We are veterinarians facilitating pet owners' interactions
Why Weight?
HealthyPetConnect.com was inspired by the question, "Why wait until the pet is overweight?".
Many years of practice as veterinarians focused on preventive care (108 yrs combined to be exact!) has shown us that there's a serious gap in our clients' understanding of what - and how much - food and exercise is best for their pet. But now, with the use of Smart technologies and apps, pet parents can actively participate in the tracking their pets' food intake and activity - and can enjoy the benefits of a healthier, happier, pet as well.
We want to share our systems to help all pets starting with our Bug & Roo Preventive Feeding System™ for all pets and our Fit Pets for Rescues System™ for overweight dogs & cats (BCS of 7/9 to 9/9) with your veterinarian's supervision required.
Many years of practice as veterinarians focused on preventive care (108 yrs combined to be exact!) has shown us that there's a serious gap in our clients' understanding of what - and how much - food and exercise is best for their pet. But now, with the use of Smart technologies and apps, pet parents can actively participate in the tracking their pets' food intake and activity - and can enjoy the benefits of a healthier, happier, pet as well.
We want to share our systems to help all pets starting with our Bug & Roo Preventive Feeding System™ for all pets and our Fit Pets for Rescues System™ for overweight dogs & cats (BCS of 7/9 to 9/9) with your veterinarian's supervision required.
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Our Team
We are a team currently practicing in Madison,Wisconsin, Austin, Texas, St Louis and other cities and have collaborated with the Popmatix team at Ontario Veterinary College In Ontario, Canada; a veterinary epidemiologist team to bring science-based solutions to home pet care. If you want to stay connected to our progress and new development announcements, please subscribe to our news updates.
Ken Lambrecht, DVM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & CO-founder Dr. Ken Lambrecht received his DVM from University of Missouri in 1981. He is the Medical Director and owner of West Towne Veterinary Center in Madison, Wisconsin USA which has been AAHA accredited since 1995 and a Gold Level Designated Cat Friendly Practice since 2015. His primary practice interests are preventive care, feline medicine, dentistry and feline & canine preventive nutrition, in particular obesity prevention and management. He is a current board member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners, (AAFP), American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition (AAVN), and The Veterinary Cooperative (TVC), and previous board member with the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), Marketlink and the Pet Nutrition Alliance (PNA). Recently, in collaboration with Dr. Theresa Bernardo and Dr. Barr Hadar at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College, Dr. Lambrecht has published research looking at how home pet health technology can help pet weight management. Dr Ken shares his lakeside Madison home with his 4 cats Lance, Annie, Georgie and Bug who have taught him the fine details of preventive care and keeping pets at their ideal weight! Bug of course has also taught him much about the care and handling of an adventure cat! In a previous life he was an experienced endurance athlete completing well over 50 xc ski marathons (over 50K) and has crossed 2 great lakes on a stand up paddle board (Superior & Ontario). He likes to compare a building a startup to doing about 100 endurance events back to back! 
Tina Karls DVM Fit Pets for Rescues co-founder Dr. Tina Karls graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison School of Veterinary Medicine after receiving her undergraduate degree in Natural Science and Business Administration from Saint Norbert College. Following graduation from veterinary school, Dr. Karls completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine, surgery and emergency medicine in Colorado. Eventually returning to her home state of Wisconsin, Dr. Karls joined the team at West Towne Veterinary Center. She is proud to work at an AAHA-accredited and Gold Level Cat Friendly Certified hospital and appreciates the many forms of community outreach. Dr. Karls enjoys many aspects of veterinary medicine, particularly dentistry, preventive care, weight management and client education. She values the relationships she develops with her clients and patients as they partner to make the best health decisions for their pets. In addition to veterinary medicine, Dr. Karls enjoys spending time with her family and pets, exploring the beauty of Wisconsin, gardening and cooking. 
