Our Team

Dr. Melissa Hardy, originally from Indiana, earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine. After completing her degree, she packed up her seven animals and ventured across the country to California, where her family had relocated for work.

Over the past 15 years, California has become home to Dr. Hardy, where she resides in the East Bay with her three boisterous French Bulldogs—Zoe, Oscar, and Lincoln—along with a large, lanky mixed-breed dog named Otis, a 30-year-old bossy female Senegal parrot named Jovial, and a flock of Eclectus parrots, including Elmer, Wobbles, and Ernie. When not caring for her furry and feathered family, Dr. Hardy enjoys spending time with her human family, BBQing, going to the farmers’ market, gardening, fine dining, and exploring the great outdoors of California.

Dr. Hardy has been actively involved in the East Bay community by volunteering and/or working with organizations such as Fix Our Ferals, Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, Solano Feral Cat Group, Tri-Valley Fix Our Ferals, VIP Pet Care, Vetco, and the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association-RAVS. She is also a member of the California Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps (CAVMRC).

Professionally, Dr. Hardy has a special interest in French and English Bulldogs (brachycephalic breeds), advocating for corrective airway surgery and medicine tailored to their unique needs. She also has a particular fondness for geriatric patient care and challenging medical cases. While she has loved practicing veterinary medicine for the past 15 years, Dr. Hardy has always known that ownership was her ultimate dream. For the past 4+ years, she has been able to fulfill that dream, providing customized, high-quality, family-oriented veterinary care as an owner. Alongside her team of animal experts and enthusiasts, she is committed to delivering superior care to your pets and family!

Dr. Ann Scearce is a dedicated veterinarian with over 25 years of experience serving the Central Valley. Originally from Southern California, she completed both her undergraduate studies and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at UC Davis. It was during her time there that she discovered her passion for dairy cattle, which led her to begin her career in Dairy Medicine.

After five years working in the field with large animals, Dr. Scearce transitioned to Small Animal Medicine, where she found her true calling. Her clinical interests include internal medicine, geriatric care, hospice support, and she is also certified in veterinary acupuncture (CVA) and herbal medicine.

Dr. Scearce and her husband live in the Central Valley with their beloved pets—two dogs, three cats, and a turtle. When she’s not in the clinic, she enjoys hiking in the mountains, traveling, and spending time in the kitchen, especially baking homemade bread.

Lauren has been working in the veterinary field for more than three years. Her journey began as a Veterinary Technician, where she developed a strong passion for connecting with clients and creating a welcoming, positive experience for both pets and their families. Over time, this passion naturally led her to transition into a Client Service Representative (CSR) role, allowing her to focus more directly on the client experience and the important relationships that make veterinary medicine so rewarding.

Animals have always been a meaningful part of Lauren’s life, both personally and professionally. At home, she is a proud dog mom to three lovable pups—two French Bulldogs and an American Bulldog!

As a CSR, Lauren enjoys combining her love of animals with her passion for helping people. Whether she is welcoming clients and their pets to the hospital, answering questions, assisting with appointments, or helping ensure each visit runs smoothly, she strives to make every client and pet feel comfortable, cared for, and welcomed.

When she’s not at PAWS, Lauren enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, traveling, cooking, and discovering new foods and restaurants. She also has a special love for cars and is always excited about her next adventure—especially when it includes good food and great company.

Lauren is thrilled to be part of the PAWS of Pleasanton family and looks forward to getting to know you and your furry family members!

Melissa has always had a deep love for animals, which led her to start a dog walking business at the age of 10. Growing up, she was always the one to help care for and administer medications to family pets, sparking a passion for animal care at an early age. Originally from Washington state, she has had the opportunity to live in Georgia, Florida, and now California, each place shaping her unique perspective.

With a strong customer service background in the restaurant industry, she transitioned to the veterinary field as a Client Service Coordinator at an Emergency and Specialty clinic. Over the course of 9.5 years, she learned invaluable skills and gained profound knowledge about the veterinary world. This experience has only deepened her passion for helping animals and supporting their families.

