Who we are

Dr. Mel 2

Melanie deHaan, DVM | Founder and Medical Director

Dr. deHaan is the founder and Medical Director of SOS of Ohio. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, class of 2006. Dr. deHaan was the founder and president of the University's Shelter Medicine Club, a co-chair of the Community Service Committee, and received the American Veterinary Medical Association's award for Outstanding Senior Service her graduating year. Dr. deHaan is a member of the OVMA, AVMA, and Association of Shelter Veterinarians. She does relief work for private practices across the city, but her special interest is Shelter Medicine with a focus on high-volume spay and neuter surgery.

For more information about Dr. deHaan, please click here.

	Aleshia (Aley) Overbey \| Clinic Manager Aleshia Overbey graduated in 1998 with an Associates Degree in Equine Science. Since that time she has found that working with small animals is, as equally, rewarding. She enjoys spending her time helping with foster animals through SOS. Aley organizes a monthly wellness clinic here at SOS to provide vaccines and basic care for clients with financial need and their pets. She lives with her 2 dogs, Uno and Charlie and two cats, Maddie and Olive.
	Erin Martinez, DVM \| Veterinarian Dr. Martinez graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in June of 2010. Prior to coming to Ohio for vet school she worked in multiple small animal clinics in Maryland and Washington, DC. After a rotation her senior year at Capital Area Humane Society, she discovered an interest in shelter medicine and spay/neuter surgery. Dr. Martinez started at SOS shortly after graduation and greatly enjoys the new experiences everyday. When not working, Dr. Martinez loves to spend time with her husband and their pets, Muncher, the great dane, and the cats, Dozer and Dizzy.
	Abagail M. Clepper, DVM \| Veterinarian Dr. Clepper graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in June of 2002 after years of hard work. She then began practicing in a suburban, small animal clinic. She gained valuable experience while working on many challenging and rewarding cases, meeting many wonderful pet owners along the way. Her work in private practice continued until Spring of 2009 when she took the opportunity to join SOS of Ohio. She quickly realized that her work with SOS has been the most rewarding she has preformed since becoming a veterinarian. She also enjoys the aspect of performing soft tissue surgery, which she can do many times a day at SOS. When she is not at work, she keeps more than busy with her husband, two kids, two dogs, and two cats.
	Angie Bockover, RVT \| Veterinary Technician Angie Bockover is a Registered Veterinary Technician. She graduated from Columbus State Community College with an Associate's Degree in Veterinary Technology in 1998. She worked at the Humane Society of Delaware County for 10 years. She is a member of the OVTA. Angie has an active interest in rescue and re-homing pets in need and ending pet overpopulation. She hopes to have her own Chihuahua rescue someday. She enjoys traveling, camping, gardening, and reading. Angie is happy to share her home with 2 Chihuahuas, 3 cats, and a cockatiel.
	Jamie Hicks \| Transport Coordinator/Veterinary Assistant Jamie Hicks has been working in animal welfare for 8 years. After attending Walsh University on a volleyball and basketball scholarship, she began working at an animal shelter in Akron, OH where she met Dr. Melanie deHaan. Jamie has devoted her work to organizations in the nonprofit animal welfare field where she can make the biggest impact on the animals most in need. In her free time Jamie takes her dogs to the dog park where she can educate everyone she crosses paths with about the importance of spay and neuter. Jamie lives with 4 dogs (Blue, Morgan, Rebel and Cleo), 2 cats (Stinky and Penelope) and a fish named LadyBoy.
	Nellie Wilbers \| Veterinary Assistant Nellie Wilbers is a veterinary assistant at the clinic and an undergraduate student at The Ohio State University. She has been working for SOS of Ohio since February of 2009 and it is here that she has found her true passion for helping animals and working with non-profit organizations and shelters. She will be graduating from OSU in 2011 with a degree in zoology, at which time she plans to continue on to veterinary school. She walks a dog as a second job, enjoys fostering animals, bike riding, yoga, organizing, volunteering, and spending time outdoors with her deaf pit bull "Matilda".
	Jennifer (Jenn) Kulina \| Humane Education & Media Coordinator Jenn Kulina is a Franklin County Humane Officer where she has investigated animal cruelty for over eight years. She has appeared on Animal Planet's "Gang Dogs" - a documentary confronting the link between gangs and dog fighting and featuring one of Jenn's local cases. Jenn appears regularly on WSYX6 noon news "Pet Tips" segments to highlight homeless animals available for adoption through various local rescue organizations. She has also appeared in various magazines and news articles for her work in fighting animal cruelty and abuse. Jenn is passionate about efforts to end pet overpopulation and the resulting abuse and neglect of pets which brought her to SOS of Ohio. She currently lives with 5 dogs and 2 cats.

