A small team, on purpose.
Everyone here was chosen for the same reason: they'd rather know your pet than process them.
Clifton Hollow is intentionally small. We keep the schedule unhurried, the hallways quiet, and the team tight so that the person greeting you on the phone, the technician weighing your dog, and the veterinarian examining your cat are the same familiar faces every visit. These are the people you'll actually see.
— Privately & family owned in Poulsbo, WA
Our veterinarians.
Independently owned by Dr. Josh and Dr. Sherri Kinder. Both Washington State grads. Both here because they wanted to practice medicine the way they'd always wanted to.
The team behind the doctors is why patients come back.— The Clifton Hollow team
The team behind the team.
Our licensed veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, and client services team — the people who make every visit work. Many have been here for years. Most are Kitsap locals. All of them were hired for how they treat animals when no one is watching.
Dr. Josh Kinder is the co-owner and primary Veterinarian at Clifton Hollow Animal Hospital. He grew up in Spokane, WA with his mother and two older siblings. He became a Veterinarian because he has always wanted to help those who do not have the voice to help themselves.
This call to help stemmed from the fact that many of his family's pets were adopted from local animal shelters. From childhood he has had a close bond with animals — even rescuing insects from his childhood home — and has always wanted to be an advocate for animals and the needs of their pet parents.
He did not take the traditional path to veterinary school, if there really is such a thing as "traditional." After high school he joined the US Navy, lived in Hawaii for 4 years, and traveled the Pacific Rim. When his time in the Navy had come to an end, he began focusing on his dream of going to college. He was accepted to Washington State University (Go Cougs!) and acquired his undergraduate degree, as well as his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine.
Veterinary medicine has changed a lot over the last decade. Dr. Kinder still gives vaccines and performs spays and neuters, but much of what Veterinarians do today is similar to human doctors — diagnosing disease, using advanced technology, and treating patients as we would a family member. He believes the best way to keep our pets healthy is preventing disease before it begins.
Dr. Kinder and his wife, Sherri, have four sons and two daughters along with their senior indoor kitty, Joel McHale. When they're not at work, they enjoy being outdoors — camping, hiking, skiing — anywhere they can find sunshine. On Sundays, you'll find the family at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Parish in Bremerton.
Sherri is the co-owner and part-time Veterinarian at Clifton Hollow Animal Hospital. She grew up in Hoquiam, WA with her parents and four older siblings. She always felt a connection with animals, starting when she was just a little girl helping take care of her family's pets which consisted of many different fish, hamsters, cats, and dogs.
While attending the local community college, she started volunteering at a small animal veterinary clinic. She was able to gain experience helping many sick and injured animals. Seeing the impact that the Veterinarian had on the animals and families, it was reinforced that she wanted to contribute to this wonderful profession and make a difference in both pets' and their family's lives.
She attended Washington State University (Go Cougs!) and obtained a Bachelor's of Science degree in Zoology before she was accepted into the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine. It was during her fourth year of veterinary school that she met her husband who was, at that time, in his first year of veterinary school. After graduating in 2008, she worked as a Veterinarian in Idaho until he graduated in 2011.
Although she enjoys all aspects of small animal veterinary medicine, she has a few passions. She has a special interest in preventative medicine — she believes very strongly that maintaining the best health earlier in life can delay, and in some cases prevent, diseases seen as pets get older. Pain management is another area important to her, from bite wounds and arthritis to the pain that comes with surgery. Client education is also a passion — she believes clients shouldn't just "do what the vet recommends," but should know the why and how behind every recommendation.
Sherri is married to her best friend, Josh Kinder. Together they have four sons and two daughters, who definitely keep them on their toes and who also often get to come to work with mom and dad. Joel McHale, their domestic shorthair kitty, would prefer to stay in hiding from all of the daily commotion in their home. She is blessed to have the opportunity to homeschool their children, and the family loves spending time outdoors — camping, going to the beach, or just taking a walk. You will also see them at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Bremerton every Sunday for mass.