Outside of work, she loves spending time with her husband and their two fur babies, Link and Ernie, especially on trips to South Lake Tahoe. She is also a huge Disney and musical fan, always ready to belt out her favorite tunes.

Melody is a dedicated Registered Veterinary Technician who holds an Associate of Science in Veterinary Technology from Carrington College. She began her career as an overnight emergency technician, gaining hands-on experience with a variety of patients including dogs, cats, and exotic animals. Her strong passion for emergency and exotic medicine has remained a driving force throughout her veterinary journey.

In 2024, Melody transitioned into general practice to broaden her clinical skill set while continuing to pursue her interest in advanced care. She remains committed to ongoing education in both emergency and exotic medicine and aspires to grow into leadership roles within the field, ultimately aiming to become a practice manager.

“Ever since I was a little kid, I would tell everyone, ‘When I grow up, I’m going to help animals every day,’ and here I am, fulfilling that dream. I have a huge passion for animals of all shapes and sizes, and I treat every patient with love and care as if they were my own.”

At home, Melody enjoys the company of a diverse and beloved pet family, including Tinker Bell the Mini American Eskimo, Indica the French Bulldog, Onyx the Pit Bull mix, and a variety of reptiles, snakes, arachnids, and amphibians. Outside of work, she loves cooking, discovering new food spots, watching movies and shows, and taking trips to California’s Central Coast with her significant other.

With a passion for veterinary medicine, Laura graduated from the Foothill College Veterinary Technology Program and obtained her RVT license in 2006. Since then, she has worked in various fields, including general practice, specialty, emergency, and shelter medicine, developing extensive expertise in patient care. She has a special interest in dentistry, which enables her to provide exceptional oral health care to her patients.

When she is not in her scrubs, you can find her enjoying the great outdoors—hiking, snowboarding, paddle boarding, or gardening. Laura also loves cooking in the kitchen with the fresh fruits and vegetables she picks from her own garden.

Laura shares her life with three rescued pets, Rosie, Cusco, and Gibson, who not only inspire her commitment to animal welfare but also bring joy to her life. Volunteering has always been an important part of her life. She has joined World Vets in both Ecuador and Peru, providing care to animals living on the streets who would otherwise not receive any assistance. Fun fact: her dog Cusco was rescued off the streets of Cusco, Peru, where she felt compelled to get him off the streets and open her home to him. 

Army Infantry veteran and Scottish Terrier enthusiast, Neal’s journey into the veterinary field began through a passion for dog conformation competitions and neonatal care. With over five years of experience in kennel management, he has developed practical skills in the daily care, grooming, and early development of dogs. Neal’s goal is to become a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT), and he is focused on gaining the experience and knowledge necessary to provide high-quality treatment and care for pets in a clinical setting.

Outside the clinic, Neal enjoys spending time with his Scottish Terrier, Baron, and Airedale Terrier, Renfri. He and his wife share a love for the show ring and actively participate in conformation competitions with both breeds. When he’s not working with animals or at a show, Neal enjoys video games, listening to music, and continuing to expand his knowledge of animal care.

Amira is a 17-year-old high school senior with a lifelong love for animals and a growing passion for veterinary medicine. Her interest in the field began early, inspired by the dogs she grew up with and the many hours she spent riding horses—experiences that helped her form deep connections with animals of all kinds. Today, she cares for four pets of her own: two French Bulldogs, a German Shepherd, and a Labradoodle.

Amira currently works as a veterinary assistant at Paws of Pleasanton, where she supports the clinic team by caring for animals, maintaining clean and comfortable spaces, and assisting with daily tasks that help the practice run smoothly. She loves pitching in wherever she’s needed and being part of a team dedicated to compassionate, high-quality care.

Looking toward the future, Amira hopes to become a veterinarian and eventually open her own animal hospital. When she’s not working or studying, she enjoys reading, baking, watching movies, and riding horses.