About Us : Our Doctors
Dr. Alton A. Ford
Dr. Ford's family moved to Florida in 1962.  His education included undergraduate work at the University of Florida and graduating from veterinary school at Auburn University in 1971.  At first, he practiced at a mixed practice (large and small animal) in Missouri, but came back to Florida in 1972.  In 1975, Dr. Ford and Dr. Gillaspie acquired South Trail Animal Hospital.  His interests include family camping, wood work, and yard work.
 
  

 


Dr. Thomas F. Gillaspie
Dr. Gillaspie was raised on a livestock farm in Kansas and graduated from Kansas State University's School of Veterinary Medicine in 1970.  He was in the Army Veterinary Corp in Vietnam and then in private practice in Bradenton, FL.  In 1975, he bought South Trail Animal Hospital with Dr. Ford.  Dr. Gillaspie and his wife Jayma have four daughters.  The current pet population at home is 7 cats, 1 dog (a Rat Terrier named LMN), and a Finn Sheep with two lambs.  He drives the Sunday School bus and teaches junior church for Gospel Baptist Church.  Dr. Gillaspie enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine, but especially orthopedic and soft tissue surgery.  He also enjoys bird watching. 

 

          

 Dr. Laura R. Golden
Dr. Golden is a 1979 graduate of the University of Tennessee.  Her career over the years has included private practice with companion animals, five years with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, and one year with a charity organization for the welfare of animals.  She returned to private practice in 1990 and plans to continue in this rewarding facet of veterinary medicine.  Dr. Golden enjoys treating companion mammals and birds, and has recently taken training in diagnostic ultrasound imaging.  She discovered the exciting world of dog showing about 10 years ago, competing in obedience and agility with her Australian Terrier.  Currently, she and her husband have 3 Border Terriers (Otter, Passion,and Moriah  ) that they show in conformation, obedience, agility, earthdog and tracking competitions.  She also teaches an advanced beginner agility class and an earthdog class.  The family also includes a big striped cat named Flash.
 
      

 
 Dr. Barbara Demonarco-Snell
Dr. DeMonarco-Snell joined the South Trail team in June of 2004 after receiving her DVM degree from Kansas State University.  It was there that she was introduced to Tom Gillaspie (KSU '70) and recruited to Ft. Myers.  She moved to Ft. Myers with her three dogs Penny, Hunter, Eli, her cat Tela, and her two ferrets, Lola and Opie.  Her more recent additions include Penny, a very lucky chihuahua, and Bonnie and Clyde, ferrets.  Her areas of interest include canine and feline preventative and internal medicine, behavior, and exotics.  Dr. DeMonarco-Snell volunteers bimonthly at the Lee County Humane Society, spaying, neutering, and vaccinating adoption animals.  Her hobbies include hiking, scuba diving,boating, and spending time with her husband and pets.
 
     
 
 
 Dr. Eleanor Cooke
Dr. Cooke is a native New Yorker and graduated from Tuskegee University in 2004.  Before becoming a veterinarian she was a registered dental hygienist for 13 years.  Dr. Cooke joined South Trail Animal Hospital in February 2008.  When she is not working, Dr. Cooke has 6 dogs(Barry, Rocko, Gracie, Mikey, Ruby and Angel) and 2 horses(Debut and Finalih) that she spends time training. Dr. Cooke enjoys the beach and loves our sunny Florida weather.