Staff Role: Veterinarian - Specialist

Samantha Monck, DVM, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons – Small Animal

Dr. Samantha Monck is a Veterinary Surgeon at Pieper Veterinary, practicing with a focus on small animal surgery. She joined the Pieper team in September 2025. Originally from Orange, Connecticut, Dr. Monck brings advanced surgical training and a thoughtful, patient-centered approach to every case.

Dr. Monck earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Vermont in 2015 before completing her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Colorado State University in 2019. She went on to complete a small animal surgery internship from 2021 to 2022, followed by a small animal surgery residency from 2022 to 2025 at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Her additional training includes advanced coursework in arthroscopy, minimally invasive surgery, and fracture management.

Outside of work, Dr. Monck enjoys spending time outdoors with her fiancé, Elliot, especially running, biking, kayaking, and hiking. She shares her home with two pets: Lucy, an 8-year-old female gray tabby cat, and Murph, a 5-month-old male Pointer/Hound mix who keeps her on her toes.

Special Interests:

• Gastrointestinal, thoracic, and laparoscopic surgery
• Intracorporeal gastropexy

Michael Hitt, DVM

Dr. Michael Hitt is a Surgery Resident who has been with Pieper Veterinary starting in the summer of 2021. Originally from Albany, NY, Dr. Hitt graduated from the College of Saint Rose with a Bachelors of Science in Biology, and obtained his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Louisiana State University in 2020. He completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine at Cornell University and an internship in small animal surgery at Pieper Veterinary. He has clinical interests in emergency surgery and fracture repairs and management.

During veterinary school Dr. Hitt adopted his husky mix “Thatcher,” who has been by his side through all of his subsequent training and education. When not at work, he enjoys snowboarding, jet skiing, working on his car, and spending time with Thatcher.

Special Interests:

• Emergency surgery
• Fracture repair and management

Ariane Jay, DVM, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons – Small Animal

Dr. Ariane R. Jay has been a Veterinary Surgeon with Pieper Veterinary since 2014 and specializes in a variety of surgeries, including head and neck, minimally invasive, gastrointestinal, and thoracic.

Dr. Jay received her BA from Oberlin College in 2000, where she studied anthropology and dance, followed by her post-bac in 2006 from Hunter College in NY. Dr. Jay received her DVM from Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine in 2010. She is a member of the ACVS, AVMA, and CVMA. Following her education, Dr. Jay completed both a Small Animal Rotating Internship and a Small Animal Surgery Residency at Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine.

At home, Dr. Jay spends time with her son, Kiran and daughter, Asha. They have two dogs: a cattle dog mix named Oakley, and Everest, a German shepherd dog. Before becoming a veterinarian, Dr. Jay pursued a career as a modern dancer. She loves hiking, reading, and watching movies, but most of all, she loves cuddling her patients and working to save their lives to return them to their families.

Special Interests:

• Head and neck surgery
• Thoracic surgery
• Minimally invasive techniques
• Gastrointestinal procedures

Heather Mossman, BVSc (dist), Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons – Small Animal

Dr. Mossman graduated from Kalamazoo College before attending veterinary school at Massey University in New Zealand, where she graduated at the top of her class. She practiced as a primary care veterinarian in Michigan and in England, before returning to the States to pursue further training. Dr. Mossman completed her internship at MSPCA-Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston. She then completed her surgical residency at Veterinary Surgical Centers in northern Virginia, where her research included evaluating techniques for tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO).

She brings compassion and a high standard of care to her work, and enjoys the challenge of a diverse soft tissue and orthopedic caseload, and keeping up with latest techniques and research. Her special interests include pain management, critical care, advanced soft tissue techniques, including skin reconstruction, and minimally invasive techniques, such as laparoscopy and thoracoscopy.

She moved to CT from England, with her husband, their dog, Quimby, and cat, Money Penny. She enjoys travel, outdoor activities, and entertaining friends and family.

Special Interests:

• Pain management
• Critical care
• Minimally invasive techniques
• Soft tissue and skin reconstruction