Full-Service Veterinary Hospital in Fairfax
From routine wellness visits to advanced orthopedic procedures, our experienced and compassionate veterinary team is here to care for every aspect of your pet’s health.

Our Goal
Our mission is to support you throughout every stage of pet parenthood, building a trusted partnership focused on lifelong wellness.
Great Location
We’re proud to care for pets throughout Fairfax, Fair Lakes, Centreville, Chantilly, Fair Oaks, Herndon, Legaro, McLean, and nearby communities.
Our Team
Our dedicated team cares for you and your pet

Dr. Sunil Kakarla
DVM, PH.D, Owner
Dr. Sunil Kakarla, an experienced and compassionate veterinarian in Cary, NC, grew up in India. After graduating from the College of Veterinary Medicine in India, he practiced as a companion animal veterinarian for five years in a metropolitan city in India. He moved to the United States in 2005 with a passion for practicing high-quality veterinary medicine in an advanced setting. During that process, he pursued his MS and Ph.D. in a renowned lab at Marshall University in West Virginia.
As a graduate student, Dr. Kakarla performed cutting-edge research and had several high impact publications to his credit.
While pursuing graduate studies, he simultaneously completed the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE) in 2010.
Soon after this accomplishment, he began volunteering at several local animal hospitals. He completed his clinical experience program and obtained his license to practice in the US the same year.
In 2011, after graduating with a doctoral degree, he joined a small animal practice in Durham/RTP where he established a huge clientele and treated about 6000 to 7000 pets per year.
With his continued passion to provide the best quality veterinary care, he joined the state-of-the-art Walnut Street Animal Hospital in June 2016. As a veterinarian in the RTP area of NC, he strongly believes in quality care for pets and in being available to his patients when needed.
Sunil Kakarla is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and has special interests in dermatology and soft tissue and orthopedic surgery, as well as emergency medicine. Dr. Kakarla is married and has a son and a daughter. He enjoys spending quality time with his family, including his 1-year-old Golden-Doodle, Brownie, and a 4-year-old Poodle, Milky. He enjoys serving his community by actively helping rescue groups and shelter pets, and in his free time, he plays volleyball.

Sarah Van Staalduinen
Administrative Director
Sarah is an NC State graduate with double majors in Animal Science and Applied Nutrition. She has lived with animals her entire life and has always had a special place in her heart for them. She has been with the company since 2019, and she loves her job. Not only does she have the opportunity to meet new people and pets on a daily basis, but she also gets to help those fur babies stay happy and healthy with their families. Her favorite things to do outside of work include spending time with her furry kiddos; two dogs named Ochi and Denali, and two cats named Juniper and George. When she’s not at work, you can find her hiking with her dog, or taking part in any other activities in which she can include them.

Caitlin O’Neil
Client Coordinator
Hello! My name is Caitlin, and I have been with Fairfax Ridge Animal Hospital since 2017. I started out as a receptionist and after being with this practice for a year, I was promoted to Manager and transferred to our sister location, Capital Boulevard Animal Hospital. I absolutely loved the experience of opening a new clinic and getting acquainted with all of the rescues. I am excited to start my new role as Client Coordinator with the company. I have always loved working with clients and making sure the owner and furbaby have a positive experience. In my free time, I am with my 2 human kiddos as well as my own furbabies.

Kai Lumpkin
Shift Lead
Kai has been an integral part of the Fairfax team since their start with the company in 2022. After coming to Fairfax, they quickly created a team atmosphere and helped the hospital become a family environment for everyone. Kai has been working with animals for over seven years and harnessed their leadership skills while previously supervising an emergency animal hospital treatment team. Kai enjoys complex medical cases and has a special interest in Parvovirus and Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP). Outside of work, Kai is a devoted parent and enjoys spending time with their children. They can also be found spending time with their dog, Artax, and cats, Lando, Lady Meow Meow, and Sage. Kai also enjoys hiking, rock hounding, traveling, and cooking a variety of foods.

Chenoa Clark
Veterinary Assistant
Hello, my name is Chenoa. I am an assistant here at Fairfax Ridge Animal Hospital, and I am currently a vet tech student. When I am not studying, I am reading, hanging out with friends, or playing with my two cats, Nami and Pumpkin.

Marissa
Veterinary Assistant
Hi My name is Marissa I am a Veterinary assistant here at Fairfax ridge animal hospital. I have always loved animals and my goal in life is to save as many homeless animals as possible! In my free time I love to hangout with my 3 dogs and my guinea pig. My long-term goal is to continue growing in veterinary medicine so I can keep making a difference in the lives of animals and their people.


