Dr. Detra and her family
Dr. Detra Bryant grew up in Nelson County, Kentucky, where she resides today with her husband Jeff and two sons, Jacob and Thomas. She received her B.S. degree in Biology from the University of Louisville (but is a big UK fan). After graduating veterinary school in 2005 from Ross University on the beautiful island of St. Kitts, she completed her clinical year at Purdue University. She worked two years in private practice before serving her country as a US Army civilian assigned to the Public Health Command District Fort Knox.
Dr. Bryant was the Veterinary Medical Officer assigned to the Fort Knox Branch Veterinary Services from May 2007 – May 2013, where she was awarded the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service and the Achievement Medal for Civilian Services. In May 2013, Dr. Bryant purchased Buffalo Trace Veterinary Services, where she continues to serve hundreds of patients on a regular basis.
Outside the office, Dr. Bryant enjoys attending Jacob’s baseball games, Thomas’s ice hockey games, and spending time with Jeff, a full-time electronics technician on C130H aircraft in the Kentucky National Guard based in Louisville, KY. She also enjoys games, puzzles, playing the organ, and antique shopping. You may frequently see her sons at the office, especially during summer break.
Dr. Bryant’s favorite part of working at BTVS is getting to enjoy and love her career in a relaxed but professional atmosphere. “We always try to have fun and laugh. This career is stressful enough.” Dr. Bryant has several cats, 3 dogs, and 2 boys.
Dr. Tracy Jenkins was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa but having lived in Kentucky since 1975, considers this her home. Dr. Jenkins completed her undergraduate work at the University of Kentucky before graduating from Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1992. Dr. Jenkins had intentions of becoming an equine veterinarian but discovered during her last year at Auburn that she enjoyed working with people and their cats and dogs. She has over 30 years experience working in various private practices and continues to enjoy the daily surprises and challenging cases of small animal medicine. She began working at BTVS in 2014.
When she’s not working, Dr. Jenkins enjoys hiking, horseback riding, reading, and being outdoors. She lives on a farm with two horses and a plethora of other animals.
Geneva Smith grew up on a large cattle farm in Frankfort and has been known from childhood for bringing home various types of pets—a trend she has carried into adulthood. Her passion for caring for animals led her to the Franklin County Humane Society after graduating high school, where she worked for 9 years as an animal caretaker before coming to BTVS as a veterinary technician in 2011.
Living in the country has brought her many abandoned and stray kitties, but because of her love for animals, Geneva has them spayed or neutered and keeps them for life.
Geneva’s favorite part of working at BTVS is being there for people and their companions, whether it’s a first-time visit for new pets, seeing patients who aren’t feeling well, or even when it’s time to say goodbye. Being able to help ease the pain of the pet and comfort the owners when it’s time to make that decision is something Geneva is thankful to be a part of. She also loves seeing the clinic cats, Jack & Bot Bot, and enjoys the rabies clinics.
Geneva is the proud owner of 4 dogs: Madea (Rottweiler), Babe & Chuggy (Chihuahuas), Gizmo (Dachshund), multiple cats, 2 rabbits (Thumper & Binx), 3 ducks (Howard, Snickers, and Moonpie), 1 hamster (Ralphie), 2 parakeets (Ma & Pa), and a bearded dragon (Spicy Fajita).
In her free time, Geneva enjoys hiking, working in her yard, DIY projects, cleaning, organizing, working outside, and staying busy.
Carla Cantagallo was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, but grew up all over the United States. She came to Kentucky in 1987 to study Library Science in graduate school at the University of Kentucky and graduated in 1988. She began working at the University of Kentucky as a librarian in 1989 and continues in that role today.
Carla’s pets have been patients of Buffalo Trace Veterinary Services for years. During a 2019 appointment, she commented that it would be fun to work here, and the rest is history. She began working as a part-time receptionist and is still with us today. Carla’s favorite part of working at BTVS is greeting clients at the front desk and seeing the great care her coworkers provide to patients behind the scenes.
Carla lives in Lexington with her teacup poodle, Jake, and bichon, Oliver. Her hobbies include reading, traveling, and spending time with her dogs.
Sydney Wright grew up in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, and now resides in Kentucky while studying Equine Studies with a concentration in Equine Science and Equine Rehabilitation & Health at Midway University.
Sydney began working as a vet tech with BTVS in May 2023 and loves seeing the cute little kittens when they come in.
Outside the office, she enjoys fishing, riding horses, and paddle boarding. Sydney has two pets—a thoroughbred horse named Brooke and a beagle named Bailey.
Michael Moore has been a lifelong resident of Kentucky and began working for BTVS as a vet tech in February 2023. His favorite part of working here is helping animals and enjoying the fun relationships he has with his co-workers.
