked with people and animals in various capacities over the years. She is extremely happy about being a part of the Homey Gnome crew!

Kelsey’s life changed when she met her first pup, Charlie when he was two weeks old. Charlie is an adorable wire-haired dachshund and one of the sweetest pups you could meet. After Charlie chose Kelsey to be his mom, they never looked back and they’ve been enjoying life together since 2011. Since then, Kelsey has fostered a couple of pups and also volunteered at both the Animal Humane Society and Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. She truly enjoys caring for animals of any kind and is fascinated by learning anything and everything she can about them. She is extremely excited about working in a field that focuses on animals and loves that she can make a difference in their lives along with being a friendly face for their families.

Kelsey loves spending lots of time snuggling & walking Charlie and watching her fish, Bubbs, make piles with her pebbles. She also enjoys running, hiking and cooking with her boyfriend, binge-watching TV shows, cross-country skiing, watercolor painting, playing card/board games, laughing with family and friends, and doing what she can to bring some good and happiness into this world.

Hello! My name is Brynn and I joined the pawsome Homey Gnome team in 2022. I am currently attending the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. I am majoring in Animal Science with an emphasis on Pre-Vet, and minoring in Wildlife Care and Handling and Marine Biology. My lifelong goal has always been to become a Veterinarian and I can’t see myself doing anything else. Animals always have and always will be a huge part of my life!

When not at work or school, I love to play and cuddle with my dogs and take lots of pictures and videos of them! I also love spending time with my friends and family whether that be playing games or watching our favorite shows. On top of that, I volunteer at multiple Animal Humane Society locations and get to meet so many wonderful and unique animals that always make my day!

I have 3 dogs that are my heart and soul: A 10 year old Great Dane/Blue Heeler mix named Ryder, a 2 year old rescue named Koda, and a 1.5 year old German Shepherd named Blue!

Hi! My name is Amanda, and I joined the Homey Gnome team in 2023. I am currently in High School and taking the 916 Animal Science and Natural Resources program at Century College. I grew up around all sorts of animals and have always loved being around them. They have a special place in my heart. I currently have 4 animals I love dearly. 2 cats (Angel and Sandy Sue), a rabbit (BunBun), and a dog (Faith).

When not at work or school, I like to paint, watch tv, hang out with family, go on road trips, and spoil all my animals. 

Hi! My name is Emily and I joined the team at HGVC in 2024. I graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2024 with a degree in Animal Science with an emphasis in Pre-Veterinary Medicine and a minor in Public Health. I’m currently pursuing my Master’s in Public Health at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, with the intention of pursuing veterinary school in the future. I have a passion for large animal medicine and studying the spread of zoonotic diseases.

My love for animals started when I was just a little girl growing up on my family’s small hobby farm. My favorite memories include bottle feeding baby goats and watching our miniature donkey drool when we fed him watermelon rinds!

Outside of HGVC, I am an Animal Care Technician for the Wells Fargo Family Farm at the MN Zoo. Come visit me during Farm Babies! I love teaching people about the world of agriculture, and I find a lot of joy in sharing my love for the animals that we care for.

When not working or studying, I spend time crafting and traveling the world. I also really enjoy camping; my family practically lived in Voyageurs National Park while I was growing up!

At home, my boyfriend and I share three cats: an orange tabby with chronic kidney disease named Harley, a flame point named Gouda, and a black tabby named Leonard. Even though feeding them is practically an Olympic sport, we dream of adding more furry (and feathered) friends to our little family in the future!

Hi, I’m Tony, and I joined HGVC in 2024. My love for animals started young—catching garter snakes and relocating American toads from my neighborhood was just the beginning. Since then, my passion has led me to work in an exotic petting zoo, a horse barn, and clinics around Maplewood. I’m working toward earning a bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology with the ultimate goal of becoming a Certified Veterinary Technician in a zoo.

My home is shared with a unique crew of furry, scaly companions—including dogs, snakes, a Nile monitor, and an Argentine black-and-white Tegu. When I’m not wrangling animals or studying, I volunteer with retired racehorses and dive into my passion for animal photography. One of my favorites to work with is Zelda, a spirited 18-year-old Thoroughbred who has quite the personality.