Meet Our Team

We’re one big family.

LOCATIONS

We’re dedicated to your pet’s health.

Our network of hospitals were opened to provide the same calm, fear-free, stress-free experience to veterinary hospital clients known to our house call clients. Scroll down to meet our veterinarians and management team!

Leah Knode V.M.D.

Owner and Medical Director

Dr. Knode is a 1993 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and is licensed in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Dr. Knode has many years of experience in veterinary emergency and critical care medicine and has worked in many of the leading 24-hour veterinary emergency hospitals in our area. Dr. Knode has developed a very practical approach to veterinary medicine to the benefit of the pet and client. Dr. Knode is passionate that old age is not a disease and that senior pets can do very well if their people are willing to help.Dr. Knode is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Dr. Knode is also a member of the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners. Dr. Knode obtained her BS and MS at Shippensburg University. Some of the work on the MS degree was done at Johns Hopkins while working for the Chief of Surgery in his research laboratory.Dr. Knode sees small and large animals. Dr. Knode is particularly excellent with cats, loves Big White Dogs, has (too) many cats, sheep, goats, and horses. Dr. Knode lives with her husband and Practice Manager John Ebersold near Purcellville, VA. Dr. Knode is licensed in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.Dr. Knode can be requested to be seen in any of our facilities and our mobile practice.

https://northernvirginiamag.com/best/veterinarians/leah-knode/

Tibor Lazar, DVM

Visiting Surgeon

Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons

Dr. Lazar grew up in Fairfax County, graduated from Robinson High School in 1987, and received his BA in biology at the University of Virginia in 1991.

He earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1996 from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. In 1997, he completed a one-year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Animal Medical Center in New York City.

Following a year of private practice in Manhattan, Dr. Lazar moved to Maitland, Florida, and spent four years in a small animal surgery internship and residency at Affiliated Veterinary Specialists. In 2003, he earned board certification by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Since 2002, Dr. Lazar has focused on small animal specialty surgery in Northern Virginia. He lives in Reston with his wife, two sons and a plethora of pets including dogs, cats, birds, snakes, and fish.

House Paws will evaluate your pet’s need for surgery and consult with Dr. Lazar regarding his opinion of the same need.  We will then schedule your pet as needed for surgery at one of our hospitals.

Jessica Brown

Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT)

Jessica provides general LVT support for all locations and most importantly in surgical assisting, anesthesia monitoring and dental cleanings, and x-ray. Jessica provides technical education and leadership to all staff, veterinary assistants, and kennel assistants.

Darlene Hajduk

Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT)

Darlene obtained her B.S. in Biology from Gallaudet University before furthering her education at Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) and becoming a Licensed Veterinary Technician. She is owned by four rescue animals: a Shepherd mix (Nacho) and three cats (Juno, Chase, and Hobbes). Darlene enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, fostering kittens, reading, traveling, and going to wineries.

Bella

Bio coming soon!

Becca

Bio coming soon!

Get to know our management team.

John Ebersold

Co-Owner and Business Manager, Technology Support, etc. John has over twenty years of experience in the corporate world as a computer programmer, consultant, consulting manager and project manager in a diverse set of industries and government locations. John has been growing and managing House Paws and House Paws Animal Hospitals since 2000. John manages his farm in his “spare” time. John has learned much about veterinary medicine from Dr. Knode and his own on-going study and is an experienced veterinary assistant as well.

Marie Stevenson

Reception and Operations Manager at House Paws Animal Hospital Lovettsville, Client Communication and Office Support. Marie has been with House Paws, Lovettsville since the opening in 2015. She came to us with more than seven years of veterinary experience from working in private practice to emergency medicine. Marie oversees the flow of the hospital including scheduling appointments, client communication, and patient advocate. She is a mentor to other employees. When Marie is not at work she enjoys home time with her three cats, day trips and weekend get-aways with her grandchildren. In her spare time, Marie enjoys creating jewelry, clothing accessories and reading mystery novels.

We have two locations and an in-home service.

We proudly serve pets in Lovettsville, Round Hill, and mobile services all over Northern Virginia. To contact us or request an appointment, find the location nearest you below.