Meet Our Team

Kim Foster

DVM

Dr. Kim is a 1992 graduate of Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in Baton Rouge, LA. Dr. Kim planned to focus on small animal medicine and surgery and also had a special interest in exotic pets. While at LSU, she did an elective rotation focused on exotic and lab animal medicine. She earned an Associate of Science degree from Texarkana College in 1987 before transferring to the University of Arkansas to pursue a double major in microbiology and zoology.

Dr. Kim grew up on a small family farm in Genoa, Arkansas where she collected stray cats and dreamed of being a veterinarian. She is a 1985 graduate of Genoa Central High School. She joined 4-H at the age of nine and was an active member for ten years. She enjoyed raising livestock projects and showed cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and chickens. After graduating from LSU, Dr. Kim worked at Edwards Veterinary Clinic in Hot Springs, Arkansas and ran a small satellite clinic owned by Dr. Edwards in Hot Springs Village, AR. When she moved to Buna with her husband, she realized a lifelong dream to be a veterinarian living in a small town working on all types of animals.

In addition to her medical duties, Dr. Kim is the office manager for Buna Animal Hospital. When she isn’t at work, Dr. Kim enjoys spending time with her children: Kevin, Sarah & Shelby, her husband, and her animals as well as reading, sewing, crafting and photography. She and Dr. Dennis are active members of Buna First Baptist Church. After teaching in the youth Sunday School Department for 23 years, they recently started a sabbatical from teaching to join the adult Sunday school class and allow time to travel to visit their children.

Dennis Foster

DVM

Dr. Dennis is a 1992 graduate of Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M in 1989 and attended Texarkana College before transferring to Texas A&M to major in biochemistry. Dr. Dennis spent his early years in Washington DC and Germany while his father was in the US Army. After his father retired from the Army, the family returned to his father’s hometown of Maud, TX where Dennis graduated from Maud High School in 1985. During high school, Dennis was active in FFA and worked on a dairy farm.

After graduation from veterinary school, Dr. Dennis worked as a solo practitioner at Glenwood Animal Hospital in Glenwood, AR which was owned by Dr. Edwards in Hot Springs. In 1993, he and Dr. Kim relocated to Buna Animal Hospital in Buna, TX. Dr. Dennis enjoys working with livestock and doing small animal surgery.

Dr. Dennis is a devoted family man and enjoys fishing and water sports with his children, gardening, target shooting, and woodworking. He is a very active member and Deacon of First Baptist Church Buna, with a special heart for international missions. He has also enjoyed working with the youth at First Baptist Church.

Valerie M.

Veterinary Technician/Receptionist (Part-Time)

Valerie retired in September 2021 after 15 years with Buna Animal Hospital, but returned part-time in late 2023. She joined our staff in January 2004. Valerie and her husband, Denney, have been married since 1978. They have 3 children: Trevor, Jordan and Logan. They also have a grandson, Cameron, and granddaughters, Bristol and Elliott. Valerie is spending her semi-retirement supervising Denney while he tackles her “Honey-Do list”. She also earned her real estate license. Her hobbies are working in the yard, reading and swimming. Valerie enjoys attending school athletic events and cheering from the stands for her grandchildren, just as she did with her children. Valerie is a proud breast cancer survivor and enjoys participating in Mud Runs with her daughters and work family to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer research.

Rachelle P.

Veterinary Assistant & Part time Receptionist

Rachelle joined our team in March 2020 as a custodian and kennel assistant, where she is always there to lend her support whenever help is needed. She is currently filling the role of Veterinary Assistant and she has trained for the receptionist position to allow her to cover that tole part time when needed.  In her spare time, she enjoys being outdoors, either fishing, hunting or riding one of her two horses. She has an incredible love for animals, especially her dog, Millie, who is her constant companion on her great adventures. She and her husband, Lanceton, were married in December 2021.

Ashley H.

