- 298 South Main Street St. Albans, VT 05478
- 1 (802) 524-2051
- contact@champlainvetclinic.com
At Champlain Veterinary Clinic, we provide compassionate, high-quality, and affordable care, treating every pet like our own. Proudly a privately owned small business serving the St. Albans and surrounding Vermont communities since 1956.
Dr. Sarah Marak relocated to Vermont from Missouri with her husband, Paul, in August 2017 and quickly fell in love with the community and the beauty of the Green Mountain State. She became a co-owner of Champlain Veterinary Clinic in April 2020, where she is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality care to pets and their families.
Dr. Marak earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Missouri in 2015. She enjoys the many different aspects of small animal medicine and takes pride in building lasting relationships with her patients and their families.
Outside of the clinic, Dr. Marak is kept busy raising her two children, Harper and Jace. When she gets a little downtime, she enjoys taking her dogs, Newton and Sirius, for walks and spending time with her cats, Mad-Eye and Grindelwald. She is always happy to sneak in a few extra belly rubs whenever the opportunity arises!
Dr. Marak is proud to call Vermont home and is grateful to care for the pets and families of the community she has come to love.
A lifelong Vermonter, Dr. Sonya Zehle—affectionately known to many of her clients as Dr. Sunny—grew up in Essex and has always had a deep connection to the people, communities, and natural beauty of Vermont. She attended the University of Vermont before pursuing her lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Zehle is grateful to be practicing veterinary medicine in her home state and especially enjoys building long-lasting relationships with her clients and their pets. She has a special interest in behavioral medicine and internal medicine and believes that understanding each pet as an individual is an important part of providing thoughtful, personalized care.
In 2025, Dr. Zehle became a co-owner of Champlain Veterinary Clinic, further deepening her commitment to the practice and the community she serves.
Outside of the clinic, Dr. Zehle enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, Henrik and Annika, and exploring the outdoors with her family. At home, she shares her life with her two cats, Petunia and Lemonade, who keep her entertained when she’s not at the clinic.
Whether you know her as Dr. Sonya, Dr. Zehle, or Dr. Sunny, she is proud to care for the pets and families of the community she calls home.
Dr. Gunther has been an important part of Champlain Veterinary Clinic’s history for more than three decades. He became an owner of the practice in 1995 and, after many years of dedicated leadership, stepped down from ownership in 2025. He remains the senior-most veterinarian on our team, bringing decades of experience and knowledge to the care of our patients.
Dr. Gunther earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Michigan State University in 1983. Throughout his career, he has had the privilege of caring for generations of pets and their families and has been an important part of the Champlain Veterinary Clinic community.
After more than 40 years in veterinary medicine, Dr. Gunther will be retiring at the end of 2026. We are incredibly grateful for the years of dedication, expertise, and compassionate care he has given to our patients, clients, and team.
Outside of the clinic, Dr. Gunther enjoys playing his guitars, taking cruises, and spending time with his wife, Elaine. We wish him all the best as he begins this next chapter!
Dr. Heather Williams earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and has been practicing veterinary medicine since 2001. With more than two decades of experience, she brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and genuine compassion to the care of her patients.
Dr. Williams has a special interest in internal medicine and especially enjoys the challenge of working through complex medical cases. She takes the time to get to know each patient and their family, believing that strong, lasting relationships with clients are an important part of exceptional veterinary care. Her thoughtful and compassionate approach makes her a wonderful addition to the Champlain Veterinary Clinic team.
Outside of the clinic, Dr. Williams enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, and exploring all that New England has to offer. Her home is kept busy by two energetic Lab mixes, Joey and Fenway, along with three feline companions—Elly, Mr. Kitty Biscuits, and Leo.
We are thrilled to have Dr. Williams as part of the Champlain Veterinary Clinic family and look forward to the experience and compassion she brings to our patients and their families.
Alicia is a valued member of the Champlain Veterinary Clinic team who truly loves staying busy and being part of a close-knit veterinary family. She enjoys building relationships with both our patients and their people and brings plenty of energy, humor, and heart to her work each day.
Outside of the clinic, family is everything to Alicia. She enjoys spending time with her many kids, especially cheering them on and playing soccer together. At home, she keeps busy with six cats and her dogs, Bean and Finny.
When she’s not working or chasing after her family, Alicia loves cooking, making chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, hiking, road trips, and anything involving the ocean. She also has a special love for Colorado and enjoys exploring new places whenever she gets the chance.
Alicia believes life is best spent surrounded by the people (and animals!) you love, staying busy, making memories, and finding plenty of reasons to laugh along the way.
A native Vermonter, Casee was born and raised on a dairy farm in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, where her love of animals began early. She has been working in the veterinary field for more than 15 years, primarily as a front-desk and client care team member. Her experience and genuine love for both pets and people make her an invaluable part of the Champlain Veterinary Clinic team.
At home, Casee has a darling senior cat named Izzy, a beautiful Golden Retriever named Zoe, and a spicy buff-colored kitty named Bae. She is also excited to soon welcome a French Bulldog puppy to the family!
When she isn’t at the clinic, Casee enjoys cooking, listening to music, writing, and traveling with her loved ones. She brings her warmth, enthusiasm, and love of animals to everything she does.
A Vermont native, Grace has been a valued member of the Champlain Veterinary Clinic team since 2021. She began her veterinary career in shelter medicine in 2018, where she developed a strong passion for animal behavior and compassionate, low-stress handling.
