Welcome to Whitmire Animal Hospital
Established in August 2018, we are a full-service animal hospital emphasizing a focus on exceptional customer service and customized veterinary care.
Whitmire Animal Hospital is a recently expanded, privately-owned small animal practice located in Dawsonville, GA near the Forsyth/Dawson County border. We have built our practice on a foundation of being trustworthy, respectful and advocating for our patients. Our clinic is a Best of Dawson recipient in Best Pet Care and Best Veterinary Services for several years in a row.
149 Whitmire Dr W
Dawsonville, GA 30534
BUSINESS HOURS
Saturday: 8:00am – 12:00pm
Sunday: Closed
Online Pharmacy
Our clinic is partnered with VetSource, the industry’s largest and most trusted Home Delivery provider to veterinarians. Ordering online is easy and convenient.
Online Pet Portal
It’s never been easier to manage your pet’s health services online. Set up your pet’s portal today, and have 24/7 access to medical records, vaccine history & request prescription refills.
Upcoming Holiday Closures
Our Doctors
W.H. Gholston, D.V.M.
Veterinarian
Dr. William H. Gholston opened Whitmire Animal Hospital in 2018. A native of Alpharetta, Dr. Gholston grew up on a small family farm, and spent his time doing farm work and looking after the animals, including Tennessee walking horses and Simmental cattle. At a young age, Dr. Gholston knew he wanted to go into veterinary medicine while working alongside his father, also a small animal vet. Dr. Gholston completed his undergraduate studies in Animal Sciences at Berry College and The University of Georgia. He received his Doctorate from The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. Upon graduation, he joined the team of doctors at Alpharetta Animal Hospital in July 2011. Dr. Gholston enjoys practicing the highest quality of veterinary medicine, and has a special interest in orthopedic cases and surgery. But his favorite part of being a veterinarian is the great relationships that have developed over the years with his clients and their pets in Alpharetta and the surrounding area. Dr. Gholston now resides in Dawsonville, Georgia. While not at the clinic, he is an avid outdoor enthusiast. He enjoys being in the mountains and spending his day off with his wife and three dogs – his bird dog, Blake, a 5 year old English Setter, his long-time buddy, Doc, an 13 year old Australian Shepherd and the newest family member, Tate, their 1 year old Labrador Retriever. His home life hobbies include grilling, sports and spending time with family. And on any given weekend, you can find him hiking in the North Georgia Mountains, fishing at the lake, or in Athens cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs.
Sara Louise Carpenter, D.V.M.
veterinarian
Dr. Sara Louise Carpenter joined Whitmire Animal Hospital in December 2019. An Atlanta native, Sara Louise attended the Westminster Schools and then matriculated at Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina. She double majored in Business and Spanish with an English minor. Following graduation, Dr. Carpenter taught high school Spanish at Wesleyan School in Norcross. It was there, under the mentorship of Dr. William G. Gholston, that she decided to pursue a childhood dream of veterinary medicine. Dr. Carpenter spent two years at Berry College fulfilling her post-baccalaureate requirements, then graduated from Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. Following an internship in Texas at a mixed animal practice, she has been practicing small animal medicine in the metro Atlanta area since 2013. Dr. Carpenter enjoys the variety that veterinary medicine brings, and she especially enjoys the relationships with both her patients and their humans. Dr. Carpenter’s pets include Finn, her extroverted Labrador Retriever, as well as two cats: Scout, her introverted tabby, and Ralphie, her orange tabby who was appropriately named after the protagonist in A Christmas Story. In her spare time, Dr. Carpenter enjoys the outdoors in the mountains of western North Carolina, boating, reading a good novel, and running.
