712 Center Road Frankfort, Illinois 60423
(815) 469-3346
Our Staff
Dr. Dawn Sackman, D.V.M. & Owner
Dr. Sackman is a 1986 graduate of the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Sackman moved to the Chicago area shortly after graduating and began her career at Lincoln-Way Animal Hospital. She also spent several years practicing emergency medicine at Emergency Veterinary Care South before she opened and co-owned Laraway Animal Hospital in 1994. In March of 2000, shortly before the birth of her daughter Paige, Dr. Sackman opened Sackman Animal Hospital. Dr. Sackman has a Border Collie mix, a Golden Retriever, a Westie, a Schnauzer, and 4 cats. In her free time, she enjoys going to the zoo, visiting her daughter at college, and spending time with her friends and family.
Paige, Veterinary Assistant
Paige is a senior at the University of Alabama, ROLL TIDE! She is currently in the honors college and will graduate in May 2023 with a BS in Psychology and a BA in both Criminology and Criminal Justice and Spanish. She will also begin an Accelerated Master's Program in Criminology and Criminal Justice in the fall of 2022. She is working toward a career in Forensic Psychology with an emphasis in Behavioral Analysis. Paige was an active flute player in the high school band, a quartet known as Flute Salad, and a member of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra. Although no longer performing, she takes lessons to continue honing her skills. Paige volunteers in an extracurricular group called Al's Pals. This group works with children, after school, in local Tuscaloosa elementary schools, helping the kids with their studies and socialization skills. Due to her ability to speak/ understand Spanish, she has been paired with Spanish speaking children, helping them learn English and participate in all the activities. This summer (2022), she is interning with the Tuscaloosa PD and helping with research with a graduate professor. She has an English Setter and a brand-new cat.
Sherry Hancock, Veterinary Assistant
Sherry, the small dog whisperer, joined our staff in March of 2005 and quickly became a part of our family. Sherry has a background in medical billing and excels in customer service. She has a special interest in small dogs and goes out of her way to make sure that all patients feel comfortable during their office visit or stay with us. Outside of work Sherry enjoys traveling with her husband, spending time with her two daughters and their husbands, and her beautiful grandchildren Gracie, Brandon, Jackson, and Thomas. Sherry has a Dachshund named Bailey, two new terrier additions named Petey and Petunia.
Andrea Fischer, Veterinary Technician
Andrea joined our staff in November of 2012. Andrea graduated from the Vet Tech Institute at Fox College in May of 2014. She has more compassion for animals than most people you will ever meet. Andrea and her husband, Anthony, share their home with their super adorable son, and dogs Juno and Loki, and a cat (Gloria.).
Donna Hudson, C.V.T
Donna, our resident comedian, is a 2012 graduate of the Vet Tech Institute at Fox College and joined our staff in January of 2013. Donna's previous experience includes customer service, one year of working at an area emergency hospital, and a veterinary technician externship at Beecher Veterinary Clinic. Donna passed her VTNE (Veterinary Technician National Examination) in April of 2013 and officially became a Certified Veterinary Technician. Outside of work, Donna is the proud mother of 2 children, one in college at Southern Illinois University and the other in high school. Donna shares her home with her dogs and ducks. Donna also enjoys spending time at her kids' sporting events and activities. Donna recently became engaged to a wonderful man and will be married in the fall.
Navy, Resident House Cat
Navy joined our family in December of 2013 after coming in for a neuter and finding his way into our hearts. Navy has a big personality and a knack for creating trouble. He enjoys standing on his hind legs, contorting into odd sleeping positions, and stealing our food. His best friends are Cheech and Chong, our resident chinchillas.
Piper, Resident House Cat
Piper joined our family in July of 2014. Piper was found on the roadside with her deceased mother by a tech at another animal clinic and was adopted by Sackman Animal Hospital to keep Navy company. Piper spends the vast majority of her time sleeping. When she is not sleeping she is typically begging for food and making herself at home in the filing cabinet.
Cheech (white) and Chong (grey), Resident Chinchillas
Cheech and Chong joined the Sackman Animal Hospital family in June of 2015. They keep us all entertained as they bounce around their cage and munch on their treats. They love interacting with our staff and house cats.
Freak (July 10, 2004-March 24, 2014)
Freak was our resident house cat from the time she was 6 1/2 weeks old until we lost her unexpectedly to a cardiac issue. Freak was a faithful companion, sympathetic grief counselor, and always willing to show our clients "how to". Freak was a polydactyl (meaning she had more toes than your average cat) and left her unique paw prints on all of our hearts.
Zeus (August 1, 1997-May 5, 2016)
Forever in our hearts. Zeus was our first house cat and a true survivor. He taught us the value of true friendship and love (you definitely had to earn his). He was a sympathetic grief counselor and the old man who never failed to keep us all in line. Zeus overcame severe dental disease, diabetes, allergies, and a bout of liver failure before finally succumbing to kidney disease and old age.
Chelsie Vejvoda, Veterinary Technician
Chelsie graduated from Joliet Junior College from the Veterinary Technician Program in the Spring of 2020. She is the proud "mother" of a kitty, and two dogs that still live at her parents' home. She is engaged and will be married next year. She has been with the practice since August 2019. Chelsie is our quiet one, but she is a hard worker and cares for all our patients!
Geoffrey, Resident House Cat
Geoffrey was one of 8 cats/ kittens dropped off at Dr. Sackman's home late on a Saturday night. He was half the size of his littermates and breathing harder. Dr. Sackman's suspicions were confirmed when she took a radiograph of his chest: diaphragmatic hernia, congenital. His abdominal organs were inside his chest cavity instead of where they should have been. He required a specialty surgery, and soon grew to his normal size. He is a quirky guy, as are all of his littermates! Most of them are still taken care of by us, and his "cousin" still lives with Dr. Sackman.