...More staff bios to come!

	Aleshia (Aley) Overbey \| Clinic Manager Aleshia Overbey graduated in 1998 with an Associates Degree in Equine Science. Since that time she has found that working with small animals is, as equally, rewarding. She enjoys spending her time helping with foster animals through SOS. Aley organizes a monthly wellness clinic here at SOS to provide vaccines and basic care for clients with financial need and their pets. She lives with her 2 dogs, Uno and Charlie and two cats, Maddie and Olive.
	Erin Martinez, DVM \| Veterinarian Dr. Martinez graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in June of 2010. Prior to coming to Ohio for vet school she worked in multiple small animal clinics in Maryland and Washington, DC. After a rotation her senior year at Capital Area Humane Society, she discovered an interest in shelter medicine and spay/neuter surgery. Dr. Martinez started at SOS shortly after graduation and greatly enjoys the new experiences everyday. When not working, Dr. Martinez loves to spend time with her husband and their pets, Muncher, the great dane, and the cats, Dozer and Dizzy.
	Abagail M. Clepper, DVM \| Veterinarian Dr. Clepper graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in June of 2002 after years of hard work. She then began practicing in a suburban, small animal clinic. She gained valuable experience while working on many challenging and rewarding cases, meeting many wonderful pet owners along the way. Her work in private practice continued until Spring of 2009 when she took the opportunity to join SOS of Ohio. She quickly realized that her work with SOS has been the most rewarding she has preformed since becoming a veterinarian. She also enjoys the aspect of performing soft tissue surgery, which she can do many times a day at SOS. When she is not at work, she keeps more than busy with her husband, two kids, two dogs, and two cats.
	Angie Bockover, RVT \| Veterinary Technician Angie Bockover is a Registered Veterinary Technician. She graduated from Columbus State Community College with an Associate's Degree in Veterinary Technology in 1998. She worked at the Humane Society of Delaware County for 10 years. She is a member of the OVTA. Angie has an active interest in rescue and re-homing pets in need and ending pet overpopulation. She hopes to have her own Chihuahua rescue someday. She enjoys traveling, camping, gardening, and reading. Angie is happy to share her home with 2 Chihuahuas, 3 cats, and a cockatiel.
	Jamie Hicks \| Transport Coordinator/Veterinary Assistant Jamie Hicks has been working in animal welfare for 8 years. After attending Walsh University on a volleyball and basketball scholarship, she began working at an animal shelter in Akron, OH where she met Dr. Melanie deHaan. Jamie has devoted her work to organizations in the nonprofit animal welfare field where she can make the biggest impact on the animals most in need. In her free time Jamie takes her dogs to the dog park where she can educate everyone she crosses paths with about the importance of spay and neuter. Jamie lives with 4 dogs (Blue, Morgan, Rebel and Cleo), 2 cats (Stinky and Penelope) and a fish named LadyBoy.
	Nellie Wilbers \| Veterinary Assistant Nellie Wilbers is a veterinary assistant at the clinic and an undergraduate student at The Ohio State University. She has been working for SOS of Ohio since February of 2009 and it is here that she has found her true passion for helping animals and working with non-profit organizations and shelters. She will be graduating from OSU in 2011 with a degree in zoology, at which time she plans to continue on to veterinary school. She walks a dog as a second job, enjoys fostering animals, bike riding, yoga, organizing, volunteering, and spending time outdoors with her deaf pit bull "Matilda".
	Jennifer (Jenn) Kulina \| Humane Education & Media Coordinator Jenn Kulina is a Franklin County Humane Officer where she has investigated animal cruelty for over eight years. She has appeared on Animal Planet's "Gang Dogs" - a documentary confronting the link between gangs and dog fighting and featuring one of Jenn's local cases. Jenn appears regularly on WSYX6 noon news "Pet Tips" segments to highlight homeless animals available for adoption through various local rescue organizations. She has also appeared in various magazines and news articles for her work in fighting animal cruelty and abuse. Jenn is passionate about efforts to end pet overpopulation and the resulting abuse and neglect of pets which brought her to SOS of Ohio. She currently lives with 5 dogs and 2 cats.