Doctors

Meredith Davis, DVM, MS

Dr. Meredith Davis graduated from Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000. Upon graduation, she continued her education at The Ohio State University, completing a residency in poultry medicine and a Master’s degree in Veterinary Preventive Medicine. For the past 23 years she has pursued her passion in the field of avian and exotic medicine. Although originally from Long Island, Meredith initiated her career in Northern Virginia. In 2014, Meredith and her family moved back to New York, where she practiced at Island Exotic Veterinary Care as an Associate Veterinarian for seven more years. In February 2022, Meredith acquired the practice from Dr. Heidi Hoefer and continues the tradition of providing quality veterinary care to companion avian and exotic pets. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, playing board games, traveling, and kickboxing. 

Perri Wiggin, DVM

Dr. Perri Wiggin is a proud Carolina Gamecock, graduating from the University of South Carolina in 2017 as a Capstone Scholar with Leadership Distinction. Her next adventure took her to London, England for veterinary school. She graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2021. She then went on to complete a rotating internship at Long Island Veterinary Specialists. Dr. Wiggin is a Long Island native originally from Huntington and excited to be a member of the Island Exotic team so close to home! In her free time she enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and playing tennis. She has a dog, two dart frogs, and a family bee hive. 

Heidi Hoefer, DVM, Diplomate ABVP

Dr. Heidi Hoefer has been treating birds and exotic pets only for over 30 years. She is a 1987 graduate of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. She completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Animal Medical Center (AMC) in New York in 1987 and continued there in a two year residency program in avian and exotic pets. From 1990-1998, Dr. Hoefer maintained a staff appointment in the avian and exotic pet department at the AMC, and she has been board-certified in avian practice since 1993. Dr. Hoefer opened Island Exotic Veterinary Care in 2007 as Long Island's first specialty avian and exotic pet hospital. After 35 years in practice, she is now retired from clinic's but remains on staff as a consultant. She is continuing on as an adjunct professor of Special Species at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine where she is inspiring the next generation of exotic veterinarians.

Licensed Veterinary Technicians

Kelly

Kelly is a Licensed Veterinary Technician that began working at Island Exotic in 2010 as a veterinary assisstant. She graduated from the Suffolk County Community College Veterinary Technician program and took her VTNE in 2013. Although Kelly has previously worked in wildlife rehab and with dogs and cats, the majority of her clinical experience and passion has always been with exotic companion animals. Kelly is active in the rabbit rescue community and has a special interest in client education; especially when it involves rabbit husbandry and environmental enrichment. When not working, Kelly enjoys spending time with her daughters and caring for her fluffle of senior and differently abled rabbits. 

Sandra

Sandra is a Long Island native and a true animal lover.  She is a world traveler, has lived in Germany for a year, backpacked through Europe, and enjoyed many trips to Chile to visit family. After raising her own family she decided to go back to school and graduated from Suffolk Community College Veterinary Technician program in May 2022 and has been a licensed veterinary technician since August 2022. In her limited free time she enjoys cooking, art work, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Veterinary Assistants

Ariel

Ariel went to School of Visual Arts and graduated with a BA in Fine Arts in 2018. She freelanced for several months at small companies and realized she much rather spend her time with her animals. She decided to attend Adelphi University and graduated in 2022 with a BA in Biology. Ariel has been working as a vet assistant for Island Exotic Veterinary Care since August 2022. In her spare time Ariel volunteers at North Shore Animal League and Volunteers for Wildlife. 

Lydia

Lydia I graduated from Texas Tech University in 2021 with an Agricultural Education degree and recently completed an internship at the New York Aquarium working with the Sea Lions. Lydia has always loved working with animals and look forward to helping your furry, feathered, and scaly friends here at Island Exotic. In her spare time Lydia enjoys some friendly video game competition with friends.

Front Desk

Shana

Shana works as both a veterinary assist and receptionist front desk and has been Island Exotic Veterinary for almost 11 years and prides herself on making sure everyone has the best experience possible! Shana’s passion is birds but love all species! She runs the Long Island Budgie Rescue helping to reunite lost/found birds with their owners, re-homing birds whose owners can no longer care for them and adopting out birds that aren't claimed. Shana also enjoys camping with her family her PA.

Eric

Eric has always loved animals from a young age. He is an avid Great Dane lover and has two at home, Trooper and Jade. Eric is a student at Suffolk Community College studying Business and Marketing has been working the front desk at Island Exotic since September 2022.

Michelle

Michelle has worked with animals for 12 years. She spent a large portion of her life heavily involved in animal rescue, and is a certified groomer. She decided to go into the veterinary field about 3 years ago, and recently joined the Island Exotic team. Michelle  spends the majority of her free time at home with her cats Max and Harley. 

Nina

After 24 years in the corporate world at Estee Lauder Co. and 10 yrs running her pet sitting business, Nina joined Island Exotic as a receptionist & assistant. Her interest in exotic veterinary care began when she became a ferret mom back in 1986. Seeing the need for a ferret rescue group, Nina formed and was President of AFC-FERRET CLUB & RESCUE, a 501c3, for 14 yrs and still continues to rescue ferrets to this day. She currently shares her home with a rescued cat, 4 rescued ferrets and 6 goldfish- one being a carnival win, now 12 yrs old! Nina has been working at Island Exotic for 14 and a half years continuing to make a difference with understanding & compassion towards our clients and their beloved pets.