Brandon Bassett, D.V.M.
veterinarian
Dr. Bassett received his veterinary degree from Oklahoma State University in 2015. At OSU, he was the recipient of the Gentle Doctor Award, voted on by his veterinary school peers. Raised in Oklahoma, he has also lived and worked in Virginia, where he completed his Bachelor's Degree in Biology at George Mason University; Brazil, where he served a church mission for two years; and central Florida, where he has practiced as a veterinarian. Dr. Bassett and his wife, Megan, have their hands full with three kids, and two wonderful pets! One goofy and fun Golden Retriever named Oakley, and a three-legged black cat, Boca. A priority in his work with animals is strengthening the human-animal bond. He has a great passion for educating pet owners on how to best care for their furry family members. He is also professionally interested in diagnostic imaging, soft tissue surgery, ophthalmology, and client communication. His hobbies are time with family, especially at Florida beaches, disc golf, and ultimate frisbee!
Morgan Denz, D.V.M.
veterinarian
Dr. Morgan Denz received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree from Iowa State University in 2020. This is also where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science. After veterinary school, Dr. Denz completed a 1-year Shelter Medicine Internship in Colorado Springs at the Humane Society of Pikes Peak. She joins the Whitmire team after multiple years of working as a shelter veterinarian in the greater Atlanta area. She has a passion for animal rescue work and strengthening the human animal bond. Professionally, Dr. Denz is fear-free certified and enjoys internal medicine, cardiology, and behavioral medicine. Dr. Denz was raised just outside of Nashville and always knew she wanted to get back to her southern roots after college graduation, which is how she came to live in NE Georgia. She enjoys spending her days with her six rescue animals: Archie and Doug, her two crazy pitbulls; and Nori, Felix, Winnie, and Timmy, her spunky and sassy kitty cats. She enjoys traveling with her husband, home projects, and baking in her spare time.
Naomi Child
Veterinarian
Dr. Naomi Childs started her career in veterinary medicine in 2008 and worked as a veterinary assistant for many years until she decided to advance her education and apply to veterinary school. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology in 2018 at the University of North Georgia and received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree from the University of Georgia in 2024. She worked in an urgent care practice immediately following graduation until joining the Whitmire team. Dr. Childs lives in Dahlonega with her husband, Jason, and stays very busy with 3 kids! They also have a crew of fur-babies with 3 Vizslas named Django, Athena, and Seamus, and a cat named Beetlejuice. She loves cooking, crafting, and building Legos with her little ones but if the weather is nice you will find them outdoors hiking, gardening, camping, or playing in the river. Professionally, Dr. Childs has a special interest in neurology, anesthesia, and cardiology and takes great pride in being an advocate for all your furry friends. She is also very passionate about making your pet’s visit as fear-free as possible so that they enjoy coming to see her the next time!
Our Team
Kristina Gholston
Practice Manager
Kristina Gholston serves as Practice Manager, and joined her husband, Dr. Will Gholston, in the opening of Whitmire Animal Hospital in June 2018. Kristina completed her BBA in Marketing from the University of Georgia in 2011. Kristina brings with her previous work experience from the Advertising, Real Estate, Accounting and Hospitality industries, along with a focus on project management, communications, and social and public relations.
Kristina was born and raised in Alpharetta, Georgia. She now resides in Dawsonville, Georgia with her husband, two children, Shep and Palmer, two dogs, Blake and Tate and cat, Abe. Kristina’s home life hobbies include running, gardening and enjoying time outside with her family. Kristina and Will are avid Georgia football fans, and love spending time with family and friends.
Kelli
Reception Team Lead
Kelli has been a veterinary receptionist since 2009 and has been a valued member of the Whitmire Animal Hospital team since June 2020. As our Reception Team Lead, Kelli is passionate about working with animals and building connections with their human companions. Her dedication to customer service and her love for animals make her a wonderful asset to our team. As a military wife, Kelli has had the unique opportunity to live and work at veterinary clinics in various locations, including Jacksonville and Tampa, Florida, Beaufort, South Carolina, and Alexandria, Virginia. This experience has given her a well-rounded perspective on veterinary care and the importance of compassionate service. At home, Kelli enjoys spending time with her two dogs, Bella Jean, a long-haired Chihuahua, and Chopper, a Chihuahua mix. She also has a cat named Lenny and 12 chickens, making her home quite the lively place!
