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We are fueled by the passion and love our community has for their animals. We believe they deserve a new standard of veterinary medicine. One that rivals any general practice in the Midwest. Where technology is unrivaled, talent is unmatched, and passion abounds. We are building something special. And our team is made up of the special people with shared values to help us reach our mission.
If interested in joining our team, please send resume and cover letter to office@stateavevet.com.
Dr. Shelley Lenz, DVM, PhD, has been a driving force behind veterinary care in western North Dakota for nearly two decades. After opening Killdeer Veterinary Clinic in 2007, she expanded her vision by founding State Ave Vet in 2011. By 2015, the practice had outgrown its rented space, and she built the current hospital designed to support a high quality, community centered, rapidly growing practice.
Dr. Shelley graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2001, but her path to becoming a veterinarian is uniquely rooted in scientific research. She began her career as a neuroscientist, studying the cellular mechanisms of Huntington’s disease. A research trip to Venezuela, where she worked directly with families affected by the condition, changed her trajectory. Experiencing the human side of medicine inspired her to pursue a career that blended scientific depth with direct patient care, problem solving, and meaningful connection. Veterinary medicine offered exactly that.
She is especially passionate about rural veterinary medicine, where she can care for animals through every stage of life and build long term relationships with the families and communities she serves. As a general practitioner, Dr. Shelley thrives on the variety of medical, surgical, and behavioral care. One of her greatest joys is having built this practice from the ground up and watching it evolve into a place that attracts dedicated, talented professionals she is proud to mentor and support.
Originally from Mt. Vernon, Ohio, she moved to her great grandparent’s ranch in Killdeer, ND, in 2007, where she now enjoys life with her beloved crew of animals:
Outside the clinic, Dr Shelley is a certified scuba diver and leads a large, multifaceted project in Ometepe, Nicaragua. This nonprofit initiative includes a veterinary clinic, regenerative farm, café, biodiversity grazing project, and carpentry and welding shop. Her work there focuses on building sustainable, locally driven programs that improve both animal welfare and community resilience.
Dr. Jessie joined State Avenue Veterinary Clinic in 2012 after graduating from veterinary school in 2010. Her passion for veterinary medicine began in third grade when she read The Making of a Woman Veterinarian. From that moment on, she knew she wanted to spend her life helping animals and the people who love them.
Her special interests include internal medicine, dentistry, and wellness care. She especially enjoys building long term relationships with her patients and clients and supporting pets through every stage of life. One of her favorite parts of working at State Avenue is the level of care the team is able to deliver to the community.
Dr. Jessie is originally from South Heart, North Dakota. At home, she shares her life with an incredible variety of animals including horses, donkeys, cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, guineas, turkeys, a snail, salamanders, dogs, and cats.
Outside of work, she loves spending time and working alongside her family including her two boys. She enjoys photography, growing flowers, crafting, and embracing ranch life.
Dr. Raul Casas Dolz has been part of the veterinary field since 2004 and has been a valued member of the State Avenue team since 2014.
His path to veterinary medicine started early. With close family members working in human medicine, he knew he loved science and wanted a career in healthcare, but he also knew people medicine was not the right fit. His love for animals made veterinary medicine the perfect match.
Dr. Raul’s special interests include orthopedics, lameness, and surgery, with a strong focus on orthopedic procedures. One of his favorite parts of working at State Avenue is the ability to keep learning, growing, and offering advanced services that are not always available in rural communities.
Originally from Puerto Rico, Dr. Raul now shares his home with his two dogs, Rudder and Captain Sully. Outside of work, he enjoys tinkering with anything mechanical, flying planes, listening to music, riding motorcycles, and scuba diving. He has many interests and loves exploring new ones whenever he can.
Melissa has been a dedicated member of the State Ave team since 2017 and rejoined the practice again in 2022. With more than 16 years of experience in veterinary medicine and a lifetime spent around animals, she brings exceptional skill, compassion, and enthusiasm to every patient she cares for.
Melissa’s professional interests include behavior, rehabilitation, and surgical nursing—areas where her calm demeanor, technical expertise, and Fear Free approach truly shine. One of her favorite parts of working at State Ave is the opportunity to use her training to help pets recover from surgery or illness and watch them return to feeling like themselves again.
At home, Melissa shares her life with her two Great Danes, Dixie Doo and Ruby Doo, along with four sweet cats who keep the household lively. Outside of work, she enjoys archery, baking, and tackling puzzles of all kinds.
Melissa’s dedication to patient care and her ongoing commitment to learning make her an invaluable part of our team.
Ceci joined the State Avenue Veterinary Clinic team in July 2024 and has been working in veterinary medicine for over a year. Although she originally didn’t plan on pursuing a career in the field, everything changed after she spent time job shadowing in high school. Seeing the dedication, compassion, and teamwork within the clinic inspired her to follow this path and she’s never looked back.
Her favorite part of working at State Avenue is watching patients heal and witnessing the joy and relief on their owners’ faces. Those moments remind her exactly why she chose this profession.
Born in Idaho, Cece now shares her home with a full house of beloved pets: Vanny (cat), her very first hospitalized patient who won her heart; and two lively Boston Terriers who keep her smiling.
Cece’s kindness, curiosity, and passion for helping animals make her a valued member of our team.
Timothy joined our team in the summer of 2025 as a veterinary assistant, marking his first experience in the veterinary medicine field. Originally from North Dakota, he is excited to learn and grow in a hospital setting, gaining hands-on experience that will help him on his journey to becoming a veterinarian.
Timothy’s special interest is surgery, and he loves discovering all the ways veterinarians care for their patients. Outside of work, he enjoys wrestling and is an active FFA member, bringing the same dedication and enthusiasm to our team that he does in his hobbies. Timothy is thrilled to be part of our hospital family and is passionate about making a difference for pets and their owners every day.
