Atchison Animal Clinic


Where service, satisfaction and animal health meet!



Our Mission Statement:

Every day we will strive to practice high quality veterinary medicine and provide un-matched customer service with a compassionate and personal touch.

The Atchison Animal Clinic is the longest running family owned Veterinary Clinic in the Atchison area.  We are a team of intelligent, hard working, compassionate people that come together to provide outstanding veterinary health care to your animals.  Every team member is committed to providing excellent service and care, but each individual also has their own unique set of skills and experiences.  When all these talented people come together with a common goal the result is outstanding service, customer satisfaction, and animal health care.  Learn more about our remarkable team members below:
  • Mon-Fri: 8:00am - 5:30pm
  • Sat: 8:00am - 12:00pm
  • Sun: Closed
  • After Hours Emergencies Call: (913) 426-6067

  • Dr. Charles Van Petten

    Veterinarian
    Dr. Charles Van Petten graduated from KSU in 1978.  Dr. Van Petten purchased Atchison Animal Clinic from Dr. James Watson in 1984.  He lives on the west side of Atchison with his wife Mary, and has three children: Cody 36, Molly 32, and Anna 28.  He has four dogs, and in his spare time likes golfing, fishing, hunting, community activities and Kansas State Athletics.

    He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Kansas Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Bovine Practitioners, and the American College of Theriogenologists.
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 1978
    Education:
    Kansas State University 1978-Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine
    Interests:
    Golfing, fishing, hunting, community activities, and Kansas State University Athletics

  • Dr. Peggy Kistler

    Veterinarian
    Dr. Peggy Kistler has been practicing at Atchison Animal Clinic since 1987.  She and her husband, Mark, live on a farm West of Atchison.  They have two daughters: Katie, 18 and Carrie 16.  The girls are active in 4-H, sports, and school.  Katie is a freshman at K-State this year getting a degree in clothing and textiles.  Their lives at home are surrounded with animals, two dogs, two horses, lots of cats, chickens and around 200 head of cattle and two guard donkeys.  Peggy helps Mark with the cattle and row crop operation.  In the little spare time they have, the family loves to spend time on Tablerock lake with friends.

    She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Kansas Veterinary Medical Association. 
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 1987
    Education:
    Kansas State University 1987-Doctorate of Veterinary Medince
    Interests:
    Reading and enjoying the outdoors

  • Dr. Chris Hansen

    Veterinarian - Clinic Owner
    Dr. Chris Hansen has been a veterinarian at the Atchison Animal Clinic since June 2011. He grew up the youngest of three boys on his family's farm in Belleville, KS.  He completed his primary and secondary education in Belleville, and was active in 4-H, FFA, and school sports.  After graduating from Belleville High School in 2002, Dr. Hansen attended Kansas State University and graduated with a B.S. in Animal Science and Industry in 2006 and his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. In 2017 Dr. Hansen purchased Atchison Animal Clinic. In his spare time Dr. Hansen enjoys camping, fishing, and spending time with his wife Dr. Emily Hansen and their 3 children, Olivia, Leah, and Connor.  His professional interests are food animal production medicine and small animal surgery.
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2011
    Education:
    Kansas State University-Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine
    Interests:
    Camping, Fishing, and spending time with his family

  • Dr. Brice Hulesman

    Dr. Huelsman has been an associate veterinarian with the Atchison Animal clinic since June 2016. He Grew up in Andover, Kansas and spent his time not in school helping on his grandparent’s cow-calf operation in the Flint Hills of Southeast Kansas. After graduating high school, Brice studied at the Kansas State University College of Agriculture pursuing a degree in animal science and industry. He enjoyed competing with the KSU Collegiate Shotgun Sports Shooting team, and supplementing his education with experience gained from working with graduate students at the Tom Avery Poultry Research Unit. Brice then went on to study with the College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011, graduating in 2015. Following Graduation He started practice in companion animal medicine in Everett, MA just outside of Boston prior to finding us here in Atchison. He strives to practice the best medicine in every situation, to give the client at hand the up most respect and his undivided attention, and to never stop learning.
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2015
    Education:
    Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine Kansas state University College of Agriculture
    Interests:
    Travel, Hunting, Fishing, Biking, Water Sports, Shooting

  • Dr. Jett Eder

    Dr. Jett Eder joined the team at the Atchison Animal Clinic in the fall of 2017, after a couple years of mixed animal practice near his family’s home in Western Kansas. Jett graduated from Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary School in 2015. Prior to his veterinary training, Dr. Eder completed his Bachelors degree in Animal Science at Oklahoma State University—where he was a member of two national champion livestock judging and meat animal evaluation teams. In the clinic, Jett enjoys working with the variety a mixed animal practice provides—with special interest in soft tissue surgery, internal and preventative medicine. With his family’s background in showpig production and training in livestock selection—Dr. Eder enjoys evaluating livestock in his spare time—especially swine, genetic selection, and places tremendous value in youth development programs that promote involvement in animal agriculture.