Madison
Veterinary Assistant Team Lead
Madison has been a dedicated member of the veterinary industry since 2015, starting as a kennel tech manager before joining the Whitmire team in September 2020. As the team lead for our veterinary assistants, Madison thrives on experiencing the wide variety of patients and cases that come through our doors. She loves the fact that every day brings new opportunities to learn and grow in her field. Fun fact: Madison is a fraternal twin, which adds a little extra excitement to her life! At home, she enjoys the company of her two beloved dogs—Willow, a Lab/Pitbull mix, and Finn, a Beauceron. Madison’s passion for animal care and her leadership skills make her an invaluable part of the Whitmire team.
Victoria
Veterinary Assistant
Victoria started here as a receptionist then transitioned to technician, she can do it all! She has been in the industry since 2018 where she started as a kennel assistant and has been with Whitmire since May of 2022. Her favorite thing about working at Whitmire has to be the people. “I have great co-workers and our clients are amazing.” Victoria enjoys baking, camping, and riding four wheelers. She has 2 dogs, Willow and Remi, Lab/Beagle mixes and 1 cat Rip. Favorite dog breeds: Labs, Goldens and any hound dog Favorite cat breeds: Maine Coon and Ragdolls
Amy
Reception
Amy started at Whitmire in September of 2024. She was born and grew up in South Africa! Amy is new to the vet industry but grew up volunteering at animal shelters where her love of animals began. She loves traveling and has been to Iceland, Amsterdam and Paris just to name a few. She has a pitbull named Socks and a Longhaired cat named Kalla.
Bianca
Receptionist
Bianca has been part of the Whitmire team since December 2022. This is her first job in the veterinary industry, but you would never know it! Bianca is always brightening the day here. She loves gardening and baking and looks forward to seeing her friends. Bianca raises 7 sheep, a chihuahua named Lilly and a lab named Luna.
Gracie
Receptionist
Gracie began her career at Whitmire in August of 2024 and has been in the industry since 2022. She loves working with animals and getting to see them so happy. Gracie is an avid hunter and has had an opportunity to hunt in Ohio and Colorado. Gracie has a blue tick coonhound named Remington, a Terrier Mix named Waylon and a pitbull named Miss Faye. Favorite dog breed: Any type of hound
Baylee
Receptionist
Baylee has been with Whitmire since July of 2024. She began working with animals in 2021 as a kennel tech and training dogs. She loves learning about animals' different personalities and how they are all unique. She enjoys gardening and playing video games when she is not working. She was also a cheerleader for 7 years. Baylee has 2 rabbits, a dog and a pet jumping spider. Favorite dog breeds: Shiba Inu, Chihuahua and Whippets
Amber
Veterinary Assistant
Amber has been with Whitmire since November of 2022 and a veterinary assistant/technician since May of 2022. Amber’s favorite thing about working here is being able to help animals and learning new things. Amber has 4 French bulldogs, Blue, Mae Mae, Bunny and Stormy and a Belgian Malinois named Thor.
Lucy
Veterinary Assistant
Lucy has been part of the Whitmire team since December of 2022. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor's degree at UNG. Lucy is our resident cat person and loves any cat she's ever met. She has 2 cats, Bandit and Thunk and a dog Max. She likes to surf and longboard and has done it for 11 years.
John
Veterinary Assistant
John has been with Whitmire since July of 2023. He started in the veterinary field in 2015 as a kennel tech and joined the Army in 2016 where he worked with military dogs in route clearance operations. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2017 and Mexico in 2018. John also worked in wildlife control for 2 years. John has two dogs, Bear a beagle mix and Gunner an Australian shepherd, and a cat named Chili Mac.
