About VVC


The goal of Valley Veterinary Clinic is to fulfill the needs of our clients and their pets by providing quality veterinary services through a responsive, caring, and professional staff with emphasis on individual attention and commitment to community services.



Lowell L. Novy, DVM
Founder

Lowell L. Novy is the founder and sole proprietor of Valley Veterinary Clinic, which was established in 1963. He received his doctorate in veterinary medicine from Kansas State University and migrated to California. Dr. Novy divides his time between his cattle ranches in Northern California and Valley Veterinary Clinic. For the last 10 years, he has been actively involved with reducing the animal euthanasia numbers in Ventura County and supports land and environmental conservation.



Susan Katila, DVM

Dr. Susan Katila was raised in Philadelphia, and began her medical career as a registered nurse in adult critical care. She acheived both her Associate and Bachelor's degree in Nursing at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia. She received a Master's in Laboratory Animal Science in 1992 and her veterinary medical degree from University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine in 1996.

She has worked in small animal practice, as well as extensive experience in small animal emergency and critical care medicine in several specialty hospitals in Atlanta, Northern Virginia and Southern California. Her professional interests include small animal medicine/surgery, emergency and critical care, as well as feline medicine.

Her furry family consists exclusively of adopted rescues Daisy, her blind cockapoo, adorable chihuahuas and cats. Her hobbies include knitting, crocheting, reading, cooking and music.

*Animals are my passion and I dedicate myself to their health and well being.



Megan Thomas, DVM

Dr. Megan Thomas grew up in southern California, and obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in 1980 from Cal Poly Pomona. During college, she worked for a small animal veterinary hospital, and became a licensed Animal Health Technician. In 1984 she graduated from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, and went on to a one-year internship at an Orange County equine practice, where she did everything from farm calls to colic surgeries. She then spent six years working full-time at southern California racetracks.

Following a back injury in 1991, Dr. Megan retrained for small animal medicine and surgery, and relocated to Washington State. After working as a full-time emergency veterinarian, she returned to California in 1993 and began working at Carpinteria Veterinary Hospital and The Cat Doctor & Friends. Dr. Megan has had some advanced training in ultrasound and dentistry, actively pursues many hours of continuing education each year, and has a special interest in feline medicine.

Early in 2019, Dr. Megan left Carpinteria Vet Hospital to focus full-time on cats at The Cat Doctor, where she was Medical Director and lead Veterinarian. After that hospital's recent transition to corporate ownership, she is now happily seeing cats and small dogs as part of the team at Valley Veterinary Clinic.

She can attest, after almost 40 years in the field, that being a veterinarian is a wonderful career - and it is never boring!