Natalia Buenrostro
Veterinary Technician
Natalia joined our team in July 2024 and has been sharing her love for animals ever since! Originally from Brownsville, Texas, she moved to Nacogdoches in 2020 and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture with a Pre-Vet concentration from SFASU. She loves helping pets feel their best and seeing the special bond between animals and their humans.
Outside of work, Natalia’s life is full of furry friends—four cats (Penny, Pebble, Ninja, and Splotch) and two tiny Chihuahuas (Mimzy and Latte)—plus her boyfriend, Zach. When she’s not spoiling her pets, you might find her shopping with friends or roller skating around town. Natalia’s favorite part of her job? Making every pet feel loved and every client feel like family!
Darian Smelley
Veterinary Technician
Darian has been in veterinary medicine since 2021 and joined the Nacogdoches Animal Hospital team in August of 2025. When she’s not caring for patients, she’s surrounded by animals at home too—including two dogs, a horse, two rabbits, and foster cats—so animal care is truly a way of life for her. She attended Blinn College, where she won two national championships on the dance team from 2015–2017, then continued at Stephen F. Austin State University and added another national championship from 2017–2019. Known for her compassionate care, teamwork, and positive energy, she’s always working toward finishing her studies while bringing dedication (and a little personality) to every patient and client she meets.
Fun fact: in her downtime, she loves getting lost in a good book or crafting and painting different projects.