Veterinarians
Dr. Bert Parker is a native of Gates county, NC and grew up on a farm that raised one of our state’s favorite crops: peanuts. Dr. Parker has a B.S. in Agronomy (Crop and Soil Science) from North Carolina State University, and in 1986, he received his veterinary degree from North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Parker is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, North Carolina Veterinary Association, the American Association of Equine Practitioners, and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners. He is quite skilled and adept at treating all types of large animals, from horses and cows to sheep and pigs, but his particular area of interest lies in equine and bovine reproductive services.
Dr. Parker is an enthusiastic supporter of NCSU football, and during the fall, you may spot him and his wife Mary cheering in the stands or tailgating with friends somewhere around Carter Finley stadium. They also appreciate the country life on their local farm; actually, Dr. Parker says with a smile that his main hobby is “money pit projects on the farm.”
Dr. Gunner Edgell graduated from Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine in May of 2024. Prior to veterinary school, he attended Fairmont State University where he swam competitively for the university and earned a BS in biology. He started working at Rocky River Large Animal Veterinary Clinic in the beginning of June 2024. Dr. Edgell was raised on a small family farm in the hills of West Virginia, where his family raised beef cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, and meat rabbits. Dr. Gunner enjoys working on all livestock and has a strong passion for herd health consultations. He currently is a member of American Association of Bovine Practitioners, Academy of Veterinary Consultants, and American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners.
Dr. Gunner is married to his lovely wife, Tamara. They tied the knot on Memorial Day weekend 2024. Together they have two cats named Tiara and Simba and a dog named Luna. In his free time he enjoys exercising, hunting, woodworking, jewelry making, and seeing friends and family.
Dr. Jonathan Featherstone graduated from North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000. He joined Rocky River Large Animal Veterinary Clinic June 12, 2000. Dr. Featherstone works on all large animal species often, but especially enjoys equine dentistry and reproduction. Dr. Featherstone has a lovely wife Stephanie Featherstone.
He has two beautiful daughters (Jadyn & Sadie) and a handsome young son (Archer). He also has a beautiful stepdaughter (Addison) and a handsome stepson (Griffin). You will oftentimes find he and Stephanie rooting for their children at various sports events throughout the year. Dr. Featherstone most enjoys spending time with family and friends, hunting, fishing and playing sports. He loves to support the N.C. State Wolfpack!
Dr. Kristi Pierce-Shupe obtained her B.S. degree in Biology from North Carolina State University in 1998, and completed her veterinary training at North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine in 2005. Upon receiving her DVM, Dr. Shupe served an equine internship at Virginia Tech, concentrating in large animal surgery and equine field service. Her areas of special interest are lameness, musculoskeletal disorders, and ultrasound. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her husband, Eric and their daughters, Hannah and Nora. She performs in cowboy mounted shooting, loves to trail ride and play the piano. They have several horses and two dogs. While Dr. Shupe has left the practice full time, she continues to provide part time services to Rocky River on a limited basis.
TECHNICIANS
Hattie Rinehardt, RVT is from Albemarle, NC where she still resides. She obtained her degree in Veterinary Technology from Gaston College in 2014. She has worked in mixed animal practice as well as small animal specialty practice where she was a surgery technician before following her passion and coming back to large animal medicine with us here at Rocky River in 2021. She grew up on the farm where she currently resides, riding horses and raising sheep for her high school FFA.
She is married to her very best friend, Chase and together they have 3 beautiful children, Sawyer, Cora, and Wilkes. Hattie and her family have a wide variety of hobbies including trail riding, traveling, kayaking, and fishing. On the weekends you will surely find them spending time with their family which also includes 8 horses, 4 dogs, 5 cats, and numerus cattle, goats and poultry. It’s always a “zoo” around their house but they wouldn’t have it any other way.
Miranda Miller, RVT is from Badin, NC where she still resides. She obtained her degree in veterinary technology from Central Carolina Community College in 2019. She has been working at a small animal practice since graduating until she started with us here at Rocky River at the beginning of 2026. Miranda is passionate about horses and eager to learn more about all the large animals we treat! She grew up playing sports and horseback riding.
On the weekends and her days off you will most likely find her riding her quarter horse, Twix, taking him to local barrel races, or hiking with her boyfriend, Quintin and her dogs, Callie (aka Chicken Wang), a 3 legged aussie and Daisy, her loyal pitty.
Julie Coats, RVT is originally from Ohio and obtained her degree in veterinary technology at Columbus State/Ohio State Veterinary School. She was employed at NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine for 20 years, first working in the large animal anesthesia department, from there she moved to the cardiac metabolism laboratory where she was a lead technician, researching cardiac drugs for all species of animals. When her husband relocated to Charlotte, she called Dr. Parker whom she knew from NC State and he hired her. 
She has had horses all her life and was an avid endurance rider, successfully finishing several 50 mile rides. She also has two dogs, two horses, and several cats that keep her busy when she is not at Rocky River. She now works part-time as she eases into retirement.
OFFICE STAFF
Marley Scarlett, is originally from Danville, VA but moved to Harrisburg, NC when she was young and has proudly called it home ever since. As our energetic and outgoing office manager, she keeps the clinic running smoothly while bringing plenty of positivity and laughter to the team.
When she’s not keeping things organized at the office, she enjoys hiking with her dogs, Lorelai (who also helps around the office) and Suki, riding her horse, Russa, and hanging out with friends and family.