Yamilet
Veterinary Assistant
Yamilet has been in the veterinary field since 2019 and with Whitmire since August of 2023. She started as a member of our reception team, and is now a vet assistant. Yamilet is a pre-vet major and hopes to one day become a veterinarian. Yamilet has 2 Shih-Tzu Luna and Princess and an Orange cat named Toby.
Michaela
Veterinary Assistant
Michaela has been a veterinary assistant since 2020 and started with Whitmire in April of 2023. She loves being able to assist in the care of patients and see them improve from our care. Michaela is studying biology at University of North Georgia and would like a career in the healthcare industry upon graduation. She has 3 dogs, April a pitbull terrier, Addie a husky/lab mix and Lucy a cocker spaniel.
Olivia "Liv"
Veterinary Assistant
Olivia a.k.a Liv has been with Whitmire since August of 2023 and in the veterinary field since 2019. She loves the work environment here at Whitmire and says that everyone is so encouraging in each other's career growth and treats everyone with mutual respect no matter their position. Olivia has a bachelor's degree in Applied Science and Sustainability with a minor in biology. She is certified in obedience training at Animal Behavior College and was part of a published article for Convoy of Hope. She has 2 morkie mixes, a mother-daughter pair named Sadie and Rue. Olivia has had a love of animals ever since she can remember.
Torrie
Veterinary Assistant
Torrie has been with Whitmire since April of 2023 and in the vet field since 2020. Torrie loves the endless opportunities that veterinary medicine provides to expand her knowledge. Torrie is an outdoor enthusiast and enjoys camping and water related activities. She also dabbles in shrimp keeping. Torrie has 2 cats, Nyx and Trout and a rottweiler named Athena.
Madi
Veterinary Assistant
Madi has been in the vet industry since 2018 and with Whitmire since November of 2023. Madi loves being able to help animals when they cannot help themselves. She is an avid hockey fan "Go Bolts" and enjoys interior design. She has 2 dogs, Tux a mini schnauzer and Frankie a Frenchie & a cat named Lucy. dog breed: schnauzers
Anthony
Receptionist
Anthony started with Whitmire in May of 2024 as part of the reception team. Anthony graduated from Garner-Webb University in 2024 with a bachelors in Biology. Anthony played college football and plans to attend vet school in the future. In his free time Anthony plays the ukulele. He has a black cat named Chewy and 2 Axolotls and a snake named Orochimaru.
Bella
Receptionist
Bella has been with Whitmire since November of 2024. This is Bella’s first time working with animals and she loves learning new things and getting to know our clients and their furbabies. Bella plans to go to vet school after completion of her undergrad. She has a dog named Luna and 3 cats, Keke, Noel and Carl. Favorite dog breeds: Labrador Retriever and German Shepherd
Trinity
Receptionist
Trinity joined the Whitmire team in October 2024, bringing a passion for animals and a strong desire to continue learning about their care. Originally from California and raised in Texas, Trinity has always been fascinated by animals, and her favorite part of her job is seeing all the adorable pets and having the opportunity to expand her knowledge in the field. At home, she’s a proud pet parent to Littlefoot, a lovable Maltipoo/Shih Tzu mix who keeps her on her toes. When it comes to dog breeds, Trinity has a special fondness for German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers, appreciating their loyal and friendly nature. Trinity’s enthusiasm for animal care, coupled with her warm personality, makes her a valued member of the Whitmire family!
Morgan
Receptionist
Morgan joined the Whitmire team in February 2025, marking the start of her career in the veterinary field. Since childhood, Morgan has dreamed of working in a vet clinic, and she is excited to bring her passion for animals into her role. Outside of work, Morgan enjoys hunting and spending time doing anything animal-related. At home, she’s the proud owner of two adorable Cockapoos, Bo and Maggie, who are her constant companions. Morgan has a special fondness for Golden Retrievers and Doodles, appreciating their friendly and loving nature. With her enthusiasm and dedication, Morgan is a great addition to the Whitmire family!