Outside the office, Michael is a self-proclaimed “sneakerhead” because of his love for shoes and collecting sneakers.
He is the husband to Missy and father to Makayla, Madison, and Ava. Michael has three dogs: Xena, Tyson, and Nellie, as well as three cats: Turbo, Nala, and Simba.
Gina Currens is from Lexington, Kentucky, and began working at BTVS as a full-time receptionist and occasional vet tech in September 2022. Gina’s favorite part of her job is working with her co-workers and talking with clients.
Outside the office, Gina enjoys country rides and listening to music.
She is the wife to Paul and mom to Cody and Aaron. Gina has four dogs: Eeyore, Ellie, Sophie, and Lola.
Nancy Marshall is from Lexington and began working part-time at BTVS as a receptionist in 2021. Her favorite part of working with us is getting to work with and love on all the different animals.
When not in the office, she enjoys reading, crafting, and baking for The Greyhen, her daughter’s gluten-free bakery located in Georgetown.
Nancy is the wife to Mike and mom to Michael (who also works here!) and Melissa. She is the proud owner of three dogs: Ruby (Jack Russell/Chihuahua), Stella (Pug), Harlow (Great Dane), and one cat, Hazel.
Amanda Chilton grew up in Nelson County but lived in various places, including Puerto Rico and Florida, before moving back in 2009. She began working as a receptionist for BTVS in September 2023. The best thing about working at BTVS for Amanda is her co-workers. She also loves the vaccine clinics, helping clients, and her favorite clinic cat, Jack.
Outside the office, Amanda enjoys spending time with her boys and her best friend, taking pictures, writing, and studying the Bible.
She is the mom to Isaiah (13), Daniel (11), and Jacob (8). Amanda has one dog, a black Lab named Shadow, who got her name because, as a puppy, she would sit in Amanda’s shadow while outside and followed her around like a shadow. Her black long-haired cat, Ruby, was named after the ruby gemstone, which symbolizes the blood of Christ, and because of the verse Proverbs 31:10: “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.”
Joey was adopted from the Nelson County Humane Society in June 2012 as a kitten. He lived with Dr. Bryant until February 2015, when he decided to not be a teammate with the other house pets. She then decided to make him a clinic cat with CPT Jack. He absolutely adores Dr. Bryant and claims her as his own. In his spare time, he loves laying on his back in the sun. He is named after the Cincinnati Reds’s 1st baseman, Joey Votto.
On March 25, 2020, Dr. Bryant diagnosed Joey with malignant metastatic melanoma. He underwent surgery to remove the primary and metastatic tumor on April 1st. Joey then started melanoma vaccines in an effort to slow down the spread of the disease.
Unfortunately, the metastatic tumor came back and Joey spent the last 5 weeks of his life in hospice care at Dr. Bryant’s home. He loved spending every evening with her family, the bird watching and special foods. Joey never missed a meal and Dr. Bryant made sure he had plenty of moist food options. A plastic tote was then named “Joey’s Pantry”.
Joey passed peacefully on June 13, 2020.
CPT Jack was born in early May 2014 with a birth deformity. He was left abandoned by his mom on Fort Knox, until a good Samaritan found him. He was nourished and cared for by staff at Fort Knox Veterinary Facility.
When he was old enough, Dr. Bryant took him as her first clinic cat in June 2014. CPT Jack had his bad leg amputated October 2014. He is a very special cat, in his own way. He tends to be “very bossy” in the clinic. In his spare time, CPT Jack enjoys chewing cords in the office, especially the ones to Dr. Bryant’s office printer.
He also loves chasing furry catnip mice. Jacob Bryant named CPT Jack.
When BTVS occupied their current location in May 2014, they notice a stray black and white cat come up on the porch every night to eat. He would not allow anyone to touch him. In March 2015, this stray cat allowed the neighbor to catch him because he had a wounded leg. Dr. Bryant neutered him, vaccinated him and medicated him for his leg. After a week in the clinic, the door was opened for Stash to go back outside. Only 1 problem; he didn’t want to go! So, Stash became a clinic cat too. In August 2015, Stash was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (heart failure). He now enjoys canned cat food twice daily with 4 heart medications hidden inside.
Stash spends most of his day in the treatment area. In his spare time, Stash loves to lounge in his triple mattress heated bed. For an old man, he has it made in his forever retirement home! By the way, he is the proud owner of Geneva.
On August 5, 2018, with a heavy heart, we were sad to announce the passing of one of our clinic babies, Stash. We never knew how old Stash was, although we thought he was well into his geriatric years. In the spring of 2015, this black and white long haired cat chose to retire his stray, feral life with us. We took him in, bandaged his wounds, medicated and neutered him. After a week, he didn’t leave so we named him Stash and kept him.