In-Home Veterinary Team

Alexandra Dahlgren, DVM, CHPV, CVA

Dr. Alexandra Dahlgren attended the University of Virginia for undergraduate and earned her veterinary degree from the University of Georgia in 2006. She practiced emergency medicine for a few years before moving to general practice, where she has been since 2008. She obtained certification for veterinary acupuncture (CVA) through Colorado State University in 2008 and has met many families of senior or geriatric pets while treating them for pain and other conditions in her practice.

She became more interested in hospice and palliative care for her patients and families through the International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care. Dr. Dahlgren obtained certification as a hospice and palliative care veterinarian (CHPV) in 2017. She is also certified as a Fear Free a veterinarian and is certified in Low Stress Handling. She strives not only to practice the most up-to-date and the highest quality of medicine but also to provide care that supports the emotional and mental health of our pets and their families.

Dr. Dahlgren lives just outside of Richmond with her husband and their two young sons. They also have two cats, Annapurna and Huckleberry, and they have two dogs, Ben and Pan. She enjoys mountain biking, running, hiking, and knitting in her free time.

Chelsea Hester, DVM

Dr. Hester is a veterinarian who has called Virginia home since 2013. Although not a native, she has grown fond of the vibrant history and beautiful landscapes of the Richmond area. She currently resides in North Chesterfield with her family, which includes four cats, a pug, and a 30-gallon freshwater fish tank. Dr. Hester graduated from the University of Tennessee in 2020 and has gained diverse experience in various veterinary settings, including emergency care, general practice, wellness centers, vaccine clinics, and urgent care. In 2025, she completed the Certified Peaceful Euthanasia Veterinarian training through the Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy. She is now focusing her practice on hospice and palliative care, striving to provide compassionate support to both pets and their families during difficult times.

Gail Mackay, LVT, CCRP, CTMT

Gail is originally from LI, New York where she obtained her LVT from SUNY Delhi in 1995. While employed at the University of Tennessee Vet School, she got her first experience with small animal physical rehabilitation through their developing program. Years later, after having worked in many areas of veterinary medicine, including ER/ ICU, surgery, and internal medicine, she decided to pursue her interest in rehabilitative and physical medicine and became a CCRP from the University of Tennessee in 2007.

Gail is Fear Free certified and uses this training while helping dogs and cats obtain increased mobility and have improved quality of life during palliative care.

Gail has always been interested in comfort therapy which led her to become certified in massage therapy, CTMT, in 2017, and MTrP (myofascial trigger point therapy) in 2021.

Gail lives near Richmond with her husband and daughter, her two dogs Angus and Keanu, and her cat Sultan. She enjoys skiing, sailing, camping, and volunteering at Porchlight Animal Sanctuary.

Emma Mason, LVT, KPA CTP

Emma is our hospice nurse and care coordinator and helps manage the care of our current patients. She started working in veterinary medicine as an assistant at the age of 18. She obtained her LVT in 2014 and has worked in many aspects of veterinary medicine including: emergency, surgery, general practice, and behavior. She has obtained elite Fear Free certification, low stress handling certification, and is a Karen Pryor academy certified training partner. She loves helping foster the human animal bond, and helping animals and humans live their best lives together.

Emma lives outside of Richmond with her husband and daughter. They have two horses (Henry and Donnie), a dog, Six-Thirty, and two cats, Sylvia and Spencer. In her free time Emma enjoys horse showing, hiking, and gardening.

Chris Bidwell, DVM

Dr. Bidwell is a Virginia native who lived in North Carolina for 12 years. During this time, he attended the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 2014. Afterwards, he performed a rotating small animal internship at Carolina Veterinary Specialists in Charlotte, NC. Dr. Bidwell completed the Certified Peaceful Euthanasia Veterinarian training through the Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy (CAETA) in 2020. He currently lives in Midlothian with his family, three cats (Cleopatra, Marvel, and Fury), and a dog (Athena).

Brandy Teall, RVT

Brandy Teall graduated Seneca College in 2005 earning her Veterinary Technician diploma. She went on to work in fast paced emergency medicine and a very busy day practice until 2016. At that point she decided to take a break so she could spend more time at home with her children and began a successful licensed home childcare. While she loved spending her days with children, she continued to stay involved in veterinary medicine with continuing education. She realized how much she missed helping pets and their people and decided to has been helping Lovingkindness since 2022.

Brandy currently lives with her partner Chris, her two children Maitland and Porter, her dogs Jinx and Wren, and cat Gretchen. Her days and weekends are filled watching her children perform and compete in hockey and dance. In her spare time she volunteers as a Co Chair for her children’s School Community Association, and non profit dance club executive board as the Registrar. When she isn’t busy volunteering or taking care of her children she can often be found hiking with her dog, horseback riding with friends, reading, and knitting.

Michelle Bellinger, RVT

I am a Registered Veterinary Technician with over 20 years of experience in the veterinary field, with the most experience focused on emergency medicine and critical care. Additionally, I have worked in multiple orthopedic practices, working as a surgical assistant and in post-operative recovery. From there, I was fortunate to spend a few years in research and development at a private research facility, and I am proud of the important impact our work has had on human and animal health. Currently, I work for the Rabies Response program through the OAVT to collect rabies suspect specimens and now work from home for VVT ! In my spare time, I enjoy hiking with my family and our 3 dogs, making art, and curling up with any book I can get my hands on.

In Memory of Huckleberry, CAT, CTT (chief treat taster), d. January 2026.

Huckleberry managed our office and inventory for 8 years, and oversaw deliveries and pickups, as well as maintained quality control of all treats used in our practice. He had many years of experience tasting and sampling a variety of treats and foods. He never met a stranger and knew no fear, and sought to live each day to its fullest. We will miss him terribly and choose to honor his memory by choosing joy and kindness whenever possible and living each day fully present.