Robert Calabrese, BVMS
Medical Director

Dr. Robert Calabrese (“Dr. Rob”) offers Firehouse Belterra clients a common-sense approach to their pet’s medical care. He focuses on involving clients’ inpatient care plans, communicating clearly, achieving positive outcomes, and educating clients to maintain health and happiness for pets at home. Clients enjoy Dr. Rob’s kindness, sense of humor, and empathy. Dr. Rob has a special interest in dentistry, nutrition, and preventive medicine.

To offer patients current and well-rounded treatment plans, Dr. Rob regularly reads research journals to keep abreast of industry trends. A seminar that stands out for him was the recent AFAST/TFAST Ultrasound course. He has also presented new web and vet tech ideas to a group of industry colleagues in London.

Dr. Rob earned his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M in 2009. He earned his veterinary degree at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. He has a yellow lab named Birdie. On weekends, you’ll find the Calabrese family enjoying Austin’s live music scene or swimming in a Hill Country river.

Adan was born and raised in Austin, Texas. From a young age, he knew he wanted to work with animals and studied Veterinary Technology at Austin Community College. Adan joined Firehouse Animal Health Center in 2016 and is thrilled to be part of the leadership team at Belterra Village. He regularly attends veterinary technician and management conferences to keep up-to-date on new medical developments. Adan takes a special interest in client service, patient relationships, preventive wellness exams, and clinic operations. When not at Firehouse, he enjoys spending time with his Fiancé and his son, Samuel. He also has a passion for American Quarter Horses that he owns, breeds, and trains in different disciplines.

Barbara Boechat, DVM
Veterinarian

Dr. Barbara Boechat’s philosophy is that happy pets lead to happier clients. Her friendly disposition and “think outside the box” approach help her connect with clients. She is Fear Free certified and uses her knowledge to make nervous patients comfortable.

She emphasizes preventive care so pets can live long, happy, and healthy lives. Dr. Boechat also values communication. As such, she ensures clients are aware of, and in agreement with, each step of the visit. Dr. Boechat loves explaining diagnoses and always gives clients treatment options.

Dr. Boechat stays up-to-date with developments in veterinary medicine with continuing education. She reads industry journals, views videos, and attends conferences.

She attended the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil. On weekends, she and her husband try new restaurants and breweries with friends. A lover of all dogs, Dr. Boechat holds a special place in her heart for dogs, especially Panda, her mix-breed pup.

Ali relocated to Austin in 2013 after graduating from the University of Florida (Go Gators!) with her BA in Psychology and minors in Latin American Studies and Brazilian Portuguese. Ali always had a love for animals and found her way into the veterinary field as a part-time client service coordinator. Developing relationships with clients and their pets, as well as Firehouse’s focus on creating a stress-free environment, brings her fulfillment.

Ali is taking part in Communication Training at Firehouse and she also attends frequent continuing education courses to learn new skills that improve the client experience. She loves taking the workload off clients by doing the heavy lifting. Her favorite thing about her role is relating to clients and their pets as a pet owner herself.

When she’s not helping clients at Firehouse, Ali enjoys hiking with her pup, mountain biking, going out on the lake or trying out new Austin restaurants.

Alondra Marrufo
Client Service Coordinator

Alondra wants clients to know that Firehouse is there for them and their pets, so she takes time to accommodate each client and meet their needs. Her bubbly personality and approachable demeanor help clients feel comfortable and welcome. She listens to client concerns, questions, and information and then works with the technician and doctor to ensure that each pet is receiving the best possible service. She enjoys educating clients on how to keep their pets happy and healthy while empowering pet owners to feel confident in making the best medical decisions for their pets.

After participating in FFA and the Long Horn Program in high school, Alondra attended Brazos Port College, focusing on business. Her love of animals brought her to the Firehouse team. When not at work, she enjoys spending time at the river with her Border Collie/Catahoula mix puppy, Gianna, and kayaking.

Candice’s warm, friendly personality helps clients and patients feel welcome and safe. She is an active listener who not only hears client concerns, but finds solutions for their needs. She is adept at reading patients’ body language and adapting her care to help support their needs. She helps out in all areas of the hospital, assisting with appointments when needed to make patient care go smoothly.

Candice joined the Firehouse team in 2015; after a brief break to attend school, she is excited to be back. Hard-working and outgoing, she supports her colleagues and helps teach them new skills. She is the “mama bear” of her Firehouse team. To keep her skills current, Candice enjoys attending online professional development classes.

After graduating from Avenue Five with her esthetician license, Candice opened a spa in Kyle, TX, where she works on the weekends. She has five children who keep her busy. When not working, she likes to travel with her family in the RV, go boating, and spend as much time on the water as possible. She owns two Pit Bulls – Buster and Chief.

Having worked with animals since she was a young girl, Katie has a gentle and empathetic nature. She knows that making veterinarian visits less stressful for the patient allows the visit to be less stressful for the client. Katie’s value of preparation assists the team in making quick and efficient decisions in our patient’s treatment plans.

Staying informed with the best, most accurate information to share with clients and even other coworkers is important to Katie as she continues her degree in Science.

During her free time, Katie is traveling and loving on her two Richmond SPCA rescue dogs, Tank, and Captain Morgan.

Pamela is an empathetic, patient, and kind advocate for all animals. Clients can be assured that their pets will be showered with a lot of love and treats while in Pamela’s care, as she strives to make each pet as comfortable as possible. Clients also appreciate Pamela’s strong work ethic and how she patiently listens to all questions and concerns in order to ensure pets get the best care. She likes to read peer-reviewed journals and follow veterinary organizations in order to stay up to date on her skills.

Currently, Pamela is finishing her Wildlife Biology degree. She has two pets of her own: Soren, a German Shepherd, and John Paw, a domestic shorthair cat.

Shara believes that a successful vet visit begins with proper communication and building strong relationships. This is why she takes time to learn about the pet and owner prior to beginning a pet’s visit. From assisting with leading patients to the exam room to discussing diagnoses, testing, or medications, Shara strives to make visits as easy and comfortable for pets and their owners as possible. She treats every patient like her own pet and checks in to see how they are doing after their appointment. She also enjoys monitoring and helping in surgery and learning new skills to help her better care for pets.

She attended Angelina College, where she played soccer. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, being outdoors, and relaxing with her English Golden Retriever, Ace. While she loves all animals, she has a special place in her heart for dogs and birds.

Bio coming soon!