Peter Jackson DVM CVA
Veterinarian/Owner
Dr. Jackson grew up in Spring Lake and Grand Rapids, graduating from East Grand Rapids High School in 1976. He joined the Air Force after graduation, was trained in enforcement and stationed in the Philippines as a K-9 Handler. He was then certified in narcotics detection using a drug dog. Upon returning to the United States, he was stationed at Andrews Air Force Base outside of Washington D.C. and was trained in K-9 explosives detection.
He has worked for Air Force One and guarded both Presidents Carter and Reagan along with dignitaries from any different countries including Prince Charles, Anwar Sadat and Pope John Paul. After leaving the Air Force, he attended university and graduated from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1989. He had a practice in Newaygo for 10 years, but decided to relocated to the lakeshore area, where he started Lifetime Veterinary Care in 2004.
His personal interests include: clawhammer banjo, old time fiddle, flatpick guitar, cycling, and aviation. His wife's name is Laura and they have three children, Lee, Kelsi, and Dale. They share their house with a sundry of cats and dogs.
Randi Smith, BVM & S
Veterinarian
Dr. Randi Smith grew up in Grand Haven and Spring Lake. She graduated from Spring Lake High School in 2015 and went on to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Physiology from Michigan State University. After graduating from MSU in 2018, she came back to Spring Lake to work as a veterinary assistant at Lifetime. In July of 2019, she moved to Scotland to study Veterinary Medicine and Surgery at the University of Edinburgh. She lived in Edinburgh for 4 years and, while there, met her husband and graduated with her Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVM&S). She and her husband then moved to Southern England for 2 years where she worked as a mixed practice veterinarian and treated everything from cats and dogs to cows and horses. Dr. Smith is now very excited to be back in the US and looks forward to continuing her career back at Lifetime.
Her husband’s name is Jamie and they are currently living in Grand Rapids with their toothless cat, Snoop. Her interests include reading, hiking, yoga, travelling, and spending time with her family. She and her husband look forward to welcoming more animals into their home soon!
Our Staff
Financial Manager
Kate
Kate began working at Lifetime Veterinary Care in 2006 after graduating from Grand Valley State University. Originally from Newaygo, she and her husband Brad live in Sparta with their 3 children James, Harrison and Lucy. They also have 3 furry children, a 17 year old cat Chole who spends the entire day on Kate’s pillow, a 13 year old cat named Ringo who is usually chasing and tormenting Bumi, their 1 year old beagle mix puppy.
Kate and her family love hiking, camping and are always up for a good road trip. Although she loves cuddly kittens and getting puppy kisses, her heart truly belongs to the grey muzzled dogs and the lazy old cats.
Clinic Manager, Certified Client Service Representative
Danielle
Danielle has been working in the veterinary field since 2014. During this time her love for animals has evolved into an obsession. After raising a cleft palate golden retriever puppy named Rye, it has become her mission to raise awareness for all special need pets and their ability to live happy, long and fulfilled lives. Lilly is her other rescue dog that you often see with her at the hospital, managing the front reception area.
Danielle believes Michigan is the most beautiful state, and spends most of her free time outside with her dogs. Her and her husband, Casey love to hike to the lakeshore and collect beach glass and rocks, as well as adventuring to find secluded waterfalls in the Upper Peninsula.
Casey and Danielle also have two cats named Rocky and Munchies as well as a very missed dog named Sweets that crossed the rainbow bridge last year.
Head Licensed Veterinary Technician
Carlie, LVT
Carlie has been a part of the Lifetime Veterinary Care family since 2019. She has a soft spot for dachshunds and most days you can find her two 12 year old weiner dogs Honey and Halie snuggled up on the couch in our back room, complete with their very own heater for extra coziness. These girls are even Instagram famous- the.doxie.dapple.sisters.
When she is not documenting her dogs’ cuteness for IG; Carlie is a puzzle fanatic, plays a wicked french horn and has recently added disc golf to her list of things she likes to do in her free time.
DVM Dale Jackson arriving 2029!
Dale
Dale was introduced into the veterinary world the day she was born. As a small kid she’d go to work with her dad, Dr. Peter Jackson, almost everyday.
Recently she left for Scotland and is attending The University of Glasgow Veterinary Medicine and Surgery.
Veterinary Assistant, Certified Pet Nutrition Coach
Renee’
Renee began her career in the veterinary industry in 2020 and joined the Lifetime Team in 2024. Renee shares her life with two beloved pets - a 3 ½ year old basset hound named Link and a 17 year old cat named Marley.
In addition to a passion for animals, Renee also enjoys disc golfing and has a love of traveling, kayaking, camping and photography.
True to her adventurous and artistic heart, Renee has lived in various parts of Michigan, as well as Hawaii and Pennsylvania. She also owns Me Ke Aloha Photography.
Certified Client Service Representative, Marketing
Kaila
Kaila has been in the veterinary industry on and off since 2012. With a degree in Biology and a combined 10 years of experience in the veterinary industry, she has a deep passion for nature and animals, and has 3 cats that are her fur children; Rigby, Lacey, and Sheba.
Alongside her veterinary work, she proudly runs Four Crows Creative Studio, a small family business established in 2018; dedicated to crafting unique wooden lanterns. Her online store is FourCrowsCreative.com
Outside of work, Kaila enjoys gardening, biking, and spending time with her family.
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Leona, LVT
Leona has been keeping tails wagging and whiskers twitching since graduating veterinary technician school back in 2006—and somehow, she’s only gotten more impressive (and slightly more cat-obsessed) with time.
Around here, she’s better known by her self-proclaimed title: “the cat whisperer.” Whether it’s calming a feisty feline or winning over the most judgmental of tabbies, Leona has a way with cats that borders on suspicious. We’re not saying she speaks their language… but we’re also not not saying that.
When she’s not caring for animals, Leona can be found turning rocks into works of art with her wire jewelry hobby—because apparently mastering one profession wasn’t enough. And if you happen to spot her out in the wild (literally), you might catch her at her second job at the zoo. Yes, the zoo. Because regular animals just weren’t quite enough.
Leona has been part of our team for over a year now, and we’re still trying to figure out how she does it all. She has one cat named Lou, one dog named Bowser, and a leopard gecko named Lizardo.
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Haleigh, LVT
Bio pending
Veterinary Assistant
Bailey
Bio pending