We’ll be there when you need us most.
Circle of Life Animal Hospital is a well-established, full-service, small and large animal veterinary hospital providing comprehensive medical, surgical, and dental care for the pets of Festus, Missouri.
Dr. Amy Jo Cook-Breeze, DVM
Veterinarian
Dr. Cook-Breeze grew up in Crystal City, Missouri. After graduating from Crystal City High School, she attended the University of Missouri, majoring in biochemistry. She graduated from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 1997. Her first job took her to Hillsboro, Missouri. She then practiced at All Creatures Animal Hospital in O’Fallon, Missouri. She came to Blum Animal Hospital in 2002. In 2004, she purchased the practice and renamed it Circle of Life Animal Hospital. Dr. Cook-Breeze is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association, the Greater St. Louis Veterinary Medical Association, and the Twin City Chamber of Commerce. She is a lifetime member of the University of Missouri Alumni Association and a lifetime member of the Varsity M Association from her college career in track and field. Dr. Cook-Breeze has three children, Alex (15), and Lucas (18), and Logan (27).
Dr. Jeaneyl Hazlett, DVM
Veterinarian
Dr. Hazlett is a part-time doctor at Circle of Life Animal Hospital. She graduated from Iowa State Veterinary College in 1975. She has been with us for sixteen years. Prior to moving to DeSoto, Dr. Hazlett owned a veterinary practice for 25 years. She has a special interest in felines (cats) and geriatric medicine. She is a proud owner of two cats, Banjo and Bootsie who are 7 years old. She enjoys working in her garden and traveling in her free time.
Dr. Rachel Barr, DVM, MBA
Veterinarian
Dr. Rachel Barr grew up in West Monroe, Louisiana. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University. Throughout her undergraduate studies, she worked as a receptionist and veterinary assistant at Highland Road Animal Hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Dr. Barr received her doctorate at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. During veterinary school, she also received her Master’s in Business Administration from Louisiana State University at Shreveport. After graduation, Dr. Barr moved to Las Vegas, Nevada to work as an associate veterinarian in a high-volume small animal practice before deciding to move to the St. Louis area. In her free time, Dr. Barr enjoys cooking, playing the piano, traveling, and cheering on the LSU Tigers. She especially enjoys spending time with her best friend, a German Shepherd Mix named Sable!
Jennifer
Practice Manager
Jennifer has been at Circle of Life since 2008. She knew she had a passion for working with animals ever since she was a child. She has worked multiple roles within the hospital before becoming practice manager. She began as a kennel assistant, moved to reception, and then was a technician for 11 years. Jennifer truly loves educating clients and getting to see all of the fur babies.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and relaxing with a good movie.
Karen
Groomer
Tessa
Groomer Assistant
Jodie
Groomer Assistant
I started grooming in 1999 in West County, learning from a woman with 25 years experience. I opened my own business, The Doggie Day Spa in 2002, closing in 2019 for a short hiatus but really missed the pups too much! I own 2 dogs, Daisy Mae, a Sheep-a-doodle and Matilda, a chihuahua. 2 cats, Elvis and Radar.
Amber
Customer Service Representative
Amber has been in the Veterinary field as a customer service representative for eight years. When she first started her journey she worked at a hospital in Illinois for almost four years, then met her fiancé and moved to De Soto. A year later she started working for Circle of Life. Amber’s always had a passion for helping people and animals and she’s happy she gets to do that every day.
She has two dogs, Calli and Roscoe, and three cats, Sammy, Binx, and the newest addition Zazu.
Taylor
Customer Service Representative
Taylor has been a customer service representative for us for about a year and half. She is a proud fur mom to 2 dogs, 2 cats and 1 chinchilla. She works part time at Circle of Life and is also a hair dresser.
Kyrissa
Customer Service Representative
Kyrissa is friendly, outgoing, and loves meeting new patients and clients. Her love for animals doesn’t end at Circle of Life Animal Hospital. At home, she spends her time with Duke (pit bull mix) and Larry (bearded dragon). She has always had a soft spot for senior dogs, and loves to adopt them!
Kyrissa’s goal is to eventually become a veterinary technician.
Kaitlyn L.
Receptionist
Amanda
Technician
Amanda has been working in the veterinary field since 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences from Southeast Missouri State University. She has been part of the Circle of Life Family since May of 2017. A mother of 2, when she’s not helping care for our wonderful patients she enjoys relaxing at home with her family members, those both with and without fur, and being active within the Missouri Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Bridget
Technician
Bio coming soon!
Kaitlyn S.
Technician
Bio coming soon!
Tara P.
Technician
Bio coming soon!