ABOUT US

Gary Riggs DVM, ABVP: Avian

Dr. Riggs is Board Certified in Avian Practice, one of the first 20 veterinarians in North America to become board certified in the specialty’s charter class. He has over 40 years of experience  caring for a wide variety of avian, exotic, and wildlife species. Dr. Riggs has a long association with the Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital, and is currently director of the Metropolitan Veterinary Hospitals’ Exotic Departments at the Norton, Copley, and Highland Heights facilities. Dr. Riggs also serves as veterinary director for The Greater Cleveland Aquarium, Stark Parks Wildlife Conservation Center, and Noah’s Lost Ark: exotic animal sanctuary.



Dr. Riggs is a founder of Wild4Ever (www.wild4ever.com) a 501(C)(3) non-profit wildlife conservation foundation. Wild4Ever supports local wildlife rehabilitation and participates in Ohio endangered turtle head-starting and protection programs for spotted turtles and Blandings turtles with our partners (the Greater Cleveland Aquarium, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, USDA, and the Toledo Zoo). W4E also participates as field veterinary consultants with the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s black bear project. Additionally, Wild4Ever also works with Stark Parks, Project Orphan and other local wildlife rehabilitators for veterinary care of injured Ohio native wildlife. W4E sponsors the Akron Parks Collaborative’s Nature in our Neighborhood program and supports the Northern Jaguar Project as well as other local and regional conservation projects such as LEAP. 

Dr. Emily Velez is originally from Florida where she discovered her love of exotic species through wildlife rehabilitation. She graduated from Colorado State University for her undergraduate degree before attending Auburn University for her doctorate of veterinary medicine. After veterinary school, she moved to Ohio for an Exotics Specialty Internship and ABVP (Reptile & Amphibian) Residency at Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital before staying on as an associate exotics doctor. Dr. Velez is an active member of the American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians, the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians, the Association of Avian Veterinarians, and the American Veterinary Medical Association. When not at work, she can be found hiking, kayaking, reading, and spending time with her personal zoo at home.

Emily Velez DVM, DABVP: Reptile & Amphibian Practice 

Dr. Emily Velez is originally from Florida where she discovered her love of exotic species 

through wildlife rehabilitation. She graduated from Colorado State University for her undergraduate degree before attending Auburn University for her doctorate of veterinary medicine. After veterinary school, she moved to Ohio for an Exotics Specialty Internship and ABVP (Reptile & Amphibian) Residency at Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital before staying on as an associate exotics doctor. Dr. Velez is an active member of the American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians, the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians, the Association of Avian Veterinarians, and the American Veterinary Medical Association. When not at work, she can be found hiking, kayaking, reading, and spending time with her personal zoo at home.

Emily Velez DVM

Dr. Fox was born and raised on the west coast of Canada. She graduated with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Calgary (Alberta, Canada)in 2021. Dr. Fox joined the Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital team after to complete an Avian and Exotics internship with Dr. Riggs. She then practiced small animal and exotic general and emergency medicine for a year before returning to METROexotics for a residency in ABVP Exotic Companion Mammal practice. Dr. Fox is active member of the Association of Exotic Mammal veterinarians, Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians and the Association of Avian Veterinarians. While not at the hospital, you may find Dr. Fox with her furry and feathery family members, engaging in events amongst the exotics community, or enjoying Ohio’s natural beauty.

Kaylie (Graham) Fox DVM: Exotic Companion Mammal Practice Resident

Dr. Fox was born and raised on the west coast of Canada. She graduated with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Calgary (Alberta, Canada)in 2021. Dr. Fox joined the Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital team after to complete an Avian and Exotics internship with Dr. Riggs. She then practiced small animal and exotic general and emergency medicine for a year before returning to METROexotics for a residency in ABVP Exotic Companion Mammal practice. Dr. Fox is active member of the Association of Exotic Mammal veterinarians, Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians and the Association of Avian Veterinarians. While not at the hospital, you may find Dr. Fox with her furry and feathery family members, engaging in events amongst the exotics community, or enjoying Ohio’s natural beauty.

Kaylie (Graham) Fox DVM: Reptile and Amphibian Practice Resident

Born in the south of England, Dr. Hobson received her undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign before attending the Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine in Scotland. Dr. Hobson then completed a rotating internship at a small and exotic animal clinic in England before accepting a position as one of the exotic animal interns at the Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital. Upon completion of the internship programme, she accepted the opportunity to complete a residency in avian medicine. Dr. Hobson has an interest in wildlife medicine. She currently shares her home with two cats and a three-legged rabbit.

Katie Hobson DVM: Avian Resident 

Born in the south of England, Dr. Hobson received her undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign before attending the Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine in Scotland. Dr. Hobson then completed a rotating internship at a small and exotic animal clinic in England before accepting a position as one of the exotic animal interns at the Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital. Upon completion of the internship programme, she accepted the opportunity to complete a residency in avian medicine. Dr. Hobson has an interest in wildlife medicine. She currently shares her home with two cats and a three-legged rabbit.

Katie Hobson DVM: Avian Resident 

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