St. Francis Animal & Bird Hospital, in Roseville, Minnesota, has been caring for pets and their people since 1992. St. Francis serves clients throughout the Twin Cities area whose love and dedication to their pets makes them demand the very best of veterinary care.
They offer state-of-the-art medicine and surgery, preventative care, digital radiography, ultrasonography, dentistry, in-house pharmacy, and laboratory services. In addition to traditional veterinary care, they also offer massage therapy, laser therapy, a full hospice and palliative care program, and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) which includes acupuncture, food therapy, and herbal therapy. St. Francis regularly treats dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, ferrets, and rodents. They understand the importance of the bond that pet owners share with pets, no matter the pet’s size or shape.
Staffed exclusively by animal lovers who understand that pets are family, they have a commitment to compassionate care for patients and exceptional education for their clients. Each of their experienced and highly trained staff members is devoted to helping clients make careful and informed medical decisions that are right for their pets.
Dr. Jennifer Blair received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in May of 2002 and purchased St. Francis Animal & Bird Hospital in 2006. Her professional interests include geriatrics, Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, pain management, hospice/palliative care, internal medicine, endocrinology, and neurology. She is a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA) and a Certified Veterinary Food Therapist 
(CVFT). She is continuing her studies at the Chi Institute of Chinese Medicine in Reddick, FL to earn her Certified TCVM Palliative & End-Of-Life Practitioner (CTPEP) certification and her Certified Veterinary Chinese Herbalist (CVCH) certification. Dr. Blair provides many of her services at St. Francis’ Integrative Services located next door to the main practice.
In addition to Dr. Blair, St. Francis has six associate veterinarians including Drs. Stefan Knep, Kevin Roeser, Patricia Novak, Katie Cartledge, Charlie Cosimini, and Jessica Lewis.
Dr. Knep received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree from both the Free University in Berlin in Germany in 1990 and the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 1993. He joined St. Francis in April of 2005. His professional interests include small animal internal medicine, soft tissue surgery, and canine and feline dentistry. He is a member of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA), American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), and the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV).
Dr. Roeser joined St. Francis as a Veterinary Assistant in 2002. After completing undergraduate studies at Michigan State University, he earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2009. Dr. Roeser’s professional interests include companion birds, soft tissue surgery, canine and feline dentistry, and internal medicine.
Dr. Novak received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 1997. She joined St. Francis in 2009. Dr. Novak’s professional interests include hospice/palliative care and behavior. She is currently working towards her Animal Hospice & Palliative Care Certification through the IAAHPC.
Dr. Cartledge received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2009. She joined St. Francis in 2012. Her professional interests include preventative care, internal medicine, avian medicine, and general surgery. She is a member of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA), American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), and the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV). Dr. Cartledge also volunteers her time with Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue.
Dr. Cosimini received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2015. He joined St. Francis in 2015. His professional interests include dentistry, dermatology, and avian/exotic medicine. He is also the author of a children’s book about veterinary medicine titled “A Hedgehog with a Sneeze.”
Dr. Lewis joined St. Francis in 2011 as a veterinary assistant. In 2018, she earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota and she officially became a veterinarian at St. Francis. Her professional interests include small animal internal medicine, preventative care, nutrition, and anesthesia/pain management. Dr. Lewis has completed the Fear-Free Certification program and strives to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress related to veterinary visits.
Above all, St. Francis specializes in relationships. They serve as an extension of their clients’ families and create unique relationships with each individual. St. Francis provides an environment of mutual trust and respect in order to give outstanding care for their patients. Whatever unique role a pet plays in a client’s life, St. Francis is dedicated to helping each client care for their pets.
As an emergency and specialty referral hospital, AERC has a number of member clinics throughout the Twin Cities. We highly value our relationships with these family veterinarians, including St. Francis Animal & Bird Hospital. We encourage every pet owner to have a family veterinarian for regular wellness check-ups and vaccinations. For a complete list of our member clinics, click here.
