Staff Role: Veterinarian - ER

Dr. Christopher Blanch is an emergency veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary. His interests include emergency surgery, oncology, and low-cost spay/neuter surgery. As a long-time resident of Connecticut, Dr. Blanch left the state to obtain his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Rhode Island. He went on to complete his doctorate degree at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2004 followed by a rotating internship at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists in RI.

As a former medical director at a high-volume, low-cost spay/neuter clinic, Dr. Blanch has a special interest in animal population control and shelter medicine. The most important part of veterinary medicine for him is being able to give a voice to those that don’t have one.

Dr. Blanch resides in southeastern CT with his dogs, Navah and Stewie, and cats, Vinny, Chewy, and Bing Clawsby. In his spare time he loves anything to do with being on the ocean, including kayaking and kayak fishing.

Special Interests:

• Surgery
• Oncology

Dr. Ashley Boucek has been an Emergency Veterinarian with Pieper Veterinary since the summer of 2016 and specializes in trauma management, infectious disease, and transfusion medicine.

Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Dr. Boucek received her undergraduate degree from Westminster College in 2008, where she studied molecular biology, and her DVM from University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. She is a member of the VECCS, AVMA, and CMA.

In her spare time, Dr. Boucek enjoys traveling, drawing, and reading. She lives at home with her Yorkshire Terrier.

Special Interests:

• Trauma management
• Infectious diseases
• Transfusion medicine

Dr. Melissa McDaniel is an emergency veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary, and works primarily out of our Middletown emergency and specialty hospital. Originally from New York, she graduated from Dartmouth College, and later received her doctorate from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Dr. McDaniel has special interests in stabilizing critical patients, diabetic ketoacidosis, and wound repair.

Dr. McDaniel has wanted to become a veterinarian for as long as she can remember. She is married, has two children, and lives with her dog, Grizwald, and her cats, Ellen and Potter. In addition to practicing medicine, she also enjoys singing, baking, and traveling.

Special Interests:

• Stabilizing critical patients
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Wound repair

Dr. Dan Niemczyk has been an Emergency Veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary since 2013 and has special interests in both emergency and transfusion medicine. He is a Connecticut native from Enfield, and attended Becker College for undergrad, followed by the University of Tennessee, where he received his DVM. Dr. Niemcyzk is a member of the AVMA, CVMA, and VECCS.

At home, Dr. Niemczyk spends time with a house full of critters, including two cats, Logan and Storm, a dog, Dahlia, and two red-eared sliders, which are turtles, named Godzilla and Tim Tim Timilton; a big name for a little animal. He enjoys cooking and hiking, and feels the most rewarding part of his job is to see happy owners take home a pet knowing they are feeling better and on the road to recovery.

Special Interests:

• Emergency care
• Transfusion medicine

Dr. Jessi Taylor is an emergency veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary, and has been with the company since 2022. Born in a small farming town in Kentucky, she attended the University of Louisville and graduated from the Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine where she was recognized and awarded for her proficiency in emergency medicine, critical care, anesthesia, and analgesia. Dr. Taylor completed a rotating internship at Pieper before beginning her career in emergency medicine. She is a member of the AVMA and VECCS and is certified in RECOVER CPR basic and advanced life support.

Dr. Taylor is Fear Free certified and previously used to train service dogs for a non-profit organization in Louisville. She has a clinical interest in animal behavior, in addition to emergency medicine, anesthesia, and analgesia. In addition to veterinary medicine, she also studied Japanese, German, and Veterinary Disaster Medicine, and is FEMA certified in disaster preparedness for veterinary medicine.

Dr. Taylor was inspired to pursue a career in veterinary medicine after caring for a very sick puppy as a young child, so that she can be able to help pets and their families who find themselves in tough situations. She lives with her partner, her two dogs, Rocket the German shepherd and Honeybee the Cavalier King Charles spaniel, and two fancy rats named Giuseppe and Lorenzo. When not working, Dr. Taylor enjoys cold process soap making, watercolor painting, photography, and hand embroidery.

Special Interests:

• Anesthesia and analgesia
• Emergency medicine
• Behavior

Department Head – Emergency

Originally from Connecticut, Dr. Jessica Urbonas competed in track and field at the University of Delaware before receiving her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University in 2008. She is the head of emergency medicine and intern director at Pieper.

Dr. Urbonas has special interests in education and mentorship as well as trauma and endocrine emergencies.  She enjoys working in emergency medicine because she is able to be there for animals and their people when they truly need help.

She lives with her husband and son, their dogs, Dwight, and Beasley, and their cat, Halen.  When not working, she loves traveling, cooking, and hiking.​

Special Interests:

• Trauma
• Endocrine emergencies

Dr. David Vafek is an Emergency Veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary who graduated from the College of the Holy Cross. and obtained his doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. He completed his internships at the VCA Veterinary Referral and Emergency Centers in Norwalk and Shelton, CT.

Dr. Vafek is a member of the VECCS and the AVMA, and in addition to veterinary medicine, also has a degree in biology.

Special Interests:

• Emergency care