Dr. Nicole B. Harris
Owner/Veterinarian

Since her earliest memory, Dr. Nicole Harris was driven to become a veterinarian. Her early experiences with animal care made a deep impression, and her love of medicine and problem solving grew. For Dr. Harris, a career in the world of animal care was simply the only choice! 
Dr. Harris opened Avenue Animal Hospital in the fall of 2012 to provide her own brand of modern diagnostics and client-centered services to the pet owners of the area. She has special passions for ultrasound, dentistry, and interacting closely with clients to develop personal and meaningful relationships. Dr. Harris and her husband, Eric, a software engineer, have two children and share their home with four pets of their own: Leon, a rescued French bulldog with a BIG personality; Bayla, a Boxer whose tail never stops wiggling; and two loveable black-and-white cats named Rhett Butler and Saki. When she isn’t caring for pets here at the clinic or enjoying the company of her family’s own four-legged companions, Dr. Harris enjoys reading, cooking, listening to music, and spending time around horses. She’s also an avid traveler, and loves experiencing new cultures across the globe.

Dr. Joni Johnson
Associate Veterinarian

As a little girl, Dr. Joni Johnson always had the answer ready when someone asked her what she’d like to be when she grew up. Veterinary medicine has been her passion ever since she can remember! As she got older, Dr. Johnson’s interest didn’t waver—she is truly able to live her dream while bettering the lives of pets on a daily basis here at Avenue Animal Hospital.
After graduating with her veterinary degree in the summer of 2013, Dr. Johnson joined the team here at Avenue Animal Hospital. She’s particularly fond of dentistry work, especially oral surgery—nothing compares to seeing and hearing how much better a pet feels after treatment. Dr. Johnson is also passionate about dermatology, and loves using her skills to better the lives of pets living here in “allergy central!” In her time away from work, Dr. Johnson enjoys going on adventure vacations, reading, playing the piano, and attending live concerts. At home, she and her husband, Wes, live with three rescued cats: talkative Andre, who loves being held; Mimi, a beauty queen with a face marking that makes her look like Cindy Crawford; and Mr. Duncan, who serves as Dr. Johnson’s personal alarm clock every morning.

Linda
​Practice Manager

With over 12 years experience in the veterinary industry, Linda proudly joined the Avenue Animal Hospital family in October 2016. She first met Dr. Harris in 2008 when she began working at another local veterinary clinic. Over the years, the two maintained a friendship and were excited when the opportunity to work together presented itself. She started working here  as one of the clinic's receptionists and is now our Practice Manager, making sure the business runs smoothly so that the doctors and staff can focus on patient care. Linda enjoys the relationships she gets to build with the clients and their pets. She has three grown children and three grandchildren that is her pride and joy.In her free time, Linda loves spending time with her gran babies, baking, cooking and going on motorcycle trips with her husband Darrell. They also have two dogs, Chi-Chi and Lucy.

Margie
Receptionist

Margie joined our team in October 2018 as a receptionist. She has worked with rescue animals in the past, has been a receptionist and also a veterinary technician. She brings over 12 years of experience to us and also has a degree in Animal Science. Taking care of animals has been a passion of Margie's since she was a little girl. Margie loves the relationships and strong bonds that she is able to build by having the interaction with our clients and pets.  She and her husband Tony live in Lebanon, TN. They love spending their free time with their three grandchildren, Blakely Grace, Presley Kate and Walker Ray. Margie also has 4 dogs and 3 cats of her own. 

Cyndi
​Receptionist

Cyndi began working for us in June 2018. She is a Mount Juliet native and  recently retired from being in the medical field for 36 years. She not only has compassion for the general public but that caring and wonderful heart of hers also flows over to having compassion and a great love for your pets. We are so excited to have Cyndi as part of our Avenue family. She has two children and one grandson who she is crazy about. In Cyndi's spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, loves traveling, being outdoors and taking care of her 6 rescue dogs. 

Staci
Lead Technician

Staci began volunteering at the Mount Juliet Animal Shelter in 2009. It was there that she met Dr. Harris. Staci has been working in the pet care field ever since, and also graduated from Volunteer State Community College’s veterinary technology program in 2016. In addition to her special interests in surgery and critical care, Staci enjoys meeting new pet owners and establishing meaningful relationships with them and their four-legged companions. Helping a pet owner through a tough time is the ultimate reward for her. When time permits between her busy work and study schedules, Staci enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with her own pets. She has three dogs—Leah, Ozzy, and Louie—as well as a three-legged cat named Athena, many hermit crabs, and several aquatic pets.

