Meet The Team

Practice Owner & Veterinarian
Dr. Kimberly McClure Brinton
Dr. Kim has been practicing veterinary medicine for 32 years. A proud Bethany native, she earned her B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Connecticut and her D.V.M. from Auburn University (War Eagle!). Dr. Kim enjoys the variety that comes with mixed-animal medicine and has special interests in soft tissue surgery, dermatology, geriatrics, and small ruminant care. At home, she shares her life with pigs, cats, a small backyard chicken flock, and her dog Magnolia (“Nollie”). When she’s not caring for animals, Dr. Kim loves running, hiking, gardening, and reading. She’s a member of the Run 169 Society and has completed a race in every town in Connecticut. Dr. Kim lives in Bethany with her husband, Will, and their daughter, Annie.

Veterinarian & Large Animal Medical Director
Dr. Shannon Brighenti
Dr. Shannon has been part of the Country Companions family for 12 years. Originally from Massachusetts, she earned her B.S. in Animal Science with a minor in Studio Art from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, before completing her D.V.M. at Cornell University. Dr. Shannon enjoys working with all species and has a special love for small ruminant and camelid medicine and surgery. She shares her home with three cats, Mickey, Squeaks, and Bobbles, and her llama, Spitz. Outside the clinic, Dr. Shannon can usually be found outdoors hiking, camping, or cross-country skiing whenever she gets the chance.

Veterinarian & Small Animal Medical Director
Dr. Dallas Passerine
Dr. Dallas has been part of the Country Companions team for 4 years. She grew up in Oxford, Connecticut, where she spent her childhood working on a small hobby farm with sheep, an experience that sparked her lifelong love for farm animals. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of New Haven and her D.V.M. from the University of Tennessee. Although she enjoyed her time in Knoxville, New England has always felt like home. Dr. Dallas’s professional interests include dentistry, feline medicine, small ruminant care, and surgery. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her four cats, Betty, Bleu, Boba, and Bao. She also enjoys following marching band and football in the fall, and softball in the spring.

Certified Veterinary Technician, Technician Supervisor
Megan Pereira
Megan has been a part of the Country Companions team for 8 years. She began her career as an equine veterinary technician in 2014 after earning her B.S. in Animal Science from SUNY Cobleskill. Growing up around horses and with a strong background in large animal care, Megan found that a mixed-animal practice was the perfect fit! Megan lives on a farm in North Haven with her husband, Joe, and a lively crew of animals—her two dogs, Sadie and Levi, her Quarter Horse, Jax, and the residents of her farm animal sanctuary, Road to Refuge. She also runs Road to Refuge, an animal sanctuary dedicated to caring for medically intensive and special-needs animals. When she’s not at the clinic or farm, Megan enjoys working out and reading.

Veterinary Technician, Client Care Supervisor
Amanda MacAvoy
Amanda has been a part of the CCVS family for 3 years. She grew up in Bethany and has always had a passion for animal science and welfare. She earned her B.S. in Neuroscience from Smith College and began her career in academia, teaching and researching neurobiology before transitioning into veterinary medicine in 2020. Since then, she has found her true calling in caring for animals and supporting their well-being.
When she is not working, she can be found spending quality time with her husband, 4 dogs, 2 cats...and counting. She has a steadfast soft spot for strays!

Certified Veterinary Technician, Inventory Manager
Britney Bridges
Britney has been with the Country Companions team for 4 years. She earned her B.S. in Animal Biology with a minor in Digital Multimedia Arts from Juniata College in Pennsylvania, and also studied at St. John’s University in York, UK.
At home, Britney cares for a large crew of her own, including her cats, Mirage, Pippin, and Miki, her dog Max, and her tortoises Merlin and Atraxa, her two snakes Escanor and Maiden, and her lizard Hannibal. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing Pokémon Go, and scuba diving, often escaping for weekend adventures whenever she can.

Veterinary Technician
Diana
Diana has always had a special place in her heart for animals, large and small, and has been practicing veterinary medicine as a technician for nearly 20 years. She found a home at Country Companions in January 2019 and brings her expertise and care to every patient she meets. While pocket pets aren’t seen by our doctors, Diana is a rabbit enthusiast and helps make rabbit nail trims available as a service at our practice.
When she’s not at work, Diana enjoys walking, running, catching up on TV shows, attending country music concerts, and spending time with friends.

