Dr. Melissa Curry was born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina, and wanted to become a veterinarian since she was a young girl. At the age of 14, she began working with a few different veterinarians in Greensboro and her dreams began to come true. She graduated from UNC Greensboro with a BA at the top of her class, summa cum laude, in 1992. She then went on to graduate from NC State College of Veterinary Medicine at the top of her class and again summa cum laude in 1996. Dr. Curry practiced in Charlotte, NC for 4 years in a small animal and exotic practice and then relocated to Florida in 1999. She practiced in the Tampa Bay Area for 21 years and won multiple awards for Medical Director of the Year before returning to her home state of NC in 2021 with her family. Dr. Curry grew up visiting the Hendersonville/Brevard area as a child as well as throughout her adult life and relocating to this area was another dream come true.

Dr. Curry enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine with special interests in dentistry, surgery, ophthalmology, and dermatology. With over 27 years in general practice, she has learned that the best quality patient care all starts with a thorough physical exam of the patient and excellent communication with our clients.

Dr. Curry spends her free time with 3 cats, 1 dog, and 6 beautiful backyard chickens. She enjoys taking art classes at the local community college when she is not hiking or kayaking.

Dr. Zehr is a 1990 graduate of the Louisiana State University School of Medicine. He did undergraduate work at Eastern Mennonite University for two years, then earned a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology and Avian Science at the University of Florida in 1984. In Baton Rouge, Dr. Zehr did two years of Master’s research developing vaccines and bacterins before entering veterinary school in 1986. Dr. Zehr and his wife, Heidi, moved to Hendersonville in 1990 and bought this hospital in 1994. He loves the variety of general practice and especially enjoys surgery, ophthalmology, oncology, and dermatology. Dr. Zehr is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association. Dr. Zehr and his wife, Heidi, have been married for over 35 years and have 3 great kids; one Wolfpack graduate, one UNC Tarheel graduate, and one Erskine Flying Fleet graduate. They have two dogs, Winston and Woody, and a cat named Jenga. They enjoy tennis, kayaking, fishing, and traveling.

At Colorado State University, she graduated Cum Laude and on the National Dean’s List with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Zoology in 2002. In 2003, she graduated at the top of her class with a Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences. She then went on to complete her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 2007, with an additional certification in Laser Surgery.

While practicing medicine in Colorado she spent the next several years honing her skills in internal medicine and surgery, working with a wide variety of dogs and cats in various stages of health. During this time, she also broadened her expertise in a variety of exotic pets, including, small mammals, birds and reptiles. While Dr. Layman enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine, she holds special interests and expertise in soft tissue surgery, dentistry, preventive medicine and behavior issues. She also has a keen understanding of the necessity for nurturing the human-animal bond through open communication and enjoys sharing this knowledge with her patients and their owners.

When not practicing medicine, Dr. Layman enjoys spending time with her husband and their young son, a cats named Briggs, and a cattle dog named Banjo. Her favorite activities include biking, hiking, and relaxing next to a snuggly cat with a good book.