    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2015
    Education:
    Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine
    Interests:
    Kayaking, Livestock Judging, International Travel

  • Kristy Burg

    Kristy Burg has been with Atchison Animal Clinic since September 1997.  She and her husband Joe live in rural Lancaster with their two children Josie born in 2011 and Robert born in 2016.  Also in the family are pets Daisy Mae a Jack Russel  she adopted from the clinic when she was a puppy 12 years ago, Sylvester a cat adopted from the clinic and Frosty the cat recently adopted from the clinic, last but not least is Belle a stray kitty that found her way to their home.  Spending time with her family, pets and being outdoors is what she enjoys best.

    Kristy loves her job at the clinic! 
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 1997
    Interests:
    Baking, gardening, and fishing

  • Karen Birkinsha

    Karen Birkinsha has been with Atchison Animal Clinic since 1999.  She lives in Atchison, with her husband Nelson, and their sons, Scott and Dylan.  Scott is a freshman at Washburn University and Dylan is a sophomore at ACCHS.  They have a French Bulldog named Callie Sue, who joined the family recently, much to the disgust of the resident cat, Theo.    In her free time she is a big fitness enthusiast who enjoys biking and running, and whatever new challenges she comes across.  She also enjoys being a football and wrestling mom.
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 1999
    Interests:
    Biking, running, and being a football and wrestling mom

  • Barb Hoover

    Barb Hoover has been with Atchison Animal Clinic since 1999.  She lives in Leavenworth and is the groomer.  She enjoys spending time with her daughter and grandson and her variety of animals from dogs to reptiles.  She is a constant contributor to various grooming publications and industry books on grooming.  She owns one of the largest international web sites for the grooming industry.  In 2007 she was awarded the prestigious Cardinal Crystal Grooming Achievement award and award for her well respected web site and contributions to the pet grooming industry.

    Barb is here grooming dogs on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays.
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 1999

  • Toni Clary

    Toni joined Atchison Animal Clinic in October 2005. She lives in Rushville with her husband Pat. She enjoys spending time with ALL her animals.  In her free time Toni likes to kayak and ride her bicycle.  She also loves to spend time with her family and working on her farm. When not working at the clinic she enjoys her side jobs of farm & pet sitting.
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2005
    Interests:
    Working out, riding her bike, and spending time with her niece

  • Ashley Gray

    Ashley, an Arizona native, has been with the clinic since March of 2015.  She moved here with her family from Arizona in February of 2014 to help her grandmother. She lives with her family in rural Cummings. She graduated with her Certificate in Veterinary Assisting from Carrington College in May of 2012.  She enjoys spending time with her family and pets including 4 dogs, 6 cats, a hairless pet rat, and a freshwater aquarium.
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2012
    Education:
    Carrington College
    Interests:
    Caring for her dogs, cats, and other small animals!

  • Julie Vonderschmidt

    Julie joined the clinic in May of 2016 after graduating from Colby Community College with a degree in Veterinary Technology. She then became a registered Tech in August of 2016. When not at the clinic, she enjoys working at the St. Joe Stockyards and spending time with her family and friends. 
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2016

  • Krystalyn Iles-Lucius

    Krystalyn joined Atchison Animal Clinic in August 2016. She attended Kansas State University where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science/Pre-Vet. She is currently taking online classes through Colby Community College to become a Veterinary Technician. In her free time she likes to shoot competition archery, spend time with family and her dog Donald. 
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2016
    Interests:
    Baking, Gardening, and helping on the farm.

  • Payton Wenzl

    Payton joined the clinic in September of 2017. Payton will go to school in January 2018 to get a degree in Veterinary Technology.
    Years in Practice:
    Sep 13, 2017
    Interests:
    Enter interests herSpending time with family and friends and her dog Basher.