Bug CFO Chief Feline Officer Bug was the inspiration and genesis of Bug Ventures the new beginning in 2012 when Dr. Ken moved on from creating 4 Paws Swim & Fitness & Westside Family Pet Clinic. Bug’s Cat Gym (a foster, boarding & cat socialization center) and West Towne Veterinary Center was created and Pets Reducing for Rescues was continued. An adventure cat before it was even “a thing” Bug goes everywhere with Dr. Ken, venturing as far as Spain, Portugal, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico. She has as many good travel stories as any of us! Along with Dr. Ken’s 3 other cats she has truly taught him more about feline behavior, feeding and preventive care than any textbook and all systems, products and services MUST have her final approval! 
Catie Briesemeister Healthy Pet Connect Subscription Coordinator Catie B has worked for Dr Ken for over 10 years in almost every position a veterinary clinic can offer! Always with a smile and a laugh she just gets things done! As a busy mom of two she still has time to be our key person as subscription coordinator a vital role in our telemonitoring platform. In between watching our dashboards and sending texts and emails she often chases her two young boys (and 3 cats) around. |
Barr Hadar, DVM CO-FOUNDER & CHIEF DATA & RESEARCH OFFICER Barr Hadar received a DVM from Colorado State University. He has experience working in small animal clinics and a large animal ambulatory practice, as well as operating his own small animal mobile service. During this time, he explored and incorporated new technologies, including 3D printing (surgical planning/client education from CT images), practice management software, communication platforms, client satisfaction analysis, and health monitoring devices. Barr Hadar is currently an epidemiology PhD candidate at the University of Guelph, continuing to build his knowledge on the application of technology to veterinary practice as part of a unique research lab (Popmatix)www.popmatix.com/ that focuses on health informatics, digital health, and emerging technology in veterinary medicine. He leads research on the use of technology in the home setting, with the development and analysis of a pet health technology ecosystem as a tool in feline weight management and other chronic conditions. 
Albert Dirienzo ADVISOR Innovative / entrepreneurial, high energy, and accomplished executive with broad experience in scientific, technologic, and business leadership within commercial, defense, and healthcare entities – building, creating, and sustaining cultures of innovation within fast-paced, high-growth, agile, and productive environments. Unique visionary with passion for excellence, and innate ability to set and communicate vision, mission, and strategy to technical and non-technical audiences – securing funding, driving revenue generation, profitability, productivity, product conceptualization / innovation / growth. During his career, Mr. Dirienzo responsible for hundreds of billions in revenues via the release of well over 100 successful products. In a career spanning nearly 30 years in academia, government and industry, held positions with the Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute at Syracuse University, One Health Group, RedSky, Blue Highway, National Biodefense Science Board, Welch Allyn, Phillips Medical Systems, Siemens Medical Systems, Honeywell/Sperry Aerospace and General Dynamics. In recent years, recognized twice as the Medical Device Industry’s Most Valuable Thought Leader by Frost & Sullivan, and as Technologist of the Year by the Technology Alliance of Central New York. Also received the Future of Health Technology Award for “pioneering work promoting entrepreneurship in the medical and scientific fields” as well as the as the Frost & Sullivan Catalyst Award, which is the first ever – “given for being a game changer and visionary in multiple disciplines and industries.” Caitlin's undergraduate and graduate research has centered around animal physiology and she has held volunteer research assistant positions with Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute and Sea Turtle Preservation Society. Earlier, Caitlin had pursued equine science as a facilities manager, animal husbandry lead, and professional dressage rider for Olympic level sport horse stables in both the US and Europe. 
