About us
Shelter Veterinary Solutions was established by Drs. Barbara Kompare and Jessica Von Waldau to provide affordable and accessible veterinary services for the animal rescue and welfare community. Both founding veterinarians have worked with multiple private, municipal, and non-profit organizations and are equipped to address the needs and challenges in this unmet area of veterinary healthcare. We have over 35 years of combined veterinary experience with over 22 years of experience in shelter medicine.
Our newly designed full service hospital allows for efficient patient care and offers a wide variety of services. As an independent business, Shelter Veterinary Solutions proudly services multiple organizations allowing for more homeless patients to get the healthcare they need and deserve.
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide quality veterinary care and solutions that incorporates shelter medicine best practices for animal rescue organizations.
Our Team
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Barbara Kompare, DVM
Managing Partner
Dr. Barbara Kompare is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. She worked in a low-cost clinic in the Chicago suburbs prior to her Maddie’s post-DVM Fellowship in Shelter Medicine with Purdue University. She has been working as a shelter medicine veterinarian in Chicago since completion of her fellowship in 2011. She is proud to serve on the board of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians since 2019 and the executive board since 2021. Her professional interests include infectious disease control, population management, and behavioral health. She is passionate about the importance of animal welfare, clinical decision making, and teaching the next generation about the exciting field of shelter medicine.
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Jessica Von Waldau, DVM
Managing Partner
Dr. Jessica Von Waldau is a graduate of the University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine. She has over 25 years of experience of which 12+ years have been dedicated to shelter medicine. She has worked in a variety of settings including private shelter facilities, municipal shelters, mobile surgical units, and community vaccination programs. Special skills include high volume/high quality spay/ neuter, working with feral cats to provide TNVR (trap, neuter, vaccinate, return), dentistry, soft tissue surgery, reconstructive surgery, and consulting on complex medical and surgical cases.
Other areas of work include designing and modifying protocols, consultations on shelter hospital remodeling and construction, guidance on veterinary equipment purchasing, and consultations on specifications and logistics for mobile surgical units.
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Lauren Novak, CVT
Practice Manager
Lauren Novak started working in the animal welfare industry in 2003 and received her certificate as a veterinary technician in 2009. She found her passion for shelter medicine at a young age, which led her to pursue an Associates of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology. Lauren worked in a large no-kill organization for over 9 years and led the shelter medicine technician team. Lauren prides herself on being able to help make patients comfortable using fear-free techniques and taking the time to bond with shy or fearful animals. She looks forward to providing compassionate care to those animals looking for a forever home.