Mountain Lore Animal Hospital

The Mountain Lore Animal Hospital is dedicated to providing quality, up to date health care to dogs and cats.  We are conveniently located in Plantsville - near the Meriden/Cheshire line.   Our hospital is personally owned by Dr. Joseph Giangarra  which allows our doctors to practice the best possible medicine for each individual animal - unfettered by the dictates of a corporation.  Our dedicated pet owners travel from as far away as Rhode Island and Westchester County, New York for the personalized care their pets receive.

The Support Staff at the Mountain Lore Animal Hospital is a rare find among animal hospitals.  We rarely have staff turn-over, which results in the on-going relationships we develop with our animal patients and Pet Owners.  Our veterinary technicians and front desk personnel possess years of experience and each is encouraged to pursue their personal areas of interest in animal healthcare, providing our pet owners with practical information they can use to enhance the daily life of their pet.

We encourage you to call for an appointment and experience personalized veterinary healthcare the Mountain Lore way...For The Life Of Your Pet!

  • Monday through Friday: 8:30am - 6:00pm
  • Sat: 8:00am -12:00pm
  • Closed 12:30pm - 1:30pm Monday through Friday for lunch
  • Sun: Closed
  • Dr. Joseph Giangarra

    Dr. Joseph Giangarra

    Veterinarian / Owner
    Dr. Joe opened the Mountain Lore Animal Hospital in 1990.  A graduate of the University of Connecticut and the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine, his objective was to create an animal hospital that would provide the best possible healthcare to its patients, in an environment that was warm and welcoming both to the pets and their owners and to his staff.   Initially, Dr. Joe cared for dogs, cats, and pocket pets but he has expanded his scope to include birds, reptiles and can even perform surgery on a fish if needed!  

    Pets:
    "Izzy" - his Kleiner Munsterlander, a hunting dog
    "Decibel"- his Kleiner Munsterlander
    "Bird" - a Blue & Gold Macaw born in 1992
    Koi fish  - seven of them

    Animal Healthcare Interests:  Surgery;  always thinking outside of the box in response to complicated medical cases;  keeping up to date on all veterinary products and equipment. In addition Dr. Joe bred 10 litters of AKC Bernese Mountain Dogs under the kennel name "Lupine".

    Personal interests:  Fishing, training Izzy, finding time to relax
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 1982
  • Dr. Luz Borrero-Yu

    Veterinarian
    Born and raised in Medellin, Colombia, Dr. Yu received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree from the Universidad Antioquia in Medellin.  For 5 years she was the solo veterinarian at Zoologico Santa Fe in Medellin working with wildlife.  She then spent 2 years as a Fulbright Scholar, earning a Master of Science Degree studying mule deer at Virginia Tech.  Dr. Yu continued her education in the Foreign Veterinarian Graduate Program at Purdue University.  Dr. Yu joined Mountain Lore Animal Hospital in 2007. Passionate about animals in her care!

    Pet:  "Kiwi" - the feisty chihuahua

    Animal Healthcare Interests:  ophthalmology and endocrinology 

    Personal interests:  traveling, attending continuing education workshops
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2007
  • Dr. Alla Sivakoff

    We would like to welcome Dr. Alla Sivakoff to Mountain Lore Animal Hospital! She is a 1994 graduate of Auburn College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Sivakoff 's main interest is in internal medicine and joins us with many years' experience. One of her main goals is to have your pets live long, healthy, and happy lives. Dr. Sivakoff has two children, 2 dogs named "Charles Barkley Allen" (Chuck), and "Riley", and 2 cats named Isabel and Opelika. Dr. Sivakoff's interests other than her family and career are enjoying the outdoors, tennis, gardening, and soaking up the sun. We are honored that she has joined our practice!
    Years in Practice:
    Apr 28, 2021
  • Dr. Carrie Ellsworth

    Years in Practice:
    Aug 24, 2022
  • Dr. Duncan Reeves

    Years in Practice:
    Aug 24, 2022
  • Pam

    Pam

    Front Desk Customer Care
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 1988
  • Jocelyn

    Front Desk Customer Care
    Years in Practice:
    Nov 18, 2021
  • Jillian

    Front Desk Customer Care
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 04, 2022
  • Maria

    Maria

    Veterinary Technician

    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2000
  • Jessica

    Veterinary Technician

    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2003
  • Val

    Veterinary Technician 
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2016
  • Laura

    Veterinary Technician 
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 01, 2020
  • Savanna

    Veterinary Technician 
    Years in Practice:
    Jan 04, 2022
  • Bertram

    Bertram

    Bert is Mountain Lore's Customer Service Representative 

    Personal Interests: Stealing liver treats

    Special Talents: Bert can Sit, Spin, and High Five on command!