Dr. Heather Ludlam is a 1991 graduate of Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr Ludlam worked as an Associate Veterinarian at the Allegan Veterinary Clinic for 3 years following graduation, and then founded the Monterey Veterinary Center as a mixed practice in 1994. After 30 years, Dr. Ludlam has retired as the owner/manager of the practice, but is continuing to work for the Monterey Veterinary Center part-time doing the job she loves best-practicing veterinary medicine! Dr. Ludlam and her husband Mike are the owners of Windswept Farms, a sheep and wool operation, where they have lived since 1993 and where they raised their 3 children- Samantha, Alexander, and Joseph. They currently have a flock of 150 commercial ewes and 30 purebred Shetland ewes. They also have 2 guardian llamas, 5 hard working barn cats, and Bono the Border Collie on the farm. Dr. Ludlam is a very active member of the Michigan Sheep Producers Association and serves on the American Sheep Industry Animal Health Committee. Her hobbies include long distance running, reading, and drawing and painting. Dr. Ludam hopes to spend her semi-retirement doing more traveling and spending more time with friends and family.

Dr. Roxanne Pillars grew up on a dairy farm in Martin, Michigan. She graduated from the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1996 and spent the next 2 years in private mixed-animal practice. Over the subsequent years she earned a Masters in large animal clinical sciences and a PhD in epidemiology, both from Michigan State University; was a member of the Michigan State University Extension Dairy Team; provided clinical service and veterinary student training at the Michigan State University Large Animal Teaching Hospital and University of Idaho Caine Veterinary Teaching Center; and worked in the Publications Division of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Meet Dr. Maggie Pratt! She’s been here at Monterey and at our sister clinic, Pickle Street Veterinary Services, since July of 2022 after her graduation from Veterinary School. She splits her time between the two clinics along with a few of our other doctors. Maggie grew up in Houston, Texas where she raised and showed beef cattle and Boer goats. She received her undergraduate degree in Animal and Dairy Sciences at Mississippi State University (Hail State!) and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at St. George’s University. She enjoys all things cattle and surgery, and has a special interest in pursuing advanced reproduction methods such as laparoscopic AI, embryo transfer, and IVF. In her free time Maggie likes to read, watch Mississippi State baseball, try new restaurants, and hang out with her dog, Lu Ann, and husband, Shawn.

Dr. Ryleigh Ammons grew up in Dallas, Georgia and received her undergraduate degree in animal science from Berry College. While at Berry, she worked at the sheep unit and gained a love and appreciation of small ruminants. She obtained her DVM at the University of Georgia in 2024 where she tracked in large animal (food and fiber). While attending UGA, she worked as a research assistant for the department of parasitology. Ryleigh loves all farm animals and has a particular fondness for sheep and goats. Her other special interests include reproductive medicine, production medicine, and parasitology. In her free time, Ryleigh loves to hike, read, watch movies, play card games, bake, and spend time with her partner, Mason and dog, Gracie.

Meet Courtney! She’s our licensed veterinary technician (LVT) and our office manager here at the clinic. She has been here at Monterey since July of 2019 after she completed her associates degree in Veterinary Technology from Baker College and passed her VTNE board exam after graduation. She’s lived in the area since she was a child. When Courtney isn’t here at the clinic, you can find her traveling with either her husband, Clayton, or her two best friends. She’s an avid bookworm, music/ concert enthusiast, enjoys spending time with friends and family, and she plays on several co-ed and women’s only slow pitch softball teams in the spring, summer, and fall. If you’ve been to our office you’d probably recognize her giant, polar bear of a dog, Appa the Great Pyrenees, who we consider our very own guard dog! She also has 2 German Shorthaired Pointers, Winnie and Waylon, who she and her husband hunt upland birds with, and a three-legged cat named Pippin who she rescued from a previous client here at MVC.

Meet Melanie, or Mel as we lovingly call her! Melanie graduated from Sanford Brown College with a degree in Veterinary Technology in 2012, and passed her VTNE board exam shortly thereafter. Mel has been part of the team at Monterey as a LVT since 2015. She’s from the Grand Rapids area and has two dogs at home; Max the pit bull/border collie mix and Fenris the Cane Corso. She also has a love for pocket pets (she especially has a soft spot for rats and ferrets) but currently does not have any. In her free time she enjoys all things outdoors, especially off-roading her Jeep or side by side with her boyfriend, Kevin, and their dogs.

Meet Taylor! She’s been one of our Veterinary Assistants here at Monterey since November of 2020. She grew up and still currently lives in Wayland. Taylor got her Veterinary Assisting Certification through Animal Behavior College right after graduating high school in 2017. When Taylor has free time, you’ll find her in the woods, on the water or relaxing at home with her husband, Jarred, and her 3 dogs- Cedar, Fraser, CJ Bink- and 4 cats- Dixie, Lacey, Mango and Tango. She also has a flock of chickens, or mini velociraptors, as we all enjoy calling them.

Meet Carrie! Carrie has been with the team at Monterey since 2001 (many of you all know and love her as much as we do!) and is from the Allegan area. She only has cats at home currently, but loves horses. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family, especially her grandchildren, and gardening.

Meet Skye! She joined the Monterey team in November of 2022 as a part-time receptionist. She grew up in the Allegan County area. Skye studied Veterinary Technical Sciences at the Allegan ESA Technical Center before graduating from Hopkins High School in 2021. She hopes to eventually go back and complete her degree in Veterinary Technology to become an LVT. She has a deep love for animals and enjoys spending her free time attending concerts & playing with her cat, Onyx.

Meet Monica! She’s one of our receptionists here at the clinic. Monica has been with us since September of 2021. Fun fact! Monica was actually born in Monterrey Mexico (Coincidence that she now works at Monterey Vet?) and moved to the US as a kid (she speaks fluent Spanish!), and has been in the Hopkins area for several years now where she has raised her 3 kiddos-Anaiya, Adriana, and Ellis-ith her husband, Mitch. Outside of work you can find Monica at one of her kids’ many extracurricular activities, riding motorcycles with her husband and their friends, hanging out with family and friends, or floating in her pool in the sunshine! Monica has 3 dogs-Red, Blu, and Peanut- a kitty named Harley, and many egg-laying chickens.

Meet Roxanne (yes, we have 2 Roxannes!) or Roxy as we call her! Roxy has been with us here at Monterey since August of 2009, after she worked with a rescue to help kitties after Hurricane Katrina, that put her in touch with us here where we snagged her up and kept her! She’s worked as kennel staff, veterinary assistant/ animal wrangler, and is currently a part-time receptionist. Roxy has had many fur babies over the years, but currently she has 3 dogs-Elsa and Olaf the Great Pyrenees, and Piper the Black Mouth Cur/ Shepherd mix- and 4 indoor/ outdoor cats (and maybe a few strays too…) Outside of work, Roxy enjoys crafting, motorcycle rides with her husband, Rob, hanging out with friends and family, reading, and adventuring with her son, Aidan who is a junior in high school and seems to be following in his mom’s footsteps regarding love for animals and rescuing them. .

Tally is next! She’s been working at Monterey Veterinary Center for 2 years. She works as a veterinary assistant, receptionist, and cleans the clinic before/after hours. She is currently a senior at Hopkins High School and will be attending Greenville University in the fall to pursue an Agricultural Business degree. Tally spends her free time raising and showing lambs, horseback riding, or doing FFA events. At home, she has a Golden Retriever named Remi, who does everything with her, and a small herd of Hampshire cross lambs.