Our Veterinarians

We have 2 full time small animal veterinarians Dr. Connie Ganter DVM & Co-Owner; and Dr. Julie Deter DVM associate. Dr. Verne Thacker DVM & Co-Owner offers large animal ambulatory services. Dr. Lette Obledo DVM is with us part time doing small animal care.

 
Dr. Thacker, Dr. Ganter, Dr. Deter and Dr. Obledo

Verne Thacker, DVM (large animal) and Connie Ganter DVM (small animal) are the proud owners of Village Veterinary Clinic. VVC is a full service large animal and small animal practice. Both doctors are graduates of UC Davis Veterinary School of Medicine. The doctor’s purchased the clinic in October 1999 after moving back to Lompoc from Oregon to be closer to family. They are active members of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the California Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Thacker is a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and Society of Medical Theriogneology.

Marie, Lexie, and Lucas, like their parents, are very involved in school, sports, and extra-curricular activities. The young Thacker’s interest in animal husbandry has led them to Lompoc 4H and FFA with the goal of raising a locally bred and born Black Angus Beef Herd. Their endeavors have garnished their family prizes at the Santa Barbara County Fair with their animals. You may one day see the Thacker children take over the practice, as all have interest in Veterinary Medicine.

Donating time and funding to Central Coast organizations such as VIVA, CAPA, Lompoc School District Career Day, Lompoc 4H and FFA, and job-shadowing programs is a family commitment. Dr. Thacker is also involved with AYSO (youth soccer) as a coach and referee. Dr. Ganter donates time to working with local organizations such as Guide-Dogs-for-the-Blind, Shadows Fund and Care 4 Paws.

Family pets include Gertie (Boston terrier), Murphy (Border Collie Mix), Toad (French Bulldog) and 2 cats, "Evie" & “Dulcee". Their large animal family consists of horses and their mini horse "Snookie".

Dr. Julie Deter, DVM  – Dr. Ganter’s new associate joined Village Veterinary Clinic staff in May of 2009. She received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from UC Davis (Sacramento) and her BS in Aquatic Biology from US Santa Barbara. While an undergraduate at UCSB, she was a lab assistant and research scuba diver.

Dr. Deter hails from La Canada (in the LA area) where her family still lives. Dr. Deter is an active member of the California Veterinary Association and the American Veterinary Association.

Favorite past-times include hiking the hills above Santa Barbara, scuba diving through the kelp forest of the Channel Islands and diving along the coral reefs of Maui and Lanai looking at all the rainbow colored fish. Ventura and the Central Coast are the Doctor’s picks for surfing. She enjoys reading American fiction and non-fiction.

Pets include 4 cats,  “Lou Man”, “Boris”, "Bane", "Imelda" and her American Staffordshire Terrier "Charlee".

Dr. Amy Pelton, DVM- Dr. Pelton graduated from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, with an emphasis on small animals (dogs and cats). She has special interests in wellness and preventative medicine topics such as nutrition, behavior, and dental hygiene. She attended UC San Diego for her undergraduate studies and received a B.S. in Animal Physiology and Neuroscience. As a veterinary student at UC Davis she volunteered for spay/neuter clinics, and as an undergraduate student she was a volunteer for the San Diego Humane Society.

Dr. Pelton grew up on the East Coast and in the Los Angeles area. Having lived in both Northern and Southern California, she is excited to start a new adventure on the Central Coast. 

Dr. Pelton shares her home with two rescue cats, "Sheldon" and "Scout". She also has a chihuahua with a bigger than life personality named "Huey."

Dr. Lettie Obledo, DVM – Dr. Obledo received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from UC Davis (Sacramento) and interned at North Carolina University. She comes to Village Vet via CARE Hospital in Santa Barbara where she was one of the Emergency Room Doctors for the past 5 years and White Pet Hospital for the past 2.

Born and raised in the Los Angeles area, she loves California’s Central Coast. Her husband is an equine surgeon in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Dr. Obledo’s hobbies include raising her 2 beautiful daughters, gardening, growing fruits and vegetables and flowers with a special emphasis on garden landscape design.

Pets include 4 dogs and 1 cat. All of whom have been rescued and now have a loving, caring human family at last.