Stephanie
Technician

Stephanie had worked with Dr. Harris on and off for several years prior to joining Avenue Animal Hospital in April of 2015. Now with having over 10 years of experience, she particularly enjoys performing dentals and taking oral x-rays. Stephanie even holds a level-one Veterinarian Dental Technician Certification. In her time away from work, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her family, including her son Jett, and riding and training horses. She has a total of four Quarter horses and one pony, along with three cats and three dogs, all of which are blue heelers, Moonshine, Colt and Hank. We are proud to have her as a part of our family! 

Vincent
Technician

Vincent grew up in the Old Hickory area and now lives in Lebanon, TN. We welcomed him to our practice in November 2017. He enjoys performing phlebotomy tasks and taking care of our surgery patients. We are thrilled to have his knowledge, experience and wonderful attitude to share with our patients.  Vincent has one dog, named Asteria, and a red tail boa named Albert. In his spare time, Vincent enjoys working on his '71 Monte Carlo and being a fitness guru. We are very excited to have him as part of our team!

Kasey
​Technician

Kasey was born and raised in Gladeville and has been in Wilson county all of her life. She is currently enrolled in the Vol State Vet Tech Program. She is in her last year and is currently the president of this program. She has such a love and compassion for animals that is overwhelming to all of us. We are so lucky to have her and so glad that she is part of our team. If you ask Kasey about her career choice, she would say that she is living her dream by becoming a veterinary technician. Everyday is a new adventure and a new learning experience. She has three pets of her own, Yota, Delilah and Lucky Onyx. She enjoys taking her dog to the lake, riding bikes, traveling to new places and going hiking. 

Tracie
​Technician

​​Tracie joined the team this past October. During her senior year of high school, Tracie worked at a vet clinic and thoroughly enjoyed learning about the industry and caring for the animals. After high school, she became a phlebotomist and until recently was working for the Red Cross. Tracie is excited to be back working with animals and will also be attending school online to become a licensed technician. Helping animals and creating a bond with them is what Tracie enjoys most about this job. She also has two horses she rides for pleasure and one cat and dog.

Tracie 
​Technician

Tracie joined us in October 2018. She has worked in the veterinary field for 27 years and truly views this job as her calling. She has a true passion for all animals and takes even a greater interest in fear free handling and our senior patients. We are excited to have Tracie's compassion and knowledge to contribute to our Avenue family.  Tracie is married and has two children. She has five pets of her own which include three cats, one Golden Retriever and one Irish Setter. In her spare time, she likes riding motorcycles with her husband Keith and loves Crimson Tide.
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Leah
​Assistant

Leah joined us in July 2018. She is very excited to be a part of our Avenue family. She has had a special connection with animals since she was young. Leah has had experience with taking care of animals in boarding facilities and also different dog rescue groups. Leah's compassion and organization is a great asset to our team. In Leah's spare time, she is taking care of her two year old son named, Taron. She currently has two rescue dogs of her own, Sophie and Taco. We welcome Leah and are very excited to have her on our team.

Jennifer
Groomer

​Jennifer first worked as a hairdresser out of high school but has been grooming dogs and cats since 1993. She lives in Mount Juliet with her husband and youngest daughter, and her oldest daughter is in college. She specializes in scissor trims but can perform any desired groom. Jennifer also enjoys cooking and spending time with her family on the lake.

Rhett Butler
​In Memoriam

Rhett Butler has been with Dr. Harris since 2006 and a part of each person's life that has ever worked at Avenue Animal Hospital. He was always up front and greeted everyone that came through our doors with his spunkiness and wonderful personality. When he wasn't saying hello to you or laying on the keyboard while helping our receptionist's out, then you could find him walking around the hospital taking care of our technicians. He loved playing with his laser light or sleeping up front in his bed on the receptionist counter. Sadly due to his health conditions, we had to say goodbye to this precious baby in January 2019.    

Ava-Nu
​In Memoriam

​Ava was part of Avenue Animal Hospital since opening in 2012. She was the official greeter of the practice and when she was not walking around helping the technicians in the back, you could find her sleeping in her favorite window sill. Sadly, due to age and a returning tumor, the doctors and staff at Avenue decided to lay Ava to rest in September 2017.