Veterinary Assistant

Ashley returned to Buna Animal Hospital in April 2025 after a sabbatical to be a full time mom. Ashley is a native of Washington State and joined our team in December 2016 as a veterinary assistant. In October 2017, she married her husband Daniel. The newlyweds were blessed with a human sibling for their canine children on September 18, 2018. Ashley took an extended maternity leave to stay home with her daughter, Addison Lou (Addie) and returned to work part time in February 2019 before transitioning to full time mom. In February 2021, they added a son, Sawyer James to their family. While staying home with her children, Ashley occasionally filled in for her former co-workers if they needed a sick day or vacation day. Now that her children have started school, she is ready to work with animals again.

JoDee T

Receptionist

JoDee joined the Buna Animal Hospital family as a receptionist in November 2021. She was raised in Kirbyville and describes herself as full of fun and laughter. When she isn’t at work or spending time on her family farm, JoDee enjoys baking, fishing, and golfing with family and friends.  Jodee is currently planning her wedding to her fiancé, Cord, which will be held in October 2024.

Tammy H.

Registered Veterinary Technician

Tammy began her veterinary career in Nevada in 2013 caring for small animals. In her pursuit to work with large animals, she moved to Texas and joined the Buna Animal Hospital crew in 2019. In her spare time, Tammy enjoys fishing, line dancing, 4×4 riding and eating crawfish. She is obsessed with her “smush face” cat and loves their cuddle time. Tammy’s greatest love is her daughter, who has a passion for animals just like her mama and wants to follow in her mother’s footsteps when she grows up. Tammy has accepted a position closer to her home to spend more time with her daughter.

Kylei D.

Registered Veterinary Technician

Kylei joined Buna Animal Hospital in July 2024. After beginning her veterinary career in a small animal practice in the Beaumont area, she was employed by the emergency clinic. She enjoys spending time with her horses. Kylei currently spends her “free time” with her husband, Ethan, remodeling their home. In March 2025, Kylei accepted a position outside the veterinary medical field.

Pam M.

Veterinary Technician

Pamela Matkin joined our staff at Buna Animal Hospital in April 1996. Pam and her husband, Bobby, have been married since 1979 and have two children, Justin and Krystal. They also have six grandchildren. Pam has been working with animals most of her life, having been around veterinary hospitals as a child. She was also involved in 4-H and horse events. In December 2011, Pam retired to spend more time with her grandchildren and to act as office manager for B&P Pump Services, which she co-owns with her husband. Pam can still be found at Buna Animal Hospital occasionally, filling in when someone takes a vacation or sick day.

Tyler H.

Kennel Assistant & Custodian

Tyler joined our team in August 2023 as a custodian and kennel assistant. He was raised on a farm in Call, TX and says he has worked with animals as long as he can remember. Tyler studied culinary arts at Lamar. His hobbies are baking, cooking, hunting, fishing and “anything outdoors”. In November 2024, Tyler accepted a chef position at Black Gold BBQ restaurant in Buna.

Jordan M.

Veterinary Assistant/Receptionist

Jordan joined Buna Animal Hospital as a receptionist in December 2011 and was employed in that position until July 2015 when her daughter Bristol was born, joining older brother, Cameron. After some time as a stay at home mom, Jordan returned as our receptionist in February 2017. In June 2018, Jordan made the decision to stay home with the children, but returned to our office to train as a veterinary assistant after her sister, Logan moved to Austin. Like her mom, Jordan loves to attend her children’s athletic activities and spend time at the beach whenever possible. In November 2023, Jordan took a position with a company that allows her to work from home with a flexible schedule, so she can have more time to attend her children’s activities.

Sarah Foster

Veterinary Assistant (Part-time)

Sarah is the daughter of Dr. Kim and Dr. Dennis Foster. She is a 2016 honor graduate of Buna High School. After pursuing a biology degree at Lamar University with plans of going to medical school, Sarah changed her focus of study. She enrolled at Pima Medical Institute in Houston, studying ultrasound technology with plans to pursue a career in medicine in the field of cardiac ultrasound. She graduated from Pima Medical Institute in 2022 and is board certified in general ultrasound and vascular ultrasound. She relocated to Texarkana, where she accepted a position with a local hospital to be close to her grandmother and our extended family. Since relocating,  Sarah has purchased a home and settled in with her dog, Kona.

