Dr. Dawn Figlio
Dr. Figlio was raised in Greenville, South Carolina, where she first discovered her love of animal medicine at the Greenville Humane Society while volunteering as a foster parent of abandoned kittens and puppies that were too small, weak, or unhealthy to be adopted. Before and while attending the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Figlio gained broad-ranging experience in a variety of veterinary settings, urban and rural, small and large animal, from north Georgia to Washington, D.C.
In 2004, she moved to Tallahassee to join Paws & Claws and its founder, Dr. Otfried Guhrt. Dr. Figlio has never lost the passion for community involvement through her local humane society and other non-profits, which inspired her career path. In 2008, she was awarded the Leon County Humane Society’s Purple Paw Award. Dr. Figlio has been married to her husband Rick since 1995. She currently has three cats, Roo, Rosie and Tabitha and a micro-Dane named Tinkerbell.
Dr. Kim Kocel
Dr. Kocel grew up in Ohio where she first started working with animals at age sixteen. After working as a technician for a few years, she attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St Kitts. Dr. Kocel has a passion for surgery and exotic animal medicine. When not working, Dr. Kocel enjoys reading and exploring the outdoors, especially the beach. She lives with her two island rescue dogs, Todd and Margo, two cats, Stubbs and River, a special needs goose named Reginald, and a bearded dragon named Talula.
Dr. Sharon Swift
Dr. Swift was born and raised in Jacksonville. Growing up, she was always surrounded by animals, especially rescue cats. She attended Florida State University for her undergraduate career, where she graduated with a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in English. During her time at FSU, Dr. Swift started working at Paws and Claws and volunteering at the local animal shelter.
After graduating from FSU, Dr. Swift went to veterinary school at the University of Florida. During her four years there, she completed extra classes to graduate with the Certificate in Shelter Medicine in addition to her veterinary degree. She is a two-time recipient of the Florida Veterinary Medicine Association Student Scholarship.
Dr. Swift is returning to Paws and Claws with her seven cats: Nox, Scotch, Phineas, Neville, Mo, Fleur, and Peeves, and two dogs, Bear and Murphy. She is particularly interested in rescue and shelter medicine, surgery, and feline medicine.
Dr. Cassidy Zanca
Dr. Zanca was born and raised in Northwest Louisiana where she spent her childhood surrounded by animals of all shapes and sizes. It didn’t take her long to figure out that becoming a veterinarian was her dream. She attended Louisiana Tech University where she earned a BS in animal science before attending the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine where she earned her DVM. It was at Louisiana State University that she found her passion for exotics and wildlife in addition to companion animals.
When not working, Dr. Zanca enjoys spending time with all her animals and reuniting with her vet school best friend and visiting family. During the small amount of time making Tallahassee her home she has added two new cats into her family of four. Holly Berry came into Paws & Claws with Leon County Humane Society in the Fall of 2022 being a small little kitten having chronic ear infections in both ears. Her prognosis for the future would need a large amount of medical treatment and seek out to the local specialist. That didn’t stop Dr.Zanca to welcome her into her family of four and now becoming five. Her household contains two rescue dogs- Mabel Mae and Willow Grace and three rescue cats – Floyd, Holly Berry and Chief. Chief being the newest addition to the family. He might be a new addition but he’s for sure the senior of the family.
Dr. Hannah Harby
Dr. Harby was raised in Upstate New York with an array of furry and scaly animals. Some of her favorite memories involve being around the Holstein cows on her grandfather’s farm. It wasn’t until her junior year of college that she embarked on her journey to becoming a veterinarian. She obtained a BS in Geography with a minor in Biology from SUNY Oneonta and earned her DVM from the University of Arizona.
For most of veterinary school, Dr. Harby volunteered at a low-cost spay & neuter clinic where she gained an appreciation for community and rescue medicine. Her professional interests include preventative medicine, behavior, and palliative care.
While not practicing, Dr. Harby enjoys getting out in nature with her partner, cultivating her green thumb, and knitting. She also loves to spend time with her reptiles and two (tiny) dogs named Ringo and Goblin.
