Dr. Battistella started Kowaliga Whole Health Pet Care in 2008 hoping to bring to the area Integrative therapies as well as preventive veterinary care, medicine, and surgery. Dr Battistella is a 1983 Auburn College of Veterinary Medicine graduate and has been practicing in the Lake Martin area since 1983 when she first opened a practice in Dadeville and later another in Alexander City. She is known throughout the state for her work with Integrative therapies such as acupuncture, Chinese Herbal formulation, spinal manipulation, nutrition, and dietary supplementation. She began adding tools such as acupuncture to her toolbox in 1992 when exposed to the benefits through lectures at national veterinary meetings and then through further study and trials. ”In my hands, I found that I was able to treat cases such as back and neck issues that drugs were not improving sufficiently. It opened new choices for recovery in pets, and without surgery.”

She has taught and lectured on acupuncture and Chinese herbals for the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture (AAVA) Congress, internationally in Belgium, Ireland, and China, and at Auburn College of Veterinary Medicine, Chi Institute, and International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS). She is currently a delegate from the AAVA for the House of Delegates of IVAS.

Dr Battistella has a husband Bob since 1979 and two adult children Joseph and Betsy (grandson Asher and husband Jake). She enjoys many hobbies including kayaking, scuba diving, hiking, camping, bluegrass music, gardening, travel, knitting, making jewelry. She is an active member at St. James Episcopal Church and sings in the choir and plays the standup bass with the St. James Gang praise band at the church. She loves working with our animal families and getting to know their people.