Dr. Andrew Pierce is the owner and medical director for Dry Pond Animal Hospital and Pet Resort (founded in 2023). He is also the founder of Denver Animal Emergency (now BluePearl Lake Norman) and has since transitioned from owner to lead Medical Director and associate veterinarian. During his time at the emergency animal hospital, he has acquired a deep love and interest for emergency and critical care medicine. He enjoys the challenge of seeing sick pets, discovering what is ailing them, and starting them on a path to recovery. He also has a great deal of experience with acute dog fight injuries and wound care.
Dr. Pierce was raised on a beef cattle farm in Harrisburg NC. His career in veterinary medicine started in Denver, NC working as kennel staff at a local general practice. He moved to a veterinary assistant role, while gaining his undergraduate degree. While gaining his bachelor’s in biology from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, he took an opportunity to do research on honey bees and was published in the Journal of Entomology. Dr. Pierce graduated from UNCC in 2007. He followed this with his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2012 from North Carolina State University.
Dr. Pierce is married to his high school sweetheart, Shannon Pierce, who is the practice manager of Denver Animal Emergency and also helps manage Dry Pond Animal Hospital as well. He enjoys CrossFit, playing and watching basketball and football, and serving as an elder of his church. He finds his greatest joy spending time with his wife and 5 kids, whether that be at home, the mountains or the beaches of North Carolina.
Dr. Joseph Allender is a Lincolnton native and after many adventures has decided to come back to serve the Lincolnton/Denver area. Out of high school Joseph joined the United States Navy. During his 10 years of service he deployed multiple times on nuclear submarines where he led the nuclear power plant watch team. After leaving the Navy he moved to a career in off-shore oil drilling. His next phase of life moved him to Charlotte where he received a Bachelor of Science in Biology with Honors. During that time he worked as an assistant at Denver Animal Emergency under Dr. Pierce. After completing his DVM at NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, the opportunity to work with Dr. Pierce again presented itself. With his diverse background, he hopes to personally connect with many great residents of the Denver area and to use his passion for animals to ensure the longevity of our beloved furry family members.
Dr. Rebecca Schenck grew up in Nashville, Tennessee where she knew from an early age she wanted to be a veterinarian. She attended Clemson University and received a Bachelor of Science in Animal and Veterinary Sciences, then attended Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Schenck moved to Charlotte, NC where she began her career as a small animal general practitioner. Dr. Schenck enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine but has a special interest in soft tissue surgery, emergency medicine, and dermatology. She also enjoys focusing on client education and preventive medicine for her furry patients.
Dr. Schenck has two rescue dogs named Cleo and Paisley. Cleo was her first dog spay patient in vet school, and Paisley was a local rescue from Charlotte. When not at work or snuggling with her pups, Dr. Schenck enjoys running, reading, playing tennis, and exploring new restaurants in Charlotte.
Dr. DeMaster is from the Raleigh, North Carolina area. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from North Carolina State University in 2003 and her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State in 2008. Upon the completion of her doctorate, Dr. DeMaster accepted an internship in small animal medicine at Texas A & M College of Veterinary Medicine where she advanced her knowledge, gained additional veterinary experience and skills, and helped to teach veterinary students in the areas of internal medicine, surgery, and emergency medicine. After finishing her internship, Dr. DeMaster returned to North Carolina and worked in private practice in Durham until she moved to the Lake Norman area. She has been practicing medicine in Denver, NC since 2010.
Dr. DeMaster enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine, but her areas of special interest include preventative medicine, internal medicine and cardiology. She is an active member of the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association, participating in many local continuing education meetings with other veterinarians from the area.
In her free time, she likes to travel, spend time with friends and family, and enjoy sunny days on the lake. Dr. DeMaster lives in Huntersville with her husband (who is also a veterinarian) and 2 young children. They have two cats and a very energetic pitbull mix named Jasmine.
Dr. Carolyn Ives was born and raised in the great state of North Carolina. She knew from an early age that she wanted to be a vet. Her family always had a variety of pets including dogs, cats, a bird, fish and rabbits. She also enjoyed horseback riding as a kid.She received her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from North Carolina State University in 2006 and then stayed at NCSU to study veterinary medicine (Go Wolfpack!). Dr. Ives graduated from the NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011 and moved to the Denver, NC area with her husband. She has been practicing small animal medicine ever since. Dr. Ives loves making a difference in people’s lives by caring for their pets.Dr. Ives is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association. Her special interests include preventative medicine and internal medicine. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and four kids, traveling and doing outdoor activities.
