Veterinarian

Dana M. Pantano  D.V.M.

Dr. Dana Pantano received her doctorate degree in veterinary medicine from the New York state College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University in Ithaca New York in 1991.  After receiving her degree, Dr. Pantano returned to her home town of Norwell, Mass. were she now lives with her husband Ed and their two sons Joshua and Samuel, three horses (Harley, Skip and Taylor), 4 goats (Sparkplug, Hank, Pepe and Angelina), 2 cats (Velcro and Stitch), a dog named Lilo and a variety of other smaller pets.  Dr. Pantano is a former Massachusetts 4-H member and horse owner since 1976. After eight years of practicing large animal medicine and surgery on the South Shore for another practice, Dr. Pantano decided to follow her own vision for a large animal veterinary practice. In October 1998, she founded Black Pond Veterinary Service Inc. to continue serving the South Shore and Cape. Dr. Pantano continues to be an avid horsewoman, having shown Western in her youth, played polo through college and vet school, ridden and shown dressage. Now, with her two sons wanting to be cowboys, she is going back to her roots and trying her hand at a variety of fun competitions including team-penning. It's all about having fun and passing along her love of horses and animals to her children! Dr. Pantano participates on the Veterinary Services Division for the State of Massachusetts Animal Response Team (SMART). Dr. Pantano is a member of American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners (AASRP), Society of Theriogenology (SFT) , American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), and Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA).

Staff

Kristen Whittaker, Practice Manager and Whit Acres Farm Owner

Kristen Whittaker and her family own and operate Whit Acres Farm. She is the office manager for BPVS and oversees business operations for both BPVS and Whit Acres.

Kristen has been involved with horses since very young. She began her show career at eleven primarily in the Arabian show circuit. She has won numerous achievements in junior and amateur divisions in English & Western pleasure, and halter. She was US Top Ten and Canadian Reserve National Champion with the farm stallion Tikvah Guarantee, and US Top Twenty with two of the horses bred and raised on the farm. She has had various equine medical experiences both personally and professionally. As a member of SMART (State of Massachusetts Animal Response Team) she participates in clinics and training for large animal rescue.

Kristen graduated from Stonehill College with a degree in Marketing and was co-captain of the Stonehill Equestrian Team.

She enjoys spending time with her family on the farm including her parents, Jean and George, her husband Sean, and her son George.

Christina Karstunen, Veterinary Assistant

Christina Karstunen joined Black Pond Veterinary Service as a veterinary technician in 2005.  She works as an assistant on the road and in the clinic processing lab work and managing the inventory.  Chris grew up in Norwell, MA where she graduated from Norwell High School.  She has been a life long horse enthusiast, riding, showing and teaching on the south shore.  Chris purchased her current horse, Syrus, as a yearling and has enjoyed saddle breaking and training him with the hopes of competing him as an event horse in the future.

Chris lives with her boyfriend and two pet snakes in Whitman.  Chris never misses a Red Sox baseball game and enjoys listening to music of all types.

Bridget Hatch, Veterinary Assistant 

Bridget Hatch joined Black Pond Veterinary Service as a veterinary technician in the fall of 2008. After spending her winter working as a student in Wellington FL, and doing an internship with us she now works as an assistant on the road, in the clinic and also, participating in processing lab work. Bridget grew up in Abington, MA and now lives in the city of Halifax. She graduated from South Shore Charter Public School, and is now attending Massasoit Community College majoring in Liberal Arts Science and hopes to transfer to a Pre-Veterinary Program and then on to Vet school. Bridget rides and shows her two horses Felix and Kartune in the jumpers and equitation all around New England. Bridget was in the top four for the New England Equation Championships horsemanship and practicum. Also, she is a proud ambassador for Just World International. Bridget is dedicated to her job, schoolwork, and most importantly her love for animals.

Michelle Durfee, Receptionist

Michelle Durfee joined Black Pond Veterinary Service in the spring of 2006.  She is a native of the South Shore and graduated from Whitman- Hanson High School.  Michelle is the receptionist and is the voice you most often hear when calling the clinic or booking appointments.  She competed in local dressage and hunt seat competitions with her previous horse and currently Michelle and her charming horse Bailey ride and train in dressage.