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Our Vets
Dr. Michelle Leckrone
Dr. Michelle Leckrone graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary medicine. After graduation, she began practicing medicine at the Highland Animal Hospital with her father, Dr. Michael Diesen.
Michelle grew up at the hospital, and her parents always knew she would have a career with animals. Michelle grew up in Highland and continues to reside their with her husband, Josh and four kids. They have three dogs: a Golden Retriever, Kenzie, and two Australian Shepherds, Loki and Captain. Michelle’s free time is mostly spent at various ball games and kid’s activities.
Dr. Cindi SIrko
Dr. Cindi grew up in the New Douglas area and was always surrounded by animals: dogs, cats, chickens, goats, horses to name a few. She went to SIUC for undergraduate school before moving to Melbourne, Australia to complete veterinary school. She worked in Australia for a few years (yes, she saw the occasional koala and kangaroo) before starting to get a bit homesick and making the decision to move back home. Cindi is very excited to be part of the team at Highland Animal Hospital. In her free time she likes to go hiking, spend some time baking, or just hanging out with her family and dog, Helio.
Dr. Heather Tegeler
Dr. Heather Tegeler graduated from the University Of Illinois College Of Veterinary Medicine and has been a part of our hospital family since 2008.
She grew up in the Chicago suburbs and lives with her family in Trenton. Dr. Tegeler adores her beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and her three-legged cat, Meredith.
Outside of work she enjoys gardening, reading, historical homes, photography and raising Monarch Butterflies. She is also a music enthusiast who travels all over the country to see her favorite bands.
Dr. Kirk Hubbard
Dr. Kirk is from Lawrenceburg, IN (near Cincinnati Ohio). He grew up on a farm raising dairy goats and showing them around the country. I’m a tenure in 4-H and an Eagle Scout. After highschool I went to Purdue University for Animal Science which led me to veterinary medicine at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. I graduated with a focus on general practice and small ruminant interest. During vet school I met my wife who is also a veterinarian. In our free time we like to travel (especially to Disney World and National parks), play video games, visit friends and family, and enjoy photography!
At home we have a small zoo; 4 cats (Nami, Newton , Flemming, and Ember) Henry the Leopard Gecko, Evan the cockatiel and an assortment of fresh and saltwater fishes.
Dr. Carrie Nieto
Dr. Carrie Nieto graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Carrie joined the practice in 2019. Growing up on a dairy farm in rural St. Rose, Dr. Carrie developed her love for animals at a young age.
Carrie lives in Highland with her husband, two young sons, one dog and one cat. Carrie loves all animals but if she had to pick a specific breed, it would be a Beagle.
Kathy Diesen, CVPM
Kathy is the practice manager at Highland Animal Hospital. She grew up in Highland and resides in Trenton with her husband Jeff. She enjoys spending time with family and friends. She has two grown children Cole and Kaylee, two golden retrievers Stella and Salty, and one old tonkinese kitty named Tink. She enjoys traveling, loves the beach, and enjoys going to bourbon and beer festivals.
Clinic Cats
Poppy
Poppy is a black and grey tabby that came to the hospital in June of 2011. She was found on the Poplar street Bridge. She was only eight weeks old and showed evidence of trauma. She was brought in to evaluate her wounds and also during her rescue she bit someone due to her fear. She had some swelling and soreness but quickly improved from her trauma. She was quarantined for two weeks according to County ordinance. At the end of her quarantine she showed evidence of ringworm. She was then quarantined for that; however, she passed it along to Remi prior to quarantine. Remi was not pleased to be restricted. It took four months to completely clear her of the ringworm. Poppy spent all of her early kitten hood very restricted. She is our shy girl.
It is very unusual to see her. Poppy can be tempted with food. Food is her reason for existing. She is happiest when there is a large crazy dog in the treatment. She proceeds to rub herself over the staff and make them crazy trying to control the dog. She is our queen of the back and monitored very carefully for her food addiction.
Crash
Crash is an orange kitten brought to us by the Highland Police Department on November 8, 2012. A Good Samaritan had found him in a ditch and brought him to the police department. He was in terrible shape. He was about six months old and two pounds. The police called and we suspected we would need to humanely euthanize him. Dr. Leckrone examined him and found him very emaciated and his temperature was below 90 he had multiple wounds on his face and paws and 2 inches of his tail was dead. He was stiff with cold but all the wounds seemed treatable with nursing care. Jess Brown spent three hours warming him up with a blow dryer, with fluids and intravenous sugar he responded quickly and later that day started to eat. We believe he went up into a car for warmth and got hit with the fan belt. It took several weeks but he is now a typical kitten. He jumps on Remi, we cheer for that. He is always getting into things and is very feisty. He loves to eat and is a purr monster. He absolutely hates Kenzie, Dr. Leckrone’s puppy. He puffs up and spits at him. He is making himself quite at home; we are all struggling with a name for him. Watch your feet when you come in he is constantly underfoot and darting about!
Cadu
The newest addition to the hospital is a kitten named Caduceus, Cadu for short. Caduceus is the greek symbol for Medicine. As a young kitten Cadu took a ride on the underside of a van where he was later found out in the pouring rain. During his adventurous journey he suffered a fractured hip and an injury to the mouth. He has since healed up just fine. Having no home, Cadu somehow made his way into everyone’s heart and found his forever home. He loves being up in the front office area and visiting with our clients.
Felicia
Felicia was brought to our hospital in 2015 as a young stray kitten found alone on Buffalo Road. She really does not have much of a story except she never left.
She is very sweet and shy and is a typical cat who eats a couple kibbles every hour or so, wanting to be fed all day long.
