About Us
Providing Care for Your Trusted Companions
At WellHaven Pet Health Coon Rapids, we firmly believe in the power of compassionate care for your cherished pet family members. Our unwavering mission is to deliver exceptional veterinary services with an unparalleled personal touch, ensuring the highest quality of care for your beloved companions.


Meet Our Principal Doctor
Jennifer Melling, DVM
She’s a University of MN Veterinary School alum, but her love of animals goes back to her first job as a kennel assistant. Today, when she’s not building relationship with her patients, you can find her tending her garden and boating with her family.
Meet Our Team

Sarah Marx, DVM
Associate Doctor
Dr. Marx started her career as a veterinary assistant in her hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin (yes; this means she is a true cheese head Packer fan), before moving to Minnesota in 2008 to complete her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota. Since graduating in 2012, she has spent the past years as a small animal veterinarian in Coon Rapids with a large interest in internal medicine and preventative care. Dr. Marx is known for her soft spot for the misunderstood aggressive animals and bully breeds. Her time away from the clinic is spent with her husband and daughter, boating on the lake, traveling, and spending time playing with her pets – Mylo (Pit Bull mix), Brodie (Pit Bull mix), and her two cats: Ty and Tess.

Jessica Nelson, DVM
Associate Doctor
Dr. Nelson attended St Olaf College for her undergraduate degree and later received her doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State University. She and her husband reside in Maple Grove and stay busy with their 3 young children and 2 geriatric dogs. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities with her family.
Her professional interests include surgery, dentistry, and dermatology. Additionally, she has a special interest in supporting families through the quality of life decisions.
Dr. Nelson is ecstatic to be working in her hometown of Maple Grove and providing compassionate care to her fellow residents and their beloved pets in the surrounding area.

Liz Pepin, DVM
Associate Doctor
Dr. Liz Pepin was born in Brooklyn Park, MN and has lived throughout the upper Midwest since, including Iowa and the Dakotas. She is a graduate of Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and has been a small animal and exotic/pocket pet general practitioner in Minnesota since graduating in 2016. Her professional interests include ophthalmology and preventative medicine. She is married with 3 cats, 3 dogs and a flock of backyard chickens. Her hobbies include gardening and native landscaping, spending time outdoors with her family and traveling with friends.
Dr. Nelson is ecstatic to be working in her hometown of Maple Grove and providing compassionate care to her fellow residents and their beloved pets in the surrounding area.

Ashley Hansmann
Practice Manager
Ashley has been a Certified Veterinary Technician since graduating from the Minnesota School of Business in 2010. She has over 10 years of experience as a technician and has now changed her career direction to Practice Manger. She is currently enrolled in classes to obtain her Certified Veterinary Practice Manager degree. She enjoys her role as Practice Manager but also enjoys being able to step into the role of technician. She has had a passion for animal health for as long as she can remember and has always known she belongs in a veterinary clinic.
When she is not at the clinic, she enjoys hiking, camping and spending time with her two dogs Bubba (Pit Bull) and Finnegan (a crazy and very needy Puggle).

Lisa N.
Lead Certified Veterinary Technician

Kim S.
Certified Veterinary Technician

Lexi M.
Veterinary Assistant

Hunter H-L.
Veterinary Assistant

Casey C.
Veterinary Assistant

Taylor S.
Certified Veterinary Technician

Olivia B.
Veterinary Assistant

Lien D.
Lead Receptionist

Julia F.
Receptionist

Hannah S.
Receptionist

Madeline H.
Receptionist

Meghan P.
Lead Kennel Assistant

Abby J.
Kennel Assistant

Audrey L.
Kennel Assistant

Kenzie K.
Kennel Assistant
Request an Appointment
How to contact us:
When to seek out Coon Rapids Urgent Vet Care Services
It can be a stressful situation when you find your pet in need of immediate emergency or urgent care or if you’re unsure what you should be doing to help. Please don’t hesitate to call the Coon Rapids WellHaven for guidance in these difficult times.
Emergency Care Whether your pet is in need of immediate emergency care or emergent care (when a situation can worsen over a short period of time), acting quickly can make all the difference in the world. Please call (763) 290-0830 at once to ensure we can see you as early as possible if your pet is experiencing any of the following issues. Please Note we are not currently seeing walk-in patients at this time.
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Referrals Although we are a fully outfitted veterinary hospital, there are times when we won't be able to see or treat your pet. In these cases, your pet will need to be seen by another clinic, hospital, or veterinary facility. If necessary, we will refer you and your pet to another doctor for the following circumstances:
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Coon Rapids Accepts Referral Urgent Care Patients
If you’re an animal clinic that is unable to perform urgent care or offer emergency services, please consider sending your patients to the Coon Rapids WellHaven. When they call, make sure they tell us their primary care facility so we can get all of the necessary information from you before they arrive at our facility. We will also relay visit information back to you to ensure you have a complete history of your patients.