Licensed Veterinary Technician
Val Razzette
Val has been part of the Country Companions team for 3 years. She began her veterinary career in 2006 after graduating from Quinnipiac University, where she studied under Dr. Kim! She has spent 13 years working in ICU and ER departments at two emergency hospitals in Connecticut. After taking some time off to be with her young children, Valerie returned to veterinary medicine, focusing on large animal care and surgical support, a role she has especially enjoyed over the past two years. Val lives in Milford with her husband and children, and she loves spending time with her family outdoors, coaching her daughter’s softball team, paddleboarding, reading, and collecting sea glass along the beach. She shares her home with her two dogs, Miller and Isla, who keep life lively and fun.

Veterinary Technician
Stefanie
Stefanie has been part of the veterinary field for 15 years and has over 25 years of experience working with exotic animals. She earned her degree from Southern Connecticut State University and is a certified Fear Free professional, as well as a certified wildlife rehab professional. Stefanie enjoys caring for a wide variety of species and brings her expertise and enthusiasm to every patient she meets. At home, Stefanie shares her life with her two teenagers and a lively flock, including her dogs Samaria and Puck, four cats—Pickles, Axel, Luna, and Jupiter—two turkeys, Sunny and Hawkeye, and 38 chickens. In her free time, Stefanie enjoys hiking, photography, camping, wildlife rehab, and spending quality time with her kids.

Veterinary Technician
Lauren
Lauren joined the Country Companions team in June 2024. She earned her B.S. in Biology from Texas State University and relocated to the Northeast from Texas. Lauren is trained as a veterinary technician with surgical experience and enjoys applying her skills to care for patients of all kinds. When she’s not at work, Lauren loves spending time with her dog, reading, writing, listening to music, and exploring her interests in comic books and K-pop.

Veterinary Technician
Olivia
Olivia has been with Country Companions for 3 years. She has earned her veterinary technician training at Middlesex Community College. She works alongside our technicians and doctors to continue building her skills and knowledge in patient care. When she’s not at work, Olivia enjoys spending time with her horse and her Bassett hound, Elvis.

Veterinary Technician Assistant
Gillian
Gillian joined the Country Companions team in March 2025 and has been working in veterinary medicine since April 2022. She began her career at VCA Naugatuck Animal Hospital, starting as a kennel assistant and progressing to a veterinary technician, gaining experience as a surgical assistant, client service representative, and room technician along the way. Gillian’s love of animals began at a young age, growing up in a home that fostered animals and participated in wildlife rehabilitation, so there has never been a time without animals around her. At home, Gillian cares for a lively little “zoo,” including cats, runner ducks, and a green-cheeked conure. In her free time, she enjoys baking, antiquing, listening to country music, and taking day trips and adventures.

Veterinary Technician
Bella
Bella joined the Country Companions team in 2025 and brings a long-standing passion for veterinary medicine to her role. Growing up, she would play “pretend vet” with her cats, sparking the curiosity and care that now shape her work with clients and their pets. At home, she shares life with two dogs, Everest and Oreo, and two cats, Max and Oliver. Outside of the clinic, you’ll usually find her out on a hiking trail or spending quality time with her pups.

Client Service Representative
Angela
Angela has been working in veterinary medicine as a client service representative for over 9 years and joined the Country Companions team in September 2023. She has always loved animals and was thrilled to welcome a pair of goat kids to her family last spring. She also shares her home with dogs, cats, and her two wonderful children.
Outside of work, Angela enjoys hiking, reading, cooking, and spending time with family and friends, along with caring for her pets, including Kaia, Bagheeera, Lucia, Niko, and more!

Client Service Representative
Christine
Christine joined the Country Companions team in 2024. She is always ready with a smile and looks forward to meeting clients and their pets.
Christine lives locally and enjoys gardening, spending time with her family, quad riding, listening to music, bonfires and outdoor adventures. She shares her home with three cats, Frayah, Mac, and Ollie, and a bunny named Feddy Hop.

Administration Assistant
Katelyn Blake
Katelyn joined our team in June 2025. She has a B.S. in Psychology from UC Davis and is pursuing her Master's degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology at Fairfield University. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her French Bulldog, Stella, and staying active. She was a Division 1 student-athlete at UC Davis, where she competed on the women’s Equestrian team and served as team captain during her senior year. Horses have been a lifelong passion as she’s been riding since childhood. Whether at the barn or out on a walk with Stella, she loves staying connected to animals in every part of her life.

Hospital Cat
Max
Max is our resident orange feline addition to the staff. He has been with CCVS for the past 8 years. He is a little shy and likes to lie in the cat tree, catching rays of sun through most of the day. He will lounge in the window at the front desk, and you can catch him running around the office in the evening.
Apply Today
We are currently searching for another veterinarian to join our practice! Please reach out to info@countrycompanionsvet.com for more information.
