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Meet Our Team

We’re dedicated to your pet’s health.

APPOINTMENT

We’ll be there when you need us most.

Circle of Life Animal Hospital is a well-established, full-service, small veterinary hospital providing comprehensive medical, surgical, and dental care for the pets of Festus, Missouri.

Dr. Amy Jo Cook-Breeze, DVM

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

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

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

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.

Faith

Faith

Vet Assistant

Bio coming soon!
Allison

Allison

Vet Assistant

Bio coming soon!

Emily

Emily

Kennel Assistant

Bio coming soon!

Sam

Sam

Kennel Assistant

Bio coming soon!

Karen

Karen

Groomer

Karen has been grooming animals for 40 years and has been a part of our team for 27 years. She loves all the fur babies that she gets to meet through grooming daily. She shares her home with dogs, cats, chickens, and ponies.
Tessa

Tessa

Groomer Assistant

Tessa has been assisting her mom, Karen, for 23 years at Circle of Life.
Amber

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.

Kaitlyn L.

Kaitlyn L.

Receptionist

Bio coming soon!
Kyrissa

Kyrissa

Technician

Kyrissa is friendly, outgoing, and loves meeting new patients and clients, as well as maintaining strong relationships with existing clients. Her love for animals doesn’t end with our Circle of Life fur babies. At home, she’s wranglin her large crew: Gemma ( pitbull), Jax ( shepherd/pyrenees), Opie ( hound/dane), and Larry ( bearded dragon). Kyrissa started off as a receptionist in 2021 and in 2022 achieved her goal of becoming a technician!
Amanda

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

Bridget

Technician

Bio coming soon!

Lisa

Lisa

Technician

Bio coming soon!