Meet Our Veterinary Team

Meet the Veterinarians & Team of Griffin Avian and Exotic Veterinary Hospital! We’re pleased to provide exceptional vet care for your pets!

Get to Know Our Veterinary Team

We are solely dedicated to your pet’s care! We look forward to getting to know you and hope you’ll take the time to scroll down and get to know us.

dr. griffin

Dr. Chris Griffin

Diplomate, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners
Certified in Avian Practice

Dr. Chris Griffin grew up in Augusta, Georgia, and has been interested in curious creatures for his entire life. After high school, Dr. Griffin attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earning a degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry in 1991. He attended veterinary school at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 1995.

After graduating veterinary school, Dr. Griffin spent some time visiting some of the most prominent veterinary facilities that focus on avian and exotic pet medicine. He later found a position in Florida, working with two ABVP – Avian boarded veterinarians, Dr. Teresa Lightfoot and Dr. Lucy Bartlett, at the Avian and Animal Hospital of Bardmoor. He completed his Residency for ABVP and passed his specialty boards in 1999. He is a Diplomate, American Board of Veterinary Practioners certified in Avian Practice.

After about 2 and 1/2 years at South Ridge Veterinary Hospital, Dr. Griffin decided to open an exclusively avian and exotic pet hospital, catering to the needs of pet birds, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals.

Dr. Griffin has been a noted speaker on exotic pet medicine at veterinary conferences worldwide. Most recently he has been involved with ICARE- the International Conference on Avian, Herpetological, Exotic Mammal, Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. He is the co-author of a chapter in the Gastroenterology issue of Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Pet Practice. He was honored to co-author that chapter with his Dad, Joseph W. Griffin, Jr., MD. He is the guest editor of the issue of Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Pet Practice – Topic: Common Procedures.

Dr. Griffin is active in various veterinary associations focused on exotic pet medicine. He has held several leadership positions on the board of both the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) and the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV). He is the current Avian regent for ABVP since 2021.

Dr. Griffin and his wife Stephania currently share their home with their daughter Aralyn, a rat named Apollo and one (sometimes ”Dill”) Pickle (a male Eclectus Parrot).He enjoys listening to acapella music, being active within the local UNC Alumni Club, playing and watching a variety of sports, traveling, reading, playing on his computer, cooking and spending time with his family and friends.

Dr. Carrie Edgerton

Dr. Carrie Edgerton

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Edgerton grew up in eastern North Carolina in New Bern. She has wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as she can remember and began her dream as a volunteer at a local vet hospital. With her family’s support, she completed her undergraduate degree at North Carolina State University and was on her way to vet school.

While attending NC State’s veterinary school, she became heavily involved with the Wild Turtle Rescue Team, which helped develop her interest in and passion for exotic pet medicine. As a senior veterinary student, Dr Edgerton spent several weeks at Griffin Exotics during an externship rotation. She enjoyed her experience so much that she joined the GAEVH team in June 2007. She became a full-time associate in January 2010 and enjoys working at such a diverse practice.

Dr. Edgerton shares her home with Sprinkles, her cat, Jasper, her Red-Footed Tortoise, and her two bearded dragons, Sydney and Stitch.

Meet Our Support Team

Peyton

Peyton

Registered Veterinary Technician

Hometown: Raleigh, NC. Now lives in Statesville, NC.

Education: B.S in Wildlife Biology from Lees McRae College.

Hobbies: Horseback riding.

Pets: A crested gecko “Cedric”, a bearded dragon “Horath”, 2 hamsters “Thelonius” and “HB”, a black rat snake “James Franco” and “Gunther” a handsome Rottweiler.

Michelle

Michelle

Registered Veterinary Technician

Hometown: Boston, MA.

Education: BS in Biology, Associate in Cardiovascular Technology, and licensed Veterinary Technician.

Hobbies: Horseback riding, reading and outdoor activities.

Pets: 3 cats named “One Eyed Jack”, “Coconut,” and “Tora”.

Melissa

Melissa

Veterinary Assistant

Hometown: Albany, NY.

Education: B.S in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Master Herpetology Certificate from the Amphibian Foundation, and currently pursuing a Veterinary Technician Associate’s from Penn Foster.

Hobbies: Reading, writing and video games.

Pets: Two cats, a Hog Island Boa, and a Carpet Python.

Abby

Abby

Veterinary Assistant

Hometown: Graham, WA.

Education/Training: Currently enrolled in the Penn Foster Veterinary program. Also teaches Equine-assisted therapy.

Hobbies: Crafting, exercising, and traveling with her boyfriend.

Pets: Shares her home with 2 ducks named Sophia and Phillipe and 3 rabbits named Polly, Cosmos, and Snugs.

Susan

Susan

Client Care Specialist

Hometown: Matthews, NC

Training: Federal and North Carolina rehab permits since 1999.

Permits: NC Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit.

Pets: Susan and her family share their home with parakeets, hamsters, dogs, leopard geckos, and rabbits.

Danya

Danya

Practice Manager

Hometown: Recently moved to NC from Northern Virginia.

Education/Training: Has over 15 years of experience in customer service and management in avian and exotic veterinary medicine, coming from the most advanced avian and exotics practice on the East Coast.

Hobbies: Reading, vegan cooking, special needs animal advocacy.

Pets: Shares her home with a sand boa, leopard gecko, crested gecko, a tarantula, and 2 special needs dogs.

Pickle

Laura

Veterinary Assistant

Bio coming soon!

Pickle

Pickle

Clinic Security

Pickle is a male Eclectus parrot.