Meet Our Staff - POA SPAY!

Dr. Michelle Forella

Dr. Forella received her veterinary training at Cornell University. She spent additional time focusing on spay/neuter techniques at the ASPCA Humane Alliance in Asheville, NC.

The early years of her career were spent in private practice providing a mix of wellness care, emergency care, and performing various surgeries. Dr. Forella currently divides her time between POA Spay and providing coverage to local emergency hospitals. Through her time in the emergency room, Dr. Forella has seen many sick pets with illnesses that could have been avoided if they had been spayed or neutered earlier. Working at POA Spay gives her an opportunity to help keep pets healthy and reduce pet overpopulation, all while doing the thing she loves most (surgery!). Dr. Forella has fostered numerous cats over the years and currently shares her home with three rescues (a boxer and two cats).

Dr. Nicole Kovacs

Dr. Kovacs grew up in New Jersey and always had a love for animals. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Ursinus College in Pennsylvania in 2014. She then went on to obtain her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 2019. From there, Dr. Kovacs moved up to Connecticut and now works for a local small animal emergency hosptial, and enjoys doing surgery at POA in her spare time.

Dr. Kovacs has many hobbies including traveling, hiking, CrossFit, snowboarding, and photography. She also loves spending time with her 5 cats and 2 dogs.

Dr. Larry Ritzhaupt

Dr. Larry Ritzhaupt graduated from the University of Illinois with his DVM and PhD. He spent his career in the pharmaceutical industry, first with Hoffmann La-Roche and then with Pfizer Inc. His work included the design, implementation and monitoring of clinical studies that generated the data required for the approval and marketing of pharmaceuticals for both companion animals and livestock. He finished his career at Pfizer working in drug development on human oncology therapies.

Upon retirement, he had the time to give back to veterinary medicine. He took training for high quality/high volume Spay/Neuter work at the ASPCA facility in Ashville, NC. For the past 2 years he has done spay and neuter surgery in shelters and facilities such as POA Spay.

Joelly Colon - Clinic Manager

Joelly has been an integral part of the POA SPAY! team for the past three years, beginning her journey as a surgical veterinary technician. Her dedication and expertise quickly propelled her to the role of lead, and she now serves as our Clinic Manager. With a passion for animal care that dates back to her childhood, Joelly has been immersed in the animal field since 2015, driven by a deep desire to advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Outside of work, Joelly is a proud mother of two—Kaysen, 8, and Elara, 1. On her days off, she enjoys relaxing at home with her family, often indulging in her favorite crime shows. She is also a devoted pet owner, sharing her home with a golden doodle named Zeus and two Scottish Fold British Shorthair mixes, Jupiter and Astro.

With her unwavering commitment to animal welfare and her nurturing spirit, Joelly is a valued leader at POA SPAY!, ensuring that every pet receives the care and attention they deserve.

Briana - Lead Veterinary Technician

Since childhood, Briana has had a passion and commitment to caring for animals, often bringing stray cats and dogs into her home. She has worked as a veterinary technician for six years and participated in a veterinary volunteer trip to South Africa in 2018, where she worked with wildlife, exotics, and small animals. Graduating from UConn's Pre-Vet Program with a Bachelor of Science in 2021, Briana has since gained experience in general practice, emergency care, and surgery within veterinary medicine. She is dedicated to fostering team collaboration to break down language barriers, educate, and provide affordable care to both patients and their owners, all while promoting animal welfare. Briana is excited to be working with POA SPAY! to positively impact the community and strengthen team camaraderie. Currently, she is applying to veterinary school with the goal of continuing her practice in community and wildlife medicine as a veterinarian.

Gina - Veterinary Technician

Gina has been a technician for over six years and has always had a passion for animals. Previously, she focused on saving animals and offering them a second chance at life. She has two dogs, Gypsy and Shaggy, who are her amazing companions. On her days off, they enjoy hiking together. Gina began her career in the veterinary field as an animal care tech and worked her way up, collaborating with dedicated and passionate doctors. What she loves most about working at POA SPAY! is helping animals and providing low-cost, high-quality patient care.

Tiana - Administrative Assistant/Reception

Born and raised in El Paso, TX, she moved to East Hartford, CT, in 2012. In her free time, she enjoys photography, playing video games, and painting. Having always had pets as a child, her love for animals has continued into adulthood. In 2023, she welcomed a new member to her family, a French Bulldog named Benji, who she describes as the light of her life and whom she loves dearly.

She has worked with us for a year and appreciates the team's dedication to providing affordable spay and neuter services to the community, as well as educating clients on pet health. She entered the veterinary field as a receptionist to gain a better understanding of pet health and vaccines, while also helping clients schedule appointments for their pets. She is interested in furthering her education to become a Veterinary Technician in the near future so she can be more hands-on in her work.