Doctors & Staff

Dr. Michael Ina

Contact Dr. Ina: mikeina@arguellopet.com

I was first hired at the Arguello Pet Hospital in the su mmer of 1968. I was hired as a kennel and bathing person. I needed to gain experience in the field of veterinary medicine as a prerequisite to apply to the veterinary schools. I continued working at Arguello Pet Hospital while I was an undergraduate student at the University of California, Davis.

I was fortunate to gain acceptance to the School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis and graduated in June 1974. After graduation, I immediately began working at the Arguello Pet Hospital as a veterinarian with Elmo Shropshire, DVM.

In 1982, I purchased the practice from Elmo Shropshire. It was a very small and slow practice at the time. It was a one doctor, one technician and one receptionist veterinary hospital. I dedicated myself to practicing and providing quality medicine and client service.

This dedication to practice quality medicine and to provide quality client service enabled the hospital to grow to its present state of five doctors and a staff of over twenty employees. The entire staff is dedicated to provide compassionate care to our patients, their owners and to one another.

When I'm not caring for my patients or doing management work for Arguello Pet Hospital, I enjoy my free time playing golf, fishing, scuba diving and both underwater and outdoor photography.

I have been married to Vickie for over thirty years and have two daughters. My oldest daughter, Cecily, is a second grade school teacher and my youngest daughter is in her last year at the School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis. I have two dogs, Chibi, a toy poodle, Pete, a miniature wired-haired Dachshund and Hobbes, an Abyssinian.

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Dr. Perry Heffelfinger

Contact Dr. Heffelfinger: perryheffelfinger@arguellopet.com

I joined the staff at Arguello Pet Hospital in January, 1987. Having grown up in San Francisco, though, my association with the hospital dates back to my childhood. My family’s pets have all been cared for by Arguello for as long as I can remember.

I studied Biology at Harvard and graduated from veterinary school at Cornell in 1985. After a couple of years in mixed (large and small animal) practice, I returned to San Francisco to concentrate in small animal medicine and surgery at Arguello.

My interests outside of veterinary medicine includes reading, biking (my means of commuting to work), competitive rowing and travel. I share my home with my husband, two not always well behaved golden retrievers and a very active cat who thinks he is a dog. I also enjoy doing pet assisted therapy with my goldens at a local hospital. Despite their not so perfect behavior, the dogs are always welcomed at these visits.

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Dr. Mara Weiss

Contact Dr. Weiss: maraweiss@arguellopet.com

While growing up in a San Fernando Valley house full of cats, I always dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. I earned an undergraduate degree in zoology at UC Santa Barbara and a large portion of my time in Santa Barbara was spent volunteering for the local animal shelter and the Marine Mammal Center.

The many hours I spent enjoying taking care of these animals solidified my desire to become a veterinarian. Immediately after I graduated UCSB in 1997, I started veterinary school at UC Davis. During veterinary school I emphasized small animal medicine and helped provide care for the pets of the homeless population in Sacramento.

I moved to San Francisco in 2001 and I have been having a great time exploring Northern California. During my free time I enjoy going to concerts and plays, hiking, caring for my two cats Jimmy and Otis and traveling to Santa Cruz to spend time with my two young nephews.

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Dr. Rebecca Price

Contact Dr. Price: rebeccaprice@arguellopet.com

I am a recent arrival from upstate New York, having fled the icy cold of Rochester in 2004. My undergraduate education was completed at Harvard University, where I studied Anthropology, and received my B.A. in 1992. After a three year hiatus from school (enjoying life in Boston), I returned jto Ny State to pursue my veterinary education. I received my DVM degree from Cornell in 1999. I then moved back to my hometown of Rochester, where I worked as a companion animal and exotica veterinarian.

My interest in veterinary medicine has been present since a young age, and I have had the opportunity to work with animals in a variety of settings including shelters and zoos. The mild California weather has been greatly appreciated by my canine companions, Hannah and Missy, who made the long cross country move with me.

We especially enjoy the hiking, swimming and camping opportunities, and have made frequent trips to the many beautiful towns of costal California. I do not miss the snow shoveling days of the East Cost.

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Dr. Margaret Kang

Contact Dr. Kang: margaretkang@arguellopet.com

At the age of 7, upon returning home from my new puppy's first vaccine visit, I remember declaring to my parents that I wanted to become a vet. I grew up in Orange County, CA and attended UC Davis immediately after high school, where I received my B.S. in Veterinary Science in 1997 and my D.V.M. in 1999.

After graduation, I worked in a small animal hospital in Torrance, CA for 2 years, and then moved to Boston, MA for 4 years, where I became a Red Sox fan while working in small animal practice. After shoveling snow for a few winters, I made my way back to CA and have been happy at Arguello since September, 2006.

I currently live in San Francisco with my significant other and share my home with Jodi, a 14-year old Beagle/Lab mix (older but not necessarily wiser), Kiri, my 12-year old asthmatic cat, and Kiwi, a spirited 20-something year-old Meyer's parrot. In my spare time, I enjoy running, yoga, hiking, and live music.

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