Meet the Veterinarians of PawSteps Veterinary Center in Whitinsville, MA. We’re pleased to provide exceptional vet care for your pets!
Please call us at 508-234-9987 to speak to one of our caring veterinary staff members!
Sean Douglas Sawyer, VMD, has worked with animals his entire life, both as a child on the family farm in Maine as well as an adult in the woods of New Hampshire and the biotechnology-pharmaceutical companies of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. Dr. Sawyer graduated from Bates College, Lewiston, Maine, in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in biology and then worked for a short time in the field of avian ecology before settling in Massachusetts and developing an interest in veterinary medicine. During veterinary school, he worked as veterinary assistant in the university’s small animal hospital, as well as other facilities, where he improved his animal care skills and discovered a passion for companion animal medicine and surgery. Dr. Sawyer graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2000.
After graduation, he completed a highly selective one-year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Foster Hospital for Small Animals at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Sawyer spent several years working as an Associate Veterinarian at other Massachusetts veterinary hospitals prior to opening PawSteps Veterinary Center in 2008. He also worked as a part time as the Veterinary Surgeon for the Massachusetts Animal Coalition Spay/Neuter Program at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine Luke and Lily Lerner Spay/Neuter Clinic where he provided low-cost, high-quality spays and neuters to shelter and rescue animals with the assistance of selected Tufts veterinary students.
Dr. Sawyer has been a proud supporter of Northbridge and the Blackstone Valley communities for many years, taking time away from his practice to participate at local high school career fairs as well as collaborating on other veterinary and small business educational opportunities. In addition to helping the people of the Blackstone Valley, Dr. Sawyer and his staff have provided significant support to several of the area animal rescues, including Dog Orphans and their annual Walk for Paws dog walk as well as the Pet Rock Festival. Dr. Sawyer is most importantly the proud father to Alison and Kevin, his occasionally enthusiastic observers of veterinary medicine and hesitant scoopers of dog poo, but always infinite source of inspiration and devotion.
His extended family includes quite a few 4-legged furry “kids” but Beatris (“Tris” as she is known), a Plott hound mix and Spud, the slightly voluptuous black feline who drools like a hound dog when he is happy and wears pink nail caps to prevent furniture scratching, are the only two with whom he lives. Unfortunately, Dr. Sawyer’s long-term companion and first patient at PawSteps Veterinary Center, Jasmine, passed away in 2014 at the too early age of 13 – she will always be missed. When not at the veterinary center, Dr. Sawyer likes to walk Tris around the area parks, hike and canoe/kayak with his family, and mountain bike (ideally without crashing) – he also likes the all too often Netflix binge. Dr. Sawyer’s greatest desire is to use his excellent medical experience to provide each of his patients with quality, personalized veterinary care. Therefore, he is thrilled to own PawSteps Veterinary Center and looks forward to being your family veterinarian.
Dr. Sawyer considers membership in the veterinary profession and continuing education critical to providing superb care to his patients. He maintains memberships with: AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) MVMA (Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association) VIN (Veterinary Information Network) …and regularly seeks Continuing Education at the North American Veterinary Conference as well as other programs.
Dr. Caroline Barr was born and raised in Needham, MA. She comes from a family of human doctors, but knew from a young age that working with animals was her true passion! Dr. Barr received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. After graduating from college she worked at the Animal Rescue League of Boston, where she developed an interest in shelter medicine and animal behavior.
Dr. Barr attended the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University and was an active member of on-campus organizations and community outreach programs. After graduating with her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Barr completed a one year rotating internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at the VCA South Shore Weymouth Animal Hospital. After a busy year honing her skills with emergency cases, internal medicine, and surgery, Dr. Barr is very excited to be joining PawSteps Veterinary Center!
Dr. Barr lives in Grafton with her husband, son and daughter, and their four-legged family members. In her free time, she loves to bake cookies, go for hikes, and do yoga.
Dr. Anna Altobelli is a New England native, originally from Massachusetts. She graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor’s in Animal Science and then attended Kansas State University where she completed her doctorate of veterinary medicine in 2016. After graduation, Dr. Altobelli worked in research for a year in South Carolina and then at a small animal and exotics practice in New Hampshire until she recently moved back to Massachusetts with her significant other.
Dr. Altobelli’s interests include internal medicine and exotic medicine. Dr. Altobelli is very excited to be back in the Massachusetts where she is closer to friends and family. Her personal interests include traveling and spending time outdoors.
Dr. Alex Bemis was born and raised in Connecticut. She completed her undergraduate degree at Mount Holyoke College where she majored in Neuroscience and Behavior and later graduated from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in North Grafton, MA in 2018. After graduation, Dr. Bemis worked for 3 years as an Associate Veterinarian in Sutton, MA and then moved to Iowa for both work and adventure with her wife. Despite her busy schedule in Iowa, she was able to complete a Certification in Veterinary Acupuncture from the Canine Rehabilitation Institute in 2023 and is now very excited to be able to offer this therapy to help manage pain in her patients at PawSteps Veterinary Center.
Whenever Dr. Bemis has free time, she loves to ride her adorable Haflinger horse named Max whom she acquired during her adventures in Iowa. She also added a beautiful, but neurologically challenged Ibizan hound named Imogene to the family. Imogene makes everyone who sees her smile as her enthusiasm for life and just being a dog is completely unimpaired by her wobbly walk. While Dr. Bemis doesn’t have a lot of spare time, she and Phineas, her Brittany, have also started some beginner agility classes. When Phineas isn’t running, jumping, and diving through tunnels, he enjoys playing tug as well as snuggling with Dr. Bemis when she finally has time to relax and read a good fantasy book. Last, but not least, Dr. Bemis has two cats, Charlie and Lucy, who have been very tolerant of all the moving, but are grateful to be able to settle down back in Massachusetts.
