Doctors

Dr. Joseph Charles Cooney, Owner

Dr. Cooney was born and raised in Alabama. He attended Auburn University, where he received a Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and ultimately, Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1991. He practiced in Hickory, NC from 1991 to 1995. He began working at the Animal Hospital of Statesville in September of 1995. He became a partner in 1998 when Dr. Parks retired. He became sole owner in 2004. He is married to Crisi and they have two children, Olivia and Walton. The Cooneys have a black and white cat named Oreo and a Golden Retriever named Jenna.

Dr. Nichola Hix Gaither 

Dr. Gaither was born and raised on a farm in Iredell County. She graduated from NC State University with a Bachelor of Science in 2001 and a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2005. She decided to return home and join the Animal Hospital of Statesville after graduation. She lives in Olin with her husband, Thad, and their daughter, Carson. She enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, or almost anything outdoors! She also has several pets that keep her busy when she is not working. 

Dr. Ashly La Roche

Dr. LaRoche was born in Kankakee, IL and grew up throughout the Midwest, including Minnesota, Iowa and Ohio. She attended Augustana College in Rock Island, IL and later attended veterinary school at the University of Illinois, where she met and married her husband, Paul. After moving to Michigan, Ashly practiced mixed-animal medicine for ten years before moving to North Carolina in June, 2007. They moved here to enjoy the warmer weather and, as she states, to “join the wonderful, supportive staff of the Animal Hospital of Statesville”. Her family includes a daughter, Claire, one Keeshond mix named Blade, a Jersey Wooly rabbit, and a pair of doves. Her family loves to hike, camp and just be together.

Dr. Ginger Templeton 

Dr. Templeton started with the Animal Hospital of Statesville in July of 2007.  She was born in Charlotte , NC and attended Kings Mountain High School in Kings Mountain , NC .  She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Erskine College in Due West, SC.  Ginger received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Wisconsin .  She enjoys spending time with her husband Matt, and children Lindsay and Michael.  Her furry family consists of two mixed-breed dogs, Jones and Dublyn.

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