When you call or visit Clifton Hollow Animal Hospital, you will likely be greeted by Kristina, our Client Service Representative. Whether lending a compassionate ear during stressful times, accommodating appointment requests, or ensuring transparency in our billing process, she will approach you with a genuine desire to help. Her goal is that you leave our hospital with a smile on your face.
Kristina is a Pacific Northwest native, having grown up in Seattle and on Bainbridge Island. As a child she was known to bring home newts, salamanders, rodents, and any other critters she could create cozy habitats for. Her lifelong love of animals and James Herriot stories makes working as a veterinary receptionist a great fit.
She lives in Poulsbo with her husband Ryan and their spoiled cat, Mundy (aka "Monkey"). She is the proud mother of two adult sons, who help keep her young at heart. Aside from spending time with her family, some of her favorite things are urban hikes around town, sunshine, riding backroads with her husband on their Harley Davidson, music, writing, good coffee, and daydreaming about a future that includes grandbabies and travel.
Erin is a recent addition to our Clifton Hollow family and has proven to be a wonderful fit for our team and clientele. She studied at Pima Medical Institute in Seattle and entered the field as a Licensed Veterinary Technician in 2011. Her years of experience working with animals are evident in her confident approach to animal handling and care.
Our patients tend to respond well to her warm and gentle demeanor. Her attention to detail and dedication to client education lend to thorough communication regarding your pet's needs. She is always happy to answer your questions.
Erin is a Pacific Northwest native, originally from North Seattle. She currently lives in Hansville with her husband and two toddlers, who keep them plenty busy. Her family also includes an Australian Shepherd Husky mix named Wally and a cat named Koko. In her free time, Erin enjoys outdoor activities like skiing, surfing, and camping. She has a personal goal of eventually visiting all of our country's beautiful national parks with her family in their travel trailer.
Sara is one of our dedicated Kennel Assistants here at Clifton Hollow. She entered the veterinary field in 2017 as a kennel attendant, then furthered her education at Pima Medical Institute in Seattle the following year. Sara also graduated from the Veterinary Assistant program in 2019, joining our team in 2021. Her positive attitude and willingness to lend a hand wherever needed make her an asset to our hospital family.
Sara was born in Houston, Texas and lived there most of her life. Her love of animals began in childhood, which was spent bonding with her family's dogs. She was also known to sneak lizards and frogs into the house at times. She visited Washington in 2015 and fell in love with the area — as well as with her husband, Mark. Together they settled here permanently and started a family.
They are the proud parents of a daughter named Fae. They currently have a cat named Theia and plan to expand their furry family in the near future. Outside of work, Sara enjoys hikes in the woods, arts and crafts, game nights with friends, and creative writing.
James is one of our valued Veterinary Assistants and has become a loyal team member for over 5 years. He is originally from Seattle, Washington and became a veterinary assistant because of his love for animals. He started working with a local Veterinarian in the Silverdale area, where he was given the chance to start at a small hospital and learn the trade — cleaning kennels and holding animals. Now, over 18 years later, he is where he wants to be, doing what he loves to do: working with people and animals.
As a veterinary assistant, James gets to work with animals all day. From taking vital signs and obtaining blood samples to helping with professional dental cleanings and assisting the Veterinarian during surgeries, he loves helping animals get and stay healthy.
James and his wife Machelle have been married for over 39 wonderful years. They have four grown children and seven grandchildren. James has a houseful of furry family members including chickens, turkeys, cows, pigs, dogs, a cat, fish and a Bearded Dragon. He loves hiking — he has summited Mt. St. Helens and has hiked 50-milers with his sons in Scouts. He also enjoys learning languages and is dabbling in Japanese (his mother is Japanese, and that's all she spoke while he was growing up) and German.
new patients.
The best introduction
happens in the exam room.
Clifton Hollow is currently welcoming new clients in Poulsbo and across the Kitsap Peninsula. Request an appointment, give us a call, or stop by — we'd love to meet you and your pet.