Sarah is an accomplished athlete and former member of the Lamar Cardinal Cross Country and Track team. Sarah has run 3 marathons and obtained her personal trainer license in January 2021 enabling her to work as a trainer for a company in Houston while pursuing her ultrasound certification. Sarah was also a volunteer track coach at Kelly High School in Beaumont for three years and enjoys attending track meets of her former students and friends.

Shelby Foster

Veterinary Assistant (Part-time)

Shelby is the daughter of Dr. Kim and Dr. Dennis Foster. Shelby, like her twin sister, is a 2016 honor graduate of Buna High School. She attended Lamar University, where she earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree in December 2020 with a double major in Business management and marketing. Shelby completed her Master’s Degree in Business Management in May 2022.  She was employed by Lamar university as a certified lifeguard, assistant pool manager swim instructor and did first aid for intramural athletics for four years. She then served as an intern manager with the athletic center at Lamer University. Shelby relocated temporarily to Tennessee for a six month internship position in Human Resources after graduation. When she completed the internship, Shelby returned  to Texas and is now living in Austin.

Shelby loves hiking in the Austin area with her dog, has a pet ferret and enjoys raising orphan animals. She is a talented painter and artist, as well as an accomplished athlete.

Kevin Foster

Computer Technician

Kevin is the son of Dr. Kim & Dr. Dennis Foster and spent his early years doing yard maintenance and computer repairs for Buna Animal Hospital. He is a 2013 honor graduate of Buna High School and 2017 honor graduate of Lamar University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science.

Kevin was employed as a tutor and computer technician by Lamar. Upon completion of his degree in May 2017, Kevin accepted a position in Houston as a computer programmer for a business software developer. In September 2018, Kevin moved to Austin to begin a new job in the same field, focusing on computer gaming. Kevin recently moved to Georgetown but still troubleshoots computer issues for Buna Animal Hospital occasionally.

Logan M.

Receptionist

Logan has been hanging around our office since her mother joined the team in 2004 and officially joined the Buna Animal Hospital family as receptionist in October 2018. Logan says she is the favorite of Valerie’s three children and transferred from a veterinary clinic in Louisiana to return home to Buna. Logan and her “dazzling daughter”, a bull terrier named Kesha, enjoy spending their time eating and taking long sweaty walks on the beach. Her favorite foods are tacos and pizza. After a year on staff with us, Logan moved to Austin, and now works for a law office. She married her husband, Zach, in 2022 and they welcomed their daughter Elliott to the family in March 2024.

Lillie C.

Receptionist

Lillie joined the Buna Animal Hospital team in February 2018 and is “dog mom” to Blanche Devareaux and Margaret Thatcher. According to Lillie, her talents include taking naps that last longer than 14 hours and being emotionally distant. Lillie’s favorite color is black and she has a wicked sense of humor. Lillie returned to college part time while working for Buna Animal Hospital, and in January 2023 became a full-time student to complete her degree. She occasionally filled in at Buna Animal Hospital until she was hired as a process operator in March 2024.

Lucy

Head of Security/Official Greeter December 3, 2003 to November 5, 2013

Our beloved Lucy passed away November 5, 2013, at the age of 9 years 11 months and 2 days. Lucy joined the practice in January 2004 at the age of 5 weeks. She was raised in the clinic and guarded the office 24 hours a day. She greeted visitors during the business day and showed her tough side after hours. Her favorite daytime activity was protecting the rest of the staff from the UPS man. She will always have a special place in our hearts and is greatly missed.

Lila

Head of Security/Official Greeter

On December 11, 2024 our beloved Lila crossed the Rainbow Bridge on the evening before her eleventh birthday. Lila joined Buna Animal Hospital at the age of 5 weeks in February 2014. She grew up in the clinic and loved interacting with the patients but she wasn’t afraid to show her tough side after hours. Lila lived at Buna Animal Hospital and took her job as a security officer seriously. She brightened every day with her quirky personality and she was a bit of a clown. We will forever miss her sweet soul and Great Dane “hugs”.