Meet our amazing doctors.
Gardner Animal Care Center provides caring, compassionate veterinary medicine to pets in Gardner and beyond.
Dr. Michael McTigue
Veterinarian
Dr. Michael McTigue is the founder and co-owner of the Gardner Animal Care Center. He enjoys meeting new pets and their families, helping them stay healthy, and aiding in their recovery. He enjoys the broad spectrum of medicine and surgery that general practice provides. He is also very happy with the hospital, which allows us to provide the best care in a pet-centered, client-friendly, and reduced-stressed environment.
Originally from Rochester, NY, with an undergraduate degree from New York State College of Environmental Science and Forestry in wildlife biology, he earned his DVM degree at Cornell University. He bought the Gardner Animal Hospital practice in 1988, and it has seen steady growth. He opened the Gardner Animal Care Center in June 2000.
At home, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Nancy, four daughters, two Golden Retrievers, and one cat. He is an active church member in several ministries, including biblical counseling. He has fun playing golf, skiing, fishing, and other outdoor activities.
Dr. Maria Miller
Veterinarian
Dr. Maria Miller joined the Gardner Animal Hospital team part-time Veterinarian in April 2014. She earned her veterinary degree from the University of Tennessee in 1997. Since graduation, Dr. Maria has enjoyed practicing high-quality medicine in various clinical settings, including general practice, 24-hour emergency, and shelter medicine. Dr. Maria is highly regarded for her commitment to client education; clients find her to be kind, compassionate, approachable, knowledgeable, and often quite funny! Dr. Maria enjoys working with her geriatric patients and usually sits with them on the exam room floor. Dr. Maria also earned a Bachelor of Music Education from Middle Tennessee State University and a Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from Western Kentucky University. Before her career in veterinary medicine, Maria worked as a high school music teacher and band director.
Dr. Maria lives in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, with her spouse, kitties Eve and Stuart, and black Lab mix, Summitt. She is an avid cyclist and enjoys music, cooking, puppy classes, and college sports, especially women’s college basketball. Go Vols!!!
Dr. Victoria Warner
Veterinarian
Dr. Warner joined the Gardner Animal Hospital team as a full-time veterinarian in June 2018. Originally from Bakersfield, California, she grew up caring for various animals—including horses, dogs, cats, rats, rabbits, and guinea pigs. Her love for her animals motivated her to become a veterinarian to help animals and those who care about them. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. She earned her veterinary degree from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in May 2018. Dr. Warner has served with veterinary teams in Arizona, Uganda, and India.
Dr. Warner has a cat named Mila and lives with three dogs (Copper, Dolly, and Sophie). She enjoys being involved with her church, dancing, hiking, and reading.
Dr. Amber Shamburger
Veterinarian
Dr. Shamburger is originally from Queens, New York. She grew up caring for guinea pigs, dogs, and a cat and has always wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as she can remember! She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and a minor in Business from the State University of New York at Albany. She went on to earn her veterinary degree from St. George’s School of Veterinary Medicine in May 2019. Since graduating, Dr. Shamburger has completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at BluePearl Veterinary Partners in NYC.
She has a senior kitty named Luna, and in her free time, she enjoys snowboarding, traveling, and trying new food.
Dr. Christy Cox
Veterinarian
Dr. Christy Cox is originally from CT and joined Gardner Animal Care Center in 2022 when she added exotic companion animal species to our list of patients. She received her undergraduate degree from Boston University and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from North Carolina State University. Dr. Cox works with dogs and cats as well as a wide variety of exotic species including reptiles, birds, and small mammals.
She is experienced in husbandry, handling, medicine, and surgery of all exotic species.
Dr. Cox shares her home with her husband and their “Island of Misfit Toys,” which includes two dogs, a one-eyed cat, a guinea pig, and three pet store-reject Budgies.
Her special interests include backyard poultry, soft tissue surgery, and wildlife medicine. Outside of veterinary medicine, she enjoys playing pool as well as hiking and kayaking.
We're One Big Family
Get to know the care team that assists our doctors with compassion.
Contact Gardner Animal Care Center today!