Laci Schaible, DVM STRATEGY, MARKETING & LEGAL ADVISOR Dr. Laci Schaible is a veterinarian, Internet entrepreneur, speaker, and published author. After graduating veterinary school from Texas A&M University in 2006, she owned and managed two veterinary hospitals for a handful of years prior to launching the world’s first 24/7 Internet-based veterinary telehealth company. She has successfully launched and grown several Internet-based veterinary and pet companies to acquisition over the past decade and currently provides strategic, legal, and marketing consulting services for veterinary startups. A published author and Certified Veterinary Journalist, she writes for a number of companies, from Hill’s Science Diet, to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, and everything in between. She graduated law school from Wake Forest University School of Law in 2020 with her Masters of Studies in Law, though she remains firmly rooted and committed to advancement of veterinary medicine and animal welfare. She lives in sunny Florida with her son, two feline divas, and the world’s largest standard poodle (unofficially, of course). 
Spudge The one and only Spudge is a foster from the Dane County Humane Society who came to Bug's Cat Gym weighing 37# in June of 2021, just 2# less than the world's heaviest cat. Today he weighs 23# losing an average of 1.5% a week since June using our HPC system. He now routinely joins the WTVC team downstairs with his loveable nature & demeanor. Go, Spudge! |
Elizabeth Colleran, DVM, MS Diplomate ABVP Feline Specialty Dr. Colleran is an author, keynote and veterinary conference speaker, consultant and feline specialist board certified by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. She has successfully created and managed two feline medicine veterinary practices. Her practice in Portland, Oregon was the first feline-only practice in Portland Oregon and her current practice; the Chico Hospital for Cat is celebrating its 22st birthday this year. Dr. Colleran chairs the Cat Friendly Practice for the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP). She has served on the AAFP board for several years including as president in 2011 and treasurer from 2007-2009. She also serves on the American Veterinary Medical Association Welfare Committee, and serves her profession as a volunteer for other veterinary organizations. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. Later, she received her Master of Science in Animals and Public Policy with the thesis, “Politics, Economics and Biology of the California Mountain Lion” graduating with honors. Most recently, Dr. Colleran has lectured around the world including a four-day course in internal medicine topics in Chengdu, China. She taught a day long series of lectures in feline medicine, behavior and enrichment in Rio de Janiero, Brazil in 2019. She loves teaching and believes it is one important way to improve health care and quality of life for felines. Dr. Colleran is a published author and frequent contributor to several peer-reviewed publications. She has been a media spokesperson on a number of feline topics for communications campaigns and has proudly mentored many aspiring feline practitioners. Her next book for veterinarians, “The Senior Cat: Medicine and Management in the Golden Years” (working title) will be published in 2021. 
Caitlin Calabrese FPR & Research Coordinator Caitlin is a veterinary assistant for West Towne Veterinary Center with leadership positions in both outpatient and surgery. Caitlin also works with Healthy Pet Connect facilitating data collection and beta testing. Caitlin has years of diverse experience in animal and biological sciences. She has her BS in Biomedical Sciences from Keiser University in Melbourne, Florida and has completed some graduate work in Conservation Biology with John's Hopkins University. Caitlin's undergraduate and graduate research has centered around animal physiology and she has held volunteer research assistant positions with Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute and Sea Turtle Preservation Society. Earlier, Caitlin had pursued equine science as a facilities manager, animal husbandry lead, and professional dressage rider for Olympic level sport horse stables in both the US and Europe. 
