Who We Are

Talented. Thorough. Communicative. The team at Caring Hands Merrifield works together towards a singular cause: giving you the absolute best relationship with your pet possible.

Holly Loeffler

Medical Director, DVM

Holly Loeffler, DVM Medical Director of Caring Hands Animal Hospital of Merrifield

Dr. Loeffler, associate veterinarian, graduated from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Originally from a small town in Oklahoma, she attended the University of Oklahoma, where she obtained an undergraduate degree in Biology. Dr. Loeffler joined Caring Hands in 2020, and her professional interests include preventative health care, internal medicine, and geriatric care. Outside of work, Dr. Loeffler enjoys cooking, reading, hiking, and spending time outdoors.

Andy Bogorad

DVM

Dr. Bogorad, associate veterinarian, grew up in Arlington, VA, before attending the College of William & Mary, where he obtained an undergraduate degree in Chemistry. He then attended the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and worked at Caring Hands as an assistant during veterinary school before joining as a doctor in 2021. His professional interests include preventative medicine, oncology, and neurology. Dr. Bogorad loves playing basketball, video games, watching hockey, and exploring new restaurants in the DC area outside of work.

Michelle Vitulli

DVM

Michelle Vitulli, DVM Founder of Caring Hands Animal Hospital, Inc is the owner of Caring Hands Animal Hospital, Inc in Centreville and co-owner of Caring Hands Animal Hospital of Alexandria, Arlington, Ashburn, Bristow, Merrifield, Rockville, and Clarendon.

Dr. Michelle Vitulli, founder, and owner of Caring Hands Animal Hospital, Inc in Centreville, Virginia, is a 1991 graduate of Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Vitulli is a co-owner of 7 other Caring Hands locations, Arlington which opened in 2002, Bristow, which opened in 2005, Ashburn which opened in 2007, Alexandria, which opened in 2012, Merrifield, which opened in 2014, Rockville which opened in 2015, Clarendon which opened in 2016, and a location in Aventura, FL in 2017. She has interests in cardiology, internal medicine, and preventive care for senior pets. Dr. Vitulli, and her husband Bob have three children, Daniel, Julia and Anna, a dog named Harley, and three cats named Dewey, Little Bear, and Aslan.

Jeffery Newman

DVM

Jeffery Newman, DVM Co-owner of Caring Hands Animal Hospital of Alexandria, Arlington, Ashburn, Merrifield, Rockville, and Clarendon.

Dr. Newman, Co-Owner, is a graduate from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University in 1992. He has practiced veterinary medicine in Georgia, Nevada, and in Virginia. His interests include emergency medicine, surgery, and shelter medicine. He has three children: a daughter, Virginia, and twins, Elisabeth and Jack. His extended family consists of two dogs: Honeysuckle and Daisy May; three cats: Three, Tangerine, and Kip; two Guinea pigs: Nonie and Milkshake; and bird: Spencer; and a horse: Charlie.

Dr. Newman is the immediate past president of the VVMA, an advisor for the NOVA Veterinary Technician Program, Vice President of the Loudoun Community Cat Coalition, board member of the Friends of Loudoun County Animal Services, and President of CHASE (Caring Hands Animal Support and Education).

Karen Murphy

DVM

Karen Murphy, DVM Co-owner of Caring Hands Animal Hospital of Bristow, Merrifield, Rockville, and Clarendon.

Dr. Murphy, Co-Owner, is a graduate of Auburn University. She did a post-graduate internship at Angel Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, MA. She practiced in North Carolina’s Piedmont region for 5 years before joining Caring Hands Animal Hospital. She has been a part of the Caring Hands family for over 15 years beginning at our Centreville office for 5 years and then opening the Bristow location in 2005. Her interests in include preventative medicine, internal medicine, surgery, and ultrasound.

Delaney Martin

DVM

Dr. Delaney Martin, associate veterinarian is a 2022 graduate of Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her undergraduate studies at Virginia Tech and holds a degree in Biological Sciences. Her professional interests include pain management, surgery, and preventative medicine. Dr. Martin is a Northern Virginia native and shares her home with her black lab mix, Onyx, and senior cat, Russell James. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, reading, and exploring new restaurants in the area.

Arielle Lua

DVM

Dr. Lua, associate veterinarian, graduated from National Taiwan University School of Veterinary Medicine and completed the PAVE program at Oklahoma State University. She is originally from Singapore where she obtained a Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Biomedical Science at Nanyang Technological University, before traveling the world for her veterinarian dream. She worked in the veterinary field in Taiwan, Singapore, and Texas state before joining Caring Hands in 2024. Her professional interests include traditional Chinese veterinary medicine (TCVM), rehabilitation, surgery, and diagnostic imaging.

Dr. Lua has a Husky mix rescue and three cats at home. In her spare time, she enjoys scouting for good restaurants, playing video/board games, and traveling.

What Your Neighbors Say…

We love Caring Hands Animal Hospital! Chai absolutely loves going to the vet because he knows he’s going to get a lot of attention, treats, and love! They’ve taken great care of him since starting seeing him as a puppy. We moved to Lake Ridge, and are still willing to make the drive to Falls Church for his visits because we trust them and wouldn’t want to go anywhere else! Thank you Caring Hands!

Leyda

I don’t often leave reviews, however, having recently lost our cat of 19 years, we were all impressively touched and appreciated the level of care we all (cat, and family) received while going through this difficult time. Dr. Richards and the entire staff at Caring Hands (Merrifield) were so knowledgeable and professional, while gentle and compassionate. I wish we would have found them sooner, but are truly grateful for the way they took care of everyone.

AB

I can attest that the Centreville and Merrifield VA centers are exceptional; they present flexible treatment protocols where needed; and finally, they possess wonderful user portals enabling seamless appointment scheduling, drug and script food orders, and receipts thus they are paperless operations. I’ve been adopting dogs and cats for decades. I drive from Maryland back to Merrifield because of the consistent continuity and excellent care of my pets.

Nichole

What Your Neighbors Say…

We love Caring Hands Animal Hospital! Chai absolutely loves going to the vet because he knows he’s going to get a lot of attention, treats, and love! They’ve taken great care of him since starting seeing him as a puppy. We moved to Lake Ridge, and are still willing to make the drive to Falls Church for his visits because we trust them and wouldn’t want to go anywhere else! Thank you Caring Hands!

Leyda

I don’t often leave reviews, however, having recently lost our cat of 19 years, we were all impressively touched and appreciated the level of care we all (cat, and family) received while going through this difficult time. Dr. Richards and the entire staff at Caring Hands (Merrifield) were so knowledgeable and professional, while gentle and compassionate. I wish we would have found them sooner, but are truly grateful for the way they took care of everyone.

AB

I can attest that the Centreville and Merrifield VA centers are exceptional; they present flexible treatment protocols where needed; and finally, they possess wonderful user portals enabling seamless appointment scheduling, drug and script food orders, and receipts thus they are paperless operations. I’ve been adopting dogs and cats for decades. I drive from Maryland back to Merrifield because of the consistent continuity and excellent care of my pets.

Nichole