Meet Our Dedicated Team
Get To Know Our Veterinary Team
We are solely dedicated to your pet’s care and take pride in building strong, lasting relationships with our clients, ensuring that each pet receives the individualized care they deserve. We look forward to getting to know you, and we hope you’ll take the time to scroll down and get to know us.
Our Team
Dr. Carrie Friedewald
DVM/Owner
A native of Marietta, Dr. Carrie attended Davidson College on a volleyball scholarship, earning degrees in biology and psychology. She headed to the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine to earn her veterinary degree. She was honored with a class Award for Excellence in Internal Medicine and Surgery before graduating in 2002.
A Veterinarian is Born
Dr. Carrie Friedewald (Dr. Carrie) grew up with all sorts of dogs and cats, but her family’s Alaskan Malamute, Shadow, made a permanent impression.
One day, Shadow came down with a dangerous case of bloat. During Shadow’s week in ICU, Dr. Carrie’s inquisitive nature needed to know what was happening and why. Shadow fully recovered, and “the seed had been planted”, sending a young Dr. Carrie on a trajectory to become a Veterinarian.
Fast forward to 2010…
She practiced for eight years in the Kennesaw and Marietta area before she realized that a family-focused, small-animal hospital was needed. She decided to make that a reality and opened Kennesaw Mountain Animal Hospital in 2010. With particular interests in internal medicine, oncology, soft tissue surgery, cardiology, and pain management, she has brought to life a premiere stress-free, family-focused practice through compassion, knowledge, and consistency.
Accomplishments
Atlanta Magazine: 5-Star Veterinarian Award 2010
Cobb Life Magazine: Named One of 20 Rising Stars Under Forty 2010
UGA College of Veterinary Medicine: Award for Excellence in Internal Medicine and Surgery
Homelife
Dr. Carrie, her husband Michael and her beautiful daughter Emma live with a black lab named Steve, three cats; a flame-point Siamese named Bill, two Sphinx Cats named Moose and Boris; Moose enjoys going for walks on his leash when he’s not riding on someone’s shoulders. Since Dr. Carrie was an awesome tennis player, her daughter, Emma, is following suit. Dr. Carrie’s time away from the hospital is dedicated to her daughter’s tennis endeavors.
Dr. Mary McTague
DVM
Bio coming soon!
Dr. Rachel Lopez
DVM
Dr. Rachel Lopez has always been surrounded by animals. When she was young and living in south Florida, her family had numerous turtles, tortoises, rabbits, guinea pigs, snakes, rats, and dogs. From her parents, she learned to love all types of animals, from the small and scaly to the big and fluffy.
When her pup, Patches, reached her senior years, Dr. Lopez noted her slowing down but found it difficult to find a doctor that was interested in geriatric care. It was at that point that she realized that, if she couldnt find the doctor to help her, she needed to become one herself to promote preventative care and wellness at all stages of life.
Dr. Lopez graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in 2020 and has been practicing in the Atlanta area ever since. And though she loves everything “small animal”, her particular interests lie in preventative care, pain management, and client education. She believes that if we, as veterinary professionals and pet parents, work together as a unit, we will be able to provide the best quality of life for your babies for the longest amount of time.
Dr. Carlin Smith
DVM
Dr. Smith grew up locally in the Atlanta neighborhood of Buckhead. There her journey into veterinary medicine and her early passion for animals ignited. During high school, she dedicated her spare time to Fulton County Animal Services, fostering numerous animals and nurturing her commitment to their well-being. Shortly thereafter, she began working at her family’s vet clinic any chance she could.
Dr. Smith attended Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. At Dickinson, her devotion to animals flourished further as she volunteered with Susquehanna Service Dogs and lived at the “Dog House” where she actively participated in the raising and training of service dogs on campus. Subsequently, she pursued her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at St. George’s University in the picturesque West Indies, returning home to Georgia to complete her clinical year training at the University of Georgia.
Now residing in Roswell, Dr. Smith shares her home with an eclectic family of pets: a Shepherd mix, three Pit Bull mixes, four Siamese cats, one domestic shorthair, and a one-eyed orange cat affectionately named Wink. In her leisure time, she indulges in reading, listening to podcasts, cherishing moments with her pets and family, and traveling.
Hannah Layton aka Layton
Practice Administrator
Layton grew up on the coast of Maine with her parents, a younger sister, and a myriad of family pets. While in high school, she job shadowed a veterinarian for a year, and that’s when she realized her passion for helping our four-legged family members in some capacity. Fast forward a few years, and Layton was offered a reception position at a local veterinary practice. She jumped at the opportunity and stayed for eight years.
With extensive small animal knowledge, Layton went to work for an animal ophthalmology practice, where she gained knowledge of the treatment for glaucoma, cataracts, and other ophthalmic issues. Eventually, she came to us and began life at KMAH as Client Services Manager. Ultimately, it led to her current role as Practice Administrator, a position Layton has always considered a dream job due to her knowledge, compassion, and love for small animals. She is now very content with cultivating a rapport with clients and their pets while watching our young patients grow into mature companions.
Layton and her long-time partner, Brent, live in Powder Springs and are parents to a rambunctious English Bulldog, Peanut, who strives to be the best social butterfly he can be. As she is a huge Patriots fan, football season is like a five-month holiday for her. Aside from football, she and Brent enjoy traveling and going to concerts. We are so glad Layton and her compassion for animal care have found their way to us.
Robin Robinson
Technician Manager
Bio coming soon!
Blake Tarnoff
Kennel Manager
Bio coming soon!
Marissa Bibbs
Groomer
Marissa’s personality blends perfectly with grooming. As a yoga and meditation instructor, she possesses a calm about her that our client’s pets pick up on. She has groomed cats and dogs that, before her, would need to be sedated to groom; now, they are groomed regularly without stress or drugs.
She enjoys volunteering at farms, as it puts her in touch with all kinds of wildlife, which explains how she became the mother of a sweet pig named Layla. Layla shares mom’s affection with two cats, Mercedes and Mitzi, several fish, and an Axolotl named Casper. Casper is a Mexican Walking Fish that does different poses in his aquarium to get Marissa to feed him…kind of like Layla’s pig.
A Georgia native, Marissa practices Buddhism and Hinduism and enjoys art, music, dance, and hula-hooping. An avid outdoors person, she hikes the Appalachian Trail, does caving, practice shoots at gun ranges, and loves music festivals. As a very compassionate person, Marissa has great empathy for animals and their owners and is grateful to play a role in helping them get the most out of life.
Marissa believes through confidence, skill, love, and compassion; a pet can relax enough to view grooming as a positive experience. Marissa embodies the calm, stress-free mindset we pride ourselves on, and we couldn’t be happier to have her as part of the Family.