About - Academy Animal Care

LET US SHOW YOU HOW

We treat your pet like family

At Academy Animal Care, we understand that your pet is like a member of the family and are committed to helping you keep them healthy and well with high-quality veterinary care.

At our full-service animal hospital, we provide compassionate and progressive veterinary care for animals at all stages of their lives. Our many services range from routine preventative care for young, healthy pets to early detection and treatment of diseases as they age.

Our dedicated team of professionals—doctors, client service reps, technicians, and assistants—measure success by the relationships we build. We are here not only for your pets, but for you—giving every pet owner the personal attention you expect and deserve.

Call on us to discuss your pet’s healthcare needs.

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Our Clinic

Since 1996, Academy Animal Care has proudly served Suffolk and surrounding communities in Southeastern Virginia. Over the years, we have expanded our role of providing superior and progressive veterinary care for the pets we see. In 2010, Dr. Glenn Chase became the new practice owner. He welcomed a new co-owner and business partner, Dr. Maura Ambrosio, in 2021. That same year, a new 1,400 square-foot addition was completed—followed by a full renovation of the remaining space in 2022. This remodel allows us to meet and exceed the continued demand of our veterinary services. It includes a larger lobby, with more room for people and pets; five exam rooms; and a complete facelift of the exterior façade. You can view these recent improvements on our “practice reel.”

Dr. Chase, Dr. Ambrosio and the entire Academy Animal Care team look forward to building relationships with the ones who make our jobs so worthwhile—the pets we treat and their wonderful owners.

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The Bark of the Town

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The Bark of the Town

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Meet our Doctors

Glenn Chase, DVM

Years in Practice:
Education: Bachelor of Science/Virginia Tech/1996
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine/Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech/2000

Dr. Chase believes that building strong relationships with clients is key to the success of Academy Animal Care. It starts by providing high-quality care that lives up to his commitment to treat your pets like family. “If we earn that trust, we’ll take care of the rest,” he pledges.

With over two decades of veterinary experience, Dr. Chase delivers expertise in small-animal medicine, soft tissue and orthopedic surgery, reproductive medicine, and emergency/critical care.

Dr. Chase earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and a Bachelor of Science in biology from Virginia Tech. He spent his first five years in practice at Boulevard Animal Hospital in Newport News, where he honed his medicine and surgery skills and developed a special interest in orthopedics. After a two-year stint as medical director of a veterinary practice in Colonial Heights, Virginia, Dr. Chase returned to Hampton Roads, serving three years on the staff at Greenbrier Veterinary Emergency Center in Chesapeake.

When the opportunity to become owner of Academy Animal Care became available, Dr. Chase achieved a long-time dream of running his own small-town veterinarian practice. When not hard at work, Dr. Chase enjoys running, traveling, and spending time with his wife, our very own Dr. Marsha Councill, daughters Hannah and Sarah, and loyal companion Wilson, the English Cocker Spaniel.

Maura Ambrosio, DVM

Years in Practice:
Education: Bachelor of Science/College of William and Mary/2006
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine/Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech/2010

Dr. Ambrosio became a veterinarian to serve families and their pets. Her primary goal is to work as a team with clients to find practical solutions to improve their pets’ health and quality of life.

“Those relationships, within our team and with our pet owners, energize and fulfill me,” she says. “I would like our clients to find us to be caring, competent, accessible and hardworking.”

Dr. Ambrosio earned her Doctor of Veterinary of Medicine from Virginia Tech and holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from the College of William and Mary. She completed an internship in emergency medicine and worked for several veterinary specialists in Hampton Roads before joining Academy Animal Care in July 2011.

A Norfolk native, Dr. Ambrosio resides with her husband, Jim, two young sons, Connor and Nathan along with the family pets: Ollie the dog and cats Cena and Winnie. When not working, she enjoys gardening and spending time with family.

Hannah Adams, DVM

Years in Practice:
Education: Bachelor of Science in Animal Science/North Carolina State University/1999
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine/North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine/2002

Dr. Adams is passionate about her profession and community involvement in animal welfare, and plays an active role in local humane societies. Client education and communication are very important to her because she understands the important role that pets play in the daily life of your family. She developed a local house call service and then joined Academy Animal Care in 2012. Her veterinary specialties include acupuncture, soft tissue surgery, and geriatric patient care. Dr. Adams continues to provide compassionate care in-clinic and on house calls.

Growing up in North Carolina on her family’s farm influenced Dr. Adams’ decision to become a veterinarian. She earned an undergraduate degree in Animal Science and a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from North Carolina State University. After graduating in 2003, she married a Suffolk native, Jimmy Adams, and relocated here to begin her career and raise a family.

The couple resides in Suffolk with their children Julia and James. Their family also includes an Australian Labradoodle, Peanut, a mixed breed dog, Millie, and Mellow the cat. Outside of her work with animals, she enjoys traveling, cooking, flower arranging, reading and spending time with family.

Marsha Councill, DVM

Years in Practice:
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine/Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech/2000

Dr. Councill loves being a part of your pet’s life. She strives to provide your family with the best options as you make decisions to care for your beloved pets. That includes offering house call services to accommodate the busy lives of clients. She has a special interest in animal dermatology and geriatric medicine.

Dr. Councill officially joined the Academy Animal Care team in 2018, but she has been providing relief services for many years. Along with her husband, our very own Dr. Chase, she graduated from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000. She practiced at Kiln Creek Animal Care in Newport News for 18 years before coming aboard to help our growing practice.

When not hard at work, Dr. Councill cares for her two daughters, Hannah and Sarah. She reports that Finnegan, her Australian labradoodle, has the whole family wrapped around his little paw.

Karen Brown, DVM

Years in Practice:
Education: Bachelor of Science in Animal Science/Master of Science in Dairy Science/Virginia Tech/2008
Masters of Science/ Virginia Tech/2010
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine/Ross University/2015

Dr. Brown is from Chesapeake, Virginia and loves caring for small animals. Dr. Brown worked in North Carolina and Radford, Virginia, before finding her home with Academy Animal Care in 2021. She is a devoted member of each of her patient’s care team. She has focused her clinical interests in the areas of preventative medicine, chronic kidney disease, soft tissue surgery, and rehabilitation.

Dr. Brown is the proud mom to her furry kids, Labrador Retriever, Layne, and Frankie the cat. Dr. Brown keeps busy outside of work with time at the beach, live music events, and live sports events. Dr. Brown is an avid Hokie sports fan!