Dr. Sarah Whatley joined Cottage Grove Animal Hospital in January 2006 as an associate veterinarian and became one of the practice's owners in October 2014.

Originally from LaCrosse, Wisconsin, Dr. Whatley moved to Chanhassen, Minnesota when she was 11 and spent much of her teenage years obsessed with horses. It was when her quarter horse, Classy Chassis, developed colic and was treated at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Hospital that she got an in-depth look into veterinary medicine and was "hooked."

"The most satisfying part of being a veterinarian is getting to know my clients and their families," she says. "I love helping my clients learn how to care for their dogs and cats and support them through the good and the bad times. The best cases are those in which I know I can make a huge difference in the life of my patients. Educating my clients and supporting them by finding treatment options that they can afford and can administer at home are two of the things I spend most of my time doing."

Dr. Whatley attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Zoology. She went on to the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in St. Paul, where she earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine with a concentration in small animal medicine and surgery. She also won the Dr. J.E. Salsbury Foundation Veterinary Medicine Award and the Veterinary Student Council Award. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association and the Veterinary Hospitals Association. Her professional interests include internal medicine, preventive medicine, dermatology, dentistry and surgery for dogs and cats.

At home, Dr. Whatley cares for her dog Sebastian, who is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Dr. Whatley enjoys spending her time outside the practice going to movies, dining with friends, visiting family, traveling, reading, and walking with Sebastian. She is a newly minted Tulsa University Oklahoma basketball fan because her brother-in-law is their head coach.