Dr. Joanne Carlson obtained her veterinary degree with honors from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 1993. She has completed an externship and fellowship at the Lincoln Park Zoo and her veterinary medicine interests lie within internal medicine, surgery and everything French Bulldogs.
She is the past president of the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association, the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association, and a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association within the ISVMA. Dr. Carlson currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association as past president.
Dr. Carlson has proudly owned Loving Care Animal Hospital in Palatine, Illinois since 1999. She and Loving Care AH sponsor and support several local groups and events, including working with local humane organizations.
In 2019, Dr. Carlson and her clinic were recognized in the top 150 veterinarians in the nation by Vet500. They have also been voted Top Pick & Best of the Best Veterinarian and Animal Hospital by the Daily Herald Reader’s Choice Poll for the past four years.
Dr Carlson resides in Inverness, IL and has three children, a French bulldog, two cats, and a rabbit. In her free time, she is an avid runner and enjoys reading, spending time with her kids, and visiting the beach.
“My passion for providing the highest standard of veterinary care motivated me to take the leap into opening my own practice in 1999, as well as volunteering my time as the President Elect of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association. I lead from the heart with compassionate care and focus on client education so that everyone who walks through the doors of our animal hospital knows their animal companion will get the best care possible.” ~ Dr. Joanne Carlson
Loving Care because pets are family.
Dr. Betsy North grew up in Peoria, IL. Spending many years in 4-H, she knew from an early age that she wanted to pursue veterinary medicine. She graduated from the University of Illinois Veterinary College in 1997. After spending a year practicing in a small town in central Illinois, she moved with her husband to the Chicago area. She initially began practicing in Evanston, IL, treating dogs and cats on the North Shore.
Dr. North joined the Loving Care team in the Fall of 2011. She enjoys providing compassionate, quality care for all life stages, with a special interest in internal medicine and animal behavior. Dr. North is a member of the Chicago Veterinary Medicine Association, the Illinois State Veterinary Association.
Dr. North moved to Rolling Meadows in 2002 and was happy to join a practice closer to home. On her days off, she enjoys spending time with her family that includes 4 children, Spencer, Allen, Alexandra, and Elise. The North family is active at Our Lady of the Wayside parish in Arlington Heights. When not at the clinic or acting as family chauffeur, Dr. North likes to spend time cooking, fruit and vegetable gardening, and sketching. She loves walking and playing with their dogs, Kirby and Lovebug.
Dr. Merrill graduated from Ross University of Veterinary Medicine in 1995 and has been a part of the Loving Care Animal Hospital family since 2000. When not doing relief work at Loving Care, he makes house calls for pets in St. Charles area. He sees dogs and cats but has a special interest in exotic pets, such as birds, rabbits, ferrets, and reptiles.
Dr. Merrill and his wife share their home with two cats, Quickie Swann & Burry Tom Tom, as well as two crested geckos, Chamois & King Richard III. They have two sons in college, both of whom are Eagle Scouts. In his spare time...who are we kidding; Dr. Merrill has no spare time. But if he did, he'd be jammin' to Aerosmith and cooking in his new smoker.
Dr. Dylan Jacobs earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and completed his clinical studies at Michigan State University. His professional interests include clinical pathology, neurology, soft tissue surgery, and internal medicine. Dr. Jacobs enjoys spending time with his wife, Laina, and their 2 dogs (Delia and Midna) and 4 cats (Robotnik, Eggman, Hyacinth, and Hessian). When he isn't caring for the pets of Loving Care AH, Dr. Jacobs likes playing music (guitar, piano & ukulele), board games and video games, spending time in the garden growing peppers to make hot sauce and salsa, and using his smoker for homemade barbeque.
Phone: 847-963-8887
