Dr. Jamila Echols, a highly skilled veterinarian and animal advocate, is passionate about providing exceptional care for her patients. She was born and raised in Norfolk, VA, and earned her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a major in Pre-Veterinary Medicine from Virginia State University, followed by her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee University.

Over the course of her career, Dr. Echols has gained valuable experience working at several top local veterinary hospitals, specializing in small animal and exotics medicine. With 13 years of experience dedicated to the health and well-being of her patients, Dr. Echols has become a trusted and sought-after veterinarian.

Dr. Echols is establishing a thriving practice, Tails and Scales Veterinary Center, that provides holistic care for all types of pets, along with exceptional education and resources for pet owners. Through her expertise and compassion, Dr. Echols and her staff are committed to total animal wellness.

Aside from her work in the clinic, Dr. Echols is also dedicated to promoting the human-animal bond and spreading awareness about pet wellness. She is an advocate for her colleagues and aims to join the Maryland State Veterinary Board to bring a more diverse voice to the state’s veterinary governing body. Dr. Echols is also in the process of creating a Tails & Scales podcast to provide a platform for deeper discussions and a deeper understanding of pet health and happiness, and the unique challenges of the professionals who provide their care.

Dr. Jamila Echols' passion for her work, her patients, and her community make her a true advocate for animal health, pet owners, and the veterinary community. Whether she is exploring the world, enjoying a music festival, or simply playing with her pets, Dr. Echols is always working to make the world a better place for animals and the people who love them.

A native of Maryland, Ayieta grew up with a deep appreciation for nature and its creatures. In her youth, Ayieta's parents encouraged her love for animals, allowing her to keep various pets and training them to do tricks, including her dogs to fetch the newspaper from the porch.

While Ayieta always dreamed of a career in animal care, she was unsure of how to find my path forward. Leaning into another passion, she decided to pursue a degree in Business Management focusing on organizational leadership, training, and professional development. With decades of experience leading successful teams across industries, Ayieta now serves as the practice manager at Tails and Scales, where she is able to pursue her lifelong devotion to caring for animals.

Now a trained dog and small animal groomer, Ayieta adds value to the Tails & Scales team with her ability to provide grooming services for dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, and other small rodents. Her company, Fluff U Grooming, provides educational, grooming & enrichment supplies, allowing small pets to live BIG lives.

In her spare time, Ayieta enjoys traveling the world and spending time with her family of comic book geeks, as well as the furrier family members, including her cats, hamsters, and chinchillas.

Aggie is a true animal lover, with a heart full of compassion and dedication towards the well-being of her furry friends. Born and raised in PG County, she has always been surrounded by pets of all kinds, from dogs to squirrels, and even iguanas! With over 11 years of experience in the veterinary field, Aggie has worked with exotics and domestic animals alike, learning from each and every one of them.

As the lead veterinary technician at Tails & Scales Veterinary Center, Aggie is passionate about working with different behaviors, and she enjoys learning from animals' body language to understand what they need to feel comfortable and safe. Her goal is to lessen their stress and to become a companion in their lives, as she believes that building trust with an animal is one of the most rewarding experiences one can have.

Aggie is known as the "cat whisperer" among her colleagues and friends, as she has an undeniable talent for working with felines of all personalities, from the grumpiest to the most loving. She firmly believes that even the most aggressive cats have a soft spot, and it's only a matter of finding it.

In addition to her work at the clinic, Aggie started her own business training dogs in 2020, which she truly enjoys doing in her free time. She is also a proud mom to a wonderful daughter and is grateful for the support of her amazing boyfriend and his beautiful daughter. Her family will be expanding in September with a new brother or sister for the girls.

Aggie is motivated by learning and is always seeking new challenges in veterinary medicine, and beyond. The animal she most identifies with is the bison, a symbol of strength, resilience, and the ability to mind their own business. She loves to think that she has that kind of mindset and guidance in her own personality.

Ayleen is a passionate animal lover with a unique ability to adapt to any situation. She was born in Mexico and spent the first six years of her life there before moving to the United States with her family. Growing up, Ayleen and her family always had a strong connection with animals, and they had over 20 dogs at one point.

Ayleen's love for animals has continued to flourish, and she has found her calling working as a receptionist at Tails & Scales Veterinary Center. Her role allows her to interact with animals and their owners on a daily basis, which she finds incredibly rewarding. She also volunteers as a tech whenever there is a need for Spanish translation or additional help.

Aside from her work at the veterinary clinic, Ayleen has her own petsitting business, which allows her to care for animals in a more personalized way. She has two cats, Rico and Hades, and two dogs, Cerberus and Riley.

One of Ayleen's greatest strengths is her ability to adapt to any situation. She is always open to learning new things and is comfortable in any environment. Her positivity and resilience are infectious, and she has a way of making everyone around her feel at ease.

In her free time, Ayleen enjoys being outdoors and going for long walks. The animal she most identifies with is the cow and very fond of them. As a vegetarian, Ayleen feels she could fit in nicely with a herd, eating grass and mooing all day.

Overall, Ayleen's love for animals and her ability to adapt to any situation makes her a valuable member of the veterinary community