Meet Dr. Tharpe

Alexandra Giddens Tharpe is a graduate of the University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine. She is an Auburn University graduate, Summa Cum Laude, with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Business and Finance, Class of 2015.

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Alexandra has been working in the field of animal care since she was a junior at Northgate High School, class of 2012. Her official employment began ten years ago, where she worked her way through various positions from kennel technician, receptionist, and veterinary technician at Cat Care of Fayette. Growing up with Dr. Lori Stearns as her aunt, Alexandra was always around animals and it was here that her initial love for veterinary medicine and feline specific medicine began. She is so excited to carry on her career in the family business!

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Alexandra has completed two internships with Atlanta Wild Animal Rescue Efforts (AWARE), where she learned to work with a vast number of wildlife native to Georgia in a rehabilitation attempt. She has worked with cats, bobcats, foxes, rabbits, turtles, snakes, rats, mice, beavers, squirrels, songbirds, ferrets, guinea pigs, chinchillas, raptors, raccoons, Blue Heron, and many more species.

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In 2018, Alexandra completed a two-month internship in New Zealand working as a technician, where she was able to gain knowledge of international Vet Med. She also participated in a Coral Reef Conservation project in Key Largo with her Marine Biology professor from Georgia State and took the Zoo Biology class at Zoo Atlanta. Alexandra has a passion for all animals, domestic and exotic!

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During Alexandra’s Vet School career, she has participated in the Zoo Med Club events as well as Feline Club events. She also attended the Vet Student's day at the CDC during first year to learn more about Public Health and how veterinarians should be involved in our world health crises. By far, the most valuable experience that vet school has offered was the ability to travel to Costa Rica to participate in the Conservation Medicine and Conservation Biology course over the summer of 2019. It was in Costa Rica where she had the opportunity to work with many endangered species and large wild cats.

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Alexandra has eight fur babies at home, with her husband Joel. Six precious kitties (Hudson, Salem, Chief, Kylo Ren, Rey, and Lando), two silly Golden Retrievers (Rohan and Granger), two happy pigs (Sawyer and Finn), chickens and bees. She is committed to being a Feline specific veterinarian and is Fear Free Certified to help bring as much calmness to the veterinary visit experience as possible. Alexandra has a true passion for our kitty friends, advocating to be their voice, and making sure that they receive the special attention that they truly need. She joined our team again in June of 2022.