Ryan Wheeler FINANCIAL & STRATEGY ADVISOR An International Man of Mystery, Ryan’s career has had a singular focus on advancing healthcare accessibility, affordability and quality through technology, data analysis and process improvement. Over 25 years in healthcare, he has played salesman, CEO, investor, founder, repairman, and board member. Prior to leading Ambershore Group’s Global Healthcare Practice, he funded and co-founded HealthBridge Financial, a venture-backed Insurtech company that created a financial safety net for US employees seeking care through high-value providers. Prior to HealthBridge, he recapitalized and helped focus RespondWell, a gamified tele-rehabilitation company, on improving the experience of patients undergoing knee and hip replacements. RespondWell was sold to Zimmer Biomet to help providers improve clinical and financial outcomes. Prior to RespondWell, Ryan served as Vice President of Enterprise Solutions for MedAssets, a healthcare performance improvement company that provided technology and services to 4,400 hospitals and 122,000 non-acute healthcare providers. Inspired by studying evolutionary biology and biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin, he often looks to biomimicry to solve vexing problems. Ryan currently serves on the Board of Directors for HealthBridge Financial, Concorde Health and Portal Telemedicina. His happy place is rolling or gliding in the mountains with his family. |
Jeff Maddux LEAD DEVELOPER AND CHIEF PET PARENT OFFICER & CO-FOUNDER Dr. Ken Lambrecht received his DVM from University of Missouri in 1981. He is the Medical Director and owner of West Towne Veterinary Center in Madison, Wisconsin USA which has been AAHA accredited since 1995 and a Gold Level Designated Cat Friendly Practice since 2015. His primary practice interests are preventive care, feline medicine, dentistry and feline & canine preventive nutrition, in particular obesity prevention and management. He is a current board member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners, (AAFP), American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition (AAVN), and The Veterinary Cooperative (TVC), and previous board member with the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), Marketlink and the Pet Nutrition Alliance (PNA). Recently, in collaboration with Dr. Theresa Bernardo and Dr. Barr Hadar at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College, Dr. Lambrecht has published research looking at how home pet health technology can help pet weight management. Dr Ken shares his lakeside Madison home with his 4 cats Lance, Annie, Georgie and Bug who have taught him the fine details of preventive care and keeping pets at their ideal weight! Bug of course has also taught him much about the care and handling of an adventure cat! In a previous life he was an experienced endurance athlete completing well over 50 xc ski marathons (over 50K) and has crossed 2 great lakes on a stand up paddle board (Superior & Ontario). He likes to compare a building a startup to doing about 100 endurance events back to back! 
Joey Goldthorpe, DVM Senior cat/frailty lead Dr. Joey Goldthorpe grew up in a small town in Wisconsin. She obtained a psychology degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Following graduation, she visited and camped in all the lower 48 states in her Geo Metro. Through her travels, she found Oregon to be her favorite state, so she moved there to attend veterinary school at Oregon State and graduated in 2002. During the next 17 years in Oregon she worked in a cat exclusive practice, was involved in a spay/neuter program at her local shelter for 15 years, volunteered with the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon, started her own house call veterinary practice, and adopted over 50 special needs cats into her family. She has been a member of the Humane Society of the United States and the American Association of Feline Practitioners for over 20 years. Recently, she moved back to the Midwest to be closer to her family and other loved ones and is currently working at another cat exclusive practice. Her professional interests include geriatric medicine, behavior, dentistry, and nutrition. When she is not taking care of cats, she enjoys spending time gardening, paddle boarding, traveling, cooking and camping. 
Megan Sprinkle DVM NutrITION ADVISOR/MEDIA lead Dr. Megan Sprinkle is a veterinarian, dog mom, and entrepreneur. She received her DVM from Auburn University and completed a clinical nutrition residency at the University of Missouri. Dr. Sprinkle has worked in clinics as well as worked over 4 years in the pet nutrition industry with Royal Canin. In industry, she has served as a nutrition consultant and teacher. She continues to work with Royal Canin with a focus in veterinary Universities. Dr. Sprinkle also has a fascination for the future of the profession including the utilization of technology. Dr. Sprinkle is co-founder of a 3D printing company with her husband and loves working with startups. She is also president elect of the American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition so technically Dr Ken's boss on that board! 
Roo AKT Adventure kitten in training Roo AKT (Adventure Kitten in Training) Roo was a foster failure at West Towne Veterinary Center during Covid bringing true joy to a team that needed it. Another foster failure followed quickly after as she adopted Aspen (Aspy) a weight management foster as her favorite buddy (toy) Roo epitomizes the challenge of keeping all kittens at their ideal (1 yr weight) for their entire life to prevent health problems. Like Bug she is a fearless feline with a true zest for life and a challenge to all she meets! |