Grace is a Fear Free Certified Professional and has a special interest in animal behavior and helping pets feel safe and comfortable during their veterinary visits. She is always looking for opportunities to expand her knowledge and skills so she can provide the highest level of care to the animals and families she serves. Her dedication, compassion, and willingness to help make her an important part of our team.
Outside of the clinic, Grace enjoys reading, creating handmade jewelry, and taking mini road trips with her significant other. At home, she shares her life with her two cats, Salem and Hunter, and her horse, Holladay.
Ashlyn joined the Champlain Veterinary Clinic team in 2025 as a dedicated veterinary technician. She brings a genuine passion for animal care and enjoys building connections with both our patients and their families. Her compassionate approach and willingness to help make her a valued member of our team.
Outside of the clinic, Ashlyn stays busy raising her two children, Chloe and Cole, who keep her on her toes! She enjoys spending time with her family, getting outdoors, and caring for her horses.
At home, Ashlyn also shares her life with her two dogs, Winnie and Sophie, who are always ready for their next adventure.
Cathy has been a beloved member of the Champlain Veterinary Clinic team for more than 32 years. She began her career at the clinic working alongside one of its founders, Dr. Larry Larrow, and has been caring for generations of pets and their families ever since.
Cathy enjoys working with all creatures, great and small, but she has a particular soft spot for cats. Her years of experience and genuine love for animals make her a familiar and trusted face to so many of our long-time clients.
Outside of the clinic, Cathy enjoys gardening, walking her Dalmatian, Tristan, and spending time with her family. We are incredibly grateful for the many years of dedication, knowledge, and compassion she has brought to Champlain Veterinary Clinic.
A graduate of Vermont Technical College, Nikki has worked as a veterinary technician in a variety of veterinary settings for nearly 20 years. She joined the Champlain Veterinary Clinic team part-time in 2025, bringing with her a wealth of experience and a genuine love for caring for animals.
Outside of the clinic, Nikki stays busy running her own pet-sitting business, Fairy Dogmother Pet Services, where she continues to do what she loves—caring for animals.
When she’s not working, Nikki enjoys spending time in the woods with her five dogs or relaxing at home with a good book and a cup of tea. Her love of animals extends well beyond the clinic, making veterinary medicine as much a passion as it is a profession.
A lifelong Vermonter, Nicole has been working as a veterinary technician for more than 15 years. She is a graduate of Vermont Technical College’s Veterinary Technician program and has built her career around her lifelong love of animals.
Growing up in the countryside of Westford, Vermont, Nicole was surrounded by both domestic and wildlife, fostering her appreciation and compassion for animals from an early age. Her experience and genuine dedication to animal care make her a valued member of the Champlain Veterinary Clinic team.
Outside of the clinic, Nicole enjoys a variety of hobbies and spending time with the people she loves. You can often find her gaming, reading, biking, watching movies, or simply relaxing with family and friends.
Paul works part-time at Champlain Veterinary Clinic, where he brings a steady, dedicated, and supportive presence to the team. He is also Dr. Sarah Marak’s husband, making the clinic very much a family affair.
Outside of work, Paul enjoys woodworking and baseball, two hobbies that give him a chance to unwind and stay creative. Most importantly, he loves spending time with his family and is a proud father to Harper and Jace.
When he isn’t at the clinic or working on a woodworking project, Paul can usually be found spending time with his family and enjoying life with his growing crew.
With 15 years of experience as a veterinary technician, she has been caring for animals for much of her life. Her veterinary career began even earlier, working as a kennel assistant at just 12 years old. She earned her Associate Degree in Veterinary Science Technology from SUNY Delhi.
She especially enjoys helping patients feel better and building meaningful relationships with both pets and their owners. She takes great pride in providing compassionate care to sick and hospitalized patients while also offering support and reassurance to their families during difficult times.
Outside of the clinic, she enjoys spending quality time with her family and shares her home with one dog and two cats.
Mashed Potato started out as a stray who frequently wandered into Dr. Zehle’s neighbor’s garage. Despite several attempts to find him a home, it quickly became clear that Mashed Potato had already chosen his home—and it was Champlain Veterinary Clinic!
He soon stole the hearts of our entire team and officially became our beloved clinic cat. These days, Mashed Potato takes his job very seriously. He considers himself the keeper of the food bowl, the supervisor of the staff, and an expert in making sure everyone knows when it’s time for dinner.
Mashed Potato is also quite proud of his impressive physique. He does not appreciate questions about whether he is pregnant and will promptly turn his tail to anyone who dares to ask.
When he isn’t supervising the clinic or demanding snacks, Mashed Potato can usually be found lounging around the hospital, charming our staff, and reminding everyone that, ultimately, this is his clinic—we just work here.
At Champlain Veterinary Clinic, we use modern technology to support our team and enhance the care we provide. Our veterinarians utilize ScribbleVet, an AI-assisted medical documentation tool, to help efficiently capture and organize medical record information during appointments. This allows our doctors to spend more time focused on your pet and communicating with you, while maintaining thorough and accurate medical records.
Payment is due at the time services are rendered. Unfortunately, we do not currently offer payment plans. We do accept a variety of payment options such as cash, credit card, and CareCredit.
A no-show appointment is failure to show up for your appointment, arriving more than 10 minutes late for your appointment without prior notice, or cancelling less than 24 hours of notice. To help reduce the number of no-show appointments, we will be charging a non-refundable $50 per patient no-show fee that must be paid prior to scheduling another appointment or being seen at our establishment.
