Meet The Team
Dr. Kayla Hough
Dr. Hough is the founder and sole veterinarian here at Kestrel Veterinary Hospital. She grew up in the Renton Highlands area outside of Seattle. She knew from the young age of 4 that becoming a veterinarian was her dream career. She attended Washington State University (Go Cougs!) for her undergraduate degree in Animal Sciences. She moved to Grand Cayman in the Caribbean to attend veterinary school at St. Matthew’s University School of Veterinary Medicine. For her final clinical year of veterinary school, she returned to Washington State University and graduated in October 2018. She has practiced veterinary medicine in the Greater Seattle area since graduation. After a few years of practicing at local clinics and providing needed relief coverage to local hospitals, she made the exciting decision to open Kestrel Veterinary Hospital.
She shares her home with her husband Joe, a long-haired tuxedo cat Charlie and a bonded pair of rabbits (Rory & Mac).
Her main hobby is competitive tunnel boat and hydroplane racing through American Powerboat Association (APBA). She races alongside her father and her husband. In 2024 and 2025, she placed 2nd in the country in the Sport C class. She started racing a smaller (but faster!) hydroplane boat that races in the C Stock Hydro, OSY400, and 200SSH classes. She was awarded the Seattle Outboard Association 2025 Rookie of the Year.
Other hobbies include playing video games, watching local Seattle sports teams (Go Kraken, Mariners, Seahawks, & Torrent!), reading and being surrounded by plants.
Our Team
Dasha
Office Manager
Dasha is Kestrel Vet’s Office Manager and has been in the veterinary field for just over 12 years. Originally from Northern California, Dasha moved here with her husband and 2 cats, Guenny and Junia. She’s also acquired two new cats named Onion and Potato who are equally as fluffy as they are naughty. She has called Washington home since 2016 and commutes all the way from Renton to work at Kestrel Vet. She met Dr. Hough in 2018 while working at Banfield Capitol Hill and have been friends ever since.
“I’m so lucky to get to work alongside incredible, compassionate, and kind women like Dr. Hough, Athena, and Bailey. I’m fortunate to work at Kestrel Vet where I can be proud of the work we do.”
Athena
Veterinary Assistant
Athena is one of Kestrel Vet’s Veterinary Assistants and has 4 years of experience. She is passionate about advocating for the health and well-being of animals by incorporating preventative care and client education to make a difference in the lives of her patients. Since becoming a Veterinary Assistant, Athena has felt a deep sense of fulfillment and purpose in providing quality care to animals along with tenderness and love to all her patients. She loves animals so much that she has 3 cats, a dog, and 2 horses!
Bai
Veterinary Assistant
Bailey, also known to all as Bai (pronounced BAY), has been a Veterinary Assistant for about 8 years now. She has 3 kitties and a sweet hound dog named Dale, whom you might see snoozing behind the reception desk at the clinic from time to time. Bai has several hobbies such as crafting and ceramics but she really shines during outside activities like hiking, whale watching, birding, and going to the beach.