Dr. Leitner loves dogs and cats. He can be seen all over town walking his dogs Inuk, a rescued Canadian sled dog, and Sabrina, a collie and cattle dog cross. In fact, it was probably the bond that developed between himself and his first dog, a collie named Plato, that most influenced his decision to become a veterinarian.

Laura, Dr. Leitner’s wife of thirty years, is a real “cat woman”. She started feeding feral cats in Brooklyn when she was a teenager. She currently lavishes her attention on Mimmo and Leonardo, the Leitner family felines who are usually parked on the sofa in front of the big screen TV.

Dr. Leitner lives in Ridgefield, CT. with his wife Laura and his daughter Melanie. When not practicing veterinary medicine he enjoys golf, skiing, and walking his dogs.

Dr. Jeffrey Hubsher always wanted to be a veterinarian. Up until he was six years old however, he wanted to be a cowboy (difficult for a kid growing up in Brooklyn!). But after that he knew his calling was to be a veterinarian. “It was kind of like a dream come true”.

Dr. Hubsher has been in practice since 1980. He is an active member of the AVMA, CVMA, FCVMA, and NYVMA. He has worked as a veterinarian in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Peekskill NY, and Franklin Square, NY and in an emergency clinic on Long Island.

Dr. Hubsher loves being a veterinarian. He is a general practioner and his goal is to provide extraordinary veterinary care in all aspects of his practice. In addition, he has advanced training in veterinary dental care and has a special interest in ear diseases. He is a progressive clinician who attends many continuing education seminars and who insists on having the most advanced and specialized equipment in his two hospitals. Dr. Hubsher not only provides care to cats and dogs, but also treats birds, reptiles, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, pot bellied pigs, pet goats and pet sheep, you name it.

To quote Dr. Hubsher on his philosophy of practice: “It’s very important and fulfilling for me to help pets and their people. I believe that there should be a partnership between the veterinarian, the pet and the pet’s family too. This partnership is helpful in deciding how to deliver the best, most compassionate care possible to our patients.”

Dr. Hubsher and his wife Lauren along with their daughters Sierra and Willow live on a farm in Ridgefield, CT. They share their home with three dogs, a cat, a parrot, parakeets and finches, a goldfish named Fruity, horses, a donkey, two pigs, two sheep, three goats, some chickens and rabbits, and two peacocks. When he’s not working, Dr. Hubsher enjoys traveling, horseback riding, surfing and skiing.

Dr. Donatella Hecht graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 1999. The decision to become a veterinarian followed a 10 year long acting career in New York City which yielded many bartending jobs and a Magna Cum Laude degree in Classical Literature from NYU. While in undergraduate school, she volunteered for P.O.W.A.R.S., an organization involved in helping bed-ridden pet owners care for their animals. It was in this work that Donatella met Felix, an old cat she later adopted when his owner died. Felix’s kidney disease and frequent need for “injections of fluids” helped introduce her to animal health and a future career in veterinary medicine.

Dr. Hecht has worked at referral hospitals around the Tri-State area including the ASPCA in Manhattan and has appeared in several episodes of Animal Planet’s “Animal Precinct”.

While in veterinary school, Dr. Hecht traveled to several western states and volunteered veterinary aid to animals living on Native American Reservations. In March 2009 she volunteered at the Hoopa Reservation in California working long hours to help spay, neuter and vaccinate the animals in need in this Native American community.

Donatella was born in Rome and lived in Europe until the age of 18 when she moved to New York City. She is fluent in Italian, French and Spanish and has a working knowledge of American Sign Language.

Dr. Hecht lives in Westchester with her husband, 2 kids, 2 cats, a guinea pig, and a very bad dog named Lola.