Meet the Team

Dr. Melissa Schaal graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine with honors in 1992. She began her career as a mixed animal practitioner, and had the pleasure of working on a variety of animals big and small, including ostriches, rabbits, llamas, and many others.

Dr. Schaal has owned and directed care at Lake Pepin Pet Clinic since 2006. At Lake Pepin Pet Clinic, Dr. Schaal’s focus is dogs and cats, with a strong interest in internal medicine.

Dr. Schaal is happily married and has two adult children. When not caring for animals, Dr. Schaal enjoys gardening, lifting weights at the gym, hiking, cooking, and travelling when time permits.

Dr. Chris Schlesser was raised in Dubuque, IA and graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2009. She previously practiced in Cedar Rapids, IA and has been at Lake Pepin Pet Clinic since 2012.

She loves caring for dogs and cats and seeing them through all phases of life.

Dr. Schlesser is married with two children. She has a fuzzy mutt named Burbot and 2 troublesome cats named Halibut and Barracuda. Outside of work, she loves to garden, paint, hike, and fish.

Jenn Befort, Certified Veterinary Technician, graduated from Argosy University in 2002. She has been a dedicated employee at Lake Pepin Clinic & Hospital since October 2002.

Jenn grew up with pets surrounding her. She enjoys caring for and spoiling animals. Marley, her Dachshund mix, loves to hike with Jenn and even goes kayaking! Pippa, another Dachshund mix, is more interested in snuggling. Jenn’s love of animals is evident in the care she takes in her patients; always treating each one with the care she gives her own pets.

Hello I’m Melanie. I’ve been working in the veterinary industry for 8 years. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science Emphasis in Meat Animal and Companion Animal from University of Wisconsin River Falls. I grew up near Lake City helping out on my family’s beef farm and that’s how I grew to love animals. I enjoy caring for all the patients that come to the clinic and helping with client education. Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family: husband, 2 sons and 2 Aussiedoodles Ember and Ruger and 2 cats: Bo and Luke.

I graduated from Globe College in 1998 with a Veterinary Clinic Assistant degree. I worked for 23 years in manufacturing with a career change in 2022 when I joined Lake Pepin Pet Clinic.

I am a lifetime resident of Lake City and have owned a variety of animals throughout my life both small and large.

I am a fan of the large breed dogs and currently own an English mastiff named Rosco. I also bred Great Danes for several years.

I am happily married and have two daughters of my own and several bonus kids. I enjoy spending time outdoors, camping in the summer and deer hunting in the fall.

Hi, I am Ben Schaal! Im not starving but I do dabble in the arts. In my off time I do graphic design projects and pursue my music production hobby. Find out more on my site ben-schaal.com!