Meet our Doctor and Team
“Gidget” Ziegenbalg family doggie
Gidget is BVC’s greeter and she loves saying hello to all our clients and their furry friends!
Meet “Kona”! She is the Ziegenbalg family’s newest addition!
Dr. Brett Ziegenbalg, D.V.M.
(Practice Owner)
Dr. Ziegenbalg (Dr. Z) earned his degree in Environmental Biology from the University of Colorado at Boulder before serving as a Naval Intelligence Officer supporting NATO operations in Bosnia, Rwanda, and the Middle East. He later received his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a member of Phi Zeta.
His clinical interests include internal medicine, gastroenterology, dermatology, dentistry, oral surgery, and minimally invasive techniques. Dr. Z is passionate about proactive care and helping pets live longer, healthier lives through early intervention and strong client partnerships.
Outside the clinic, he enjoys running, skiing, and traveling with his wife Brandy and daughter Elise. Their toy poodle Gidget and Old English Golden Doodle Kona are beloved members of the family and frequent visitors to the clinic.
Brandy Ziegenbalg
Practice Manager
Brandy, Dr. Z’s wife, has loved animals since she was very young. She has many years of experience in all facets of companion animal veterinary practice. Brandy attended Baptist School of Nursing in 2006 and became a surgical technician and worked in human general, orthopedic and ophthalmic surgery for 5 yrs. Brandy and Dr. Z married in June of 2006 and later had their daughter Elise in 2010. Brandy and Dr. Z built and started their own practice in Arkansas in 2007, where she was the practice manager. Brandy has enjoyed getting to know all the clients and their furry companions. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, baking, hiking, traveling and snow skiing. You might even catch Gidget (Toy Poodle) in the clinic and their sweet daughter Elise, who loves to help with the patients.
Brenda
Client Relations/Veterinary Assistant
Brenda moved from California to Oregon in 2001. She has been working in the veterinary field since 1999. Brenda joined Burlingame Veterinary Clinic in October 2004. She enjoys interacting with our clients and their pets. During her time off she enjoys spending time with her family and friends while having game nights, camping and going boating. Pictured top left is Brenda with son Tyler when he was tiny and her late doggie Laila, and the other photo is her son Tyler and her youngest little one Tristan. BVC is glad that Brenda is still a part of our team.
Brenda will sadly be leaving us at the end of February next year to move to Arizona. She has been with BVC for over 15 years. We will miss her very much, but wish her all the best!
Kristin
Veterinary Technician
Kristin came to work with the BVC team in February of 2016. She is a native Portlander and has been working in the Veterinary field for 20 years. Above is a picture with her late lab mix “Mark” and her kitty “Randy”. Kristin has been married to her wonderful husband Martin for 22 years. She and Martin love to go swimming, hiking, camping and canoeing in their spare time. Kristin takes pride in caring for all her patients and enjoys her job. We are very happy to have her on our team!
Lexi
Veterinary Assistant
Lexi is a dedicated veterinary technician born and raised in the Portland area. She takes pride in providing compassionate care to animals and supporting their owners through every step of treatment. Outside of work, Lexi enjoys painting, drawing, and spending time with her two Chihuahuas.
We are happy to have her on our team!
Sophia
Sophia is a Portland local and proud cat mom to two rescue kitties. Before beginning her veterinary career in 2021, she spent years volunteering, fostering, and rehabilitating pets in need. Growing up surrounded by animals of all kinds, from ducks and bunnies to stray dogs. She developed a deep sense of compassion that carries into her work every day. Outside of the clinic, she enjoys rock climbing, cooking, and traveling.
We are happy to have her with us!
Kylah
Kylah started her veterinary career in 2018 and has been helping animals since. She found and fell in love with veterinary medicine while working on her bachelor’s degree in biology at Portland State University, which she earned in 2019. Kylah lives with her two cats, Beans (tortishell) and Jack (orange tabby), as well as her husband, Buck. She is passionate about making sure clients and their companions feel heard. In her free time, she can be found journaling, watching anime, and taking walks in the rain.
Tenele
Tenele started working with us in November of 2025. She is a Certified Veterinary Technician, with 23 years of experience. She has a deep love and passion for cows, as she was raised on a dairy farm and she bred and has shown top tier cattle. This shaped her love and care for all living creatures. She lives with her husband Charlie and their 6 kids they have together (Jacob, Autumn, Laney, Makayla, Colten, and Shelby).
We are very happy to have her on our team! Her love for animals, good service to our clients and positivity is welcomed and appreciated.