Rupinderjit Garha, DVM

Dr. Rupinderjit Garha is a native of India who grew up happily surrounded by animals. From an early age Dr. Garha was fascinated by the stories his uncle, who was a veterinarian, would tell him. He became inspired to pursue a career devoted to helping animals, and earned his degree from D.A.V. College Jalandhar and his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from The College of Veterinary Sciences at Punjab Agricultural University, both in Punjab. He joined the Smith Veterinary Hospital team in September 2012. Dr. Garha is a member of American Veterinary Medical Association, the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association, the California Veterinary Medical Association, and the Indus Valley Veterinary Association. His professional interests include dentistry, surgery, behavioral medicine, rehabilitation and nutrition. Dr. Garha and his wife Rajwinder have a son named Ashman and a daughter named Anureet. The family cares for Sophie, a Yorkie, and Champ, a Yorkie mix. Dr. Garha enjoys spending his free time walking and hiking. He is a strong supporter of rescued animals, and also gives back by volunteering his time performing spays and neuters at local animal shelters.

Cassie Bouchez, Veterinary Assistant

Cassie has been working at Smith Veterinary Center since May 2010. She helps our team by drawing blood, administering medication, taking radiographs, preparing patients for surgery, monitoring them all the way through recovery, taking inventory, and helping us organize the schedule. We are so grateful for everything she does to help our operations move smoothly! Cassie has 4 dogs, Kane (10 y/o American Pitbull), Juice (9 y/o American Staffordshire Terrier), Lexi (6 y/o Mini Schnauzer), and Kashmoney (4 y/o Schnoodle). During her free time, Cassie enjoys hiking, camping, jet skiing, and skeet shooting. We are so happy to have Cassie as part of the Smith Veterinary Center family!

Kathy Pursley, Room Assistant & Reception

Kathy has been a part of the Smith Veterinary Center team since February 2009 and has been working in the veterinary field for 23 years. Before joining us, Kathy worked at an emergency hospital for 13 years. She also has a Pharmacy Technician Certificate. Kathy helps our team by collecting patient history, administering vaccines, dispensing medications, checking in and discharging patients, and she helps bridge the gap between patients and doctors to help our clients better understand their pet’s healthcare. In her free time, Kathy likes to spend time with her 2 dogs and 2 cats: Annabel (4 y/o Minpinx), Timmy Joe (11 y/o Dachshund), Oberon (2 y/o Tuxedo DSH), and Grendel (1 y/o black DSH). She also likes to make homemade dog treats, baking, reading, swimming, completing puzzles, and playing Sudoku. We are so grateful for Kathy’s commitment and dedication to high-quality veterinary care here at Smith Veterinary Center!

Cheryl Castellanos, Veterinary Technician

Cheryl Castellanos has been a Veterinary Technician here at Smith Veterinary Hospital since August 2009. She is responsible for taking x-rays, placing IVs and catheters, drawing blood, running labwork, nail trimming, client communication, and she is also a surgical mentor. Cheryl loves being able to care for animals in every stage of their life and she develops personal connects to all of our regular patients. She considers her job a dream come true because she has always been an animal lover and she believes all pets deserve high-quality veterinary care. Outside of the office, Cheryl also works with DC Dogos Inc. to help rescue, train, and then adopt out dogs in need. She currently has five dogs: Roxy (13 y/o Cocker Spaniel), Duke (3 y/o Dogo Argentino), Swayze ( 3 y/o Great Dane), Stella (3 y/o Sheltie), and Leo ( 2 y/o Chihuahua). Cheryl also likes to go hiking and camping with her dogs and three children, as well as biking. Traveling, and going to the beach. Her family also loves taking trips to Disneyland whenever they can. We are so happy to have Cheryl as part of the Smith Veterinary Hospital team!