Our Care Team
Dr. Shannon Poole
Owner / Director of Medical Services
Dr. Ryan Reid
Owner / Director of Facility Services
Dr. Ryan Reid was a member of the 4-H Club while growing up, and his experience helping to care for and raise his Polled Hereford Steer, Big Red, made a permanent impression. The steer arrived at Dr. Reid’s family ranch in the summer of 1991, sick with a severe respiratory disease. After eight months of an intense daily healthcare routine—which included medications and prescription feed, high-powered fans to help lower the steer’s temperature, regular bathing, and more—Big Red recovered and was healthy enough to place second in the race for Grand Champion! Dr. Reid saw firsthand what the power of proper animal healthcare could do, and he hasn’t looked back since.
Dr. Reid is originally from Cedar Creek, Texas, where he grew up as the oldest of four siblings. He attended Texas A&M University to earn his degree in biomedical science, and obtained his Master’s degree in public health at the University’s School of Public Health. Next, Dr. Reid earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
After his schooling, Dr. Reid decided to serve his country as a member of the United States Army. He spent seven years on active duty as a Veterinary Corps Officer, and is currently a veterinarian in the U.S. Army Reserves! After his active-duty service, Dr. Reid entered into the world of private practice. He and his wife—Cross Creek Animal Hospital’s very own Dr. Shannon Poole—purchased the practice in September of 2014. Dr. Reid has been serving the pets and animal owners of the Fayetteville area ever since!
Outside of his interests in the veterinary care world, Dr. Reid is an avid marathon runner—his crowning achievement thus far was completing the Walt Disney World Dopey Challenge in 2016, in which he ran 48.3 miles over four days!—and also loves to travel. He and his wife have been to Finland, Denmark, Russia, Italy, and Malaysia thus far, and he hopes to visit Alaska in the near future.
At home, Drs. Reid and Poole share their lives with two dogs, a Border Collie named Diablo and Watson the Sheep Dog, as well as three Maine Coon cats: Sherlock, Tamale, and Mayhem.
Dr. Reid is originally from Cedar Creek, Texas, where he grew up as the oldest of four siblings. He attended Texas A&M University to earn his degree in biomedical science, and obtained his Master’s degree in public health at the University’s School of Public Health. Next, Dr. Reid earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
After his schooling, Dr. Reid decided to serve his country as a member of the United States Army. He spent seven years on active duty as a Veterinary Corps Officer, and is currently a veterinarian in the U.S. Army Reserves! After his active-duty service, Dr. Reid entered into the world of private practice. He and his wife—Cross Creek Animal Hospital’s very own Dr. Shannon Poole—purchased the practice in September of 2014. Dr. Reid has been serving the pets and animal owners of the Fayetteville area ever since!
Outside of his interests in the veterinary care world, Dr. Reid is an avid marathon runner—his crowning achievement thus far was completing the Walt Disney World Dopey Challenge in 2016, in which he ran 48.3 miles over four days!—and also loves to travel. He and his wife have been to Finland, Denmark, Russia, Italy, and Malaysia thus far, and he hopes to visit Alaska in the near future.
At home, Drs. Reid and Poole share their lives with two dogs, a Border Collie named Diablo and Watson the Sheep Dog, as well as three Maine Coon cats: Sherlock, Tamale, and Mayhem.
Dr. Erika Richardson
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Erika Richardson can’t remember a time when she didn’t want to serve as an advocate for animals. For her, helping families with decisions regarding their pets isn’t just a job or career—it’s her lifelong calling. Dr. Richardson is proud to care for the pets and animal owners of her hometown of Fayetteville as one of Cross Creek Animal Hospital’s Associate Veterinarians.
Dr. Richardson attended North Carolina State University in Raleigh to earn her undergraduate degree in animal science, graduating in three years before moving on to the school’s College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduating with her Doctorate, she moved back to her hometown of Fayetteville to launch her career as a veterinarian—it wasn’t long before she joined the Cross Creek Animal Hospital family! Dr. Richardson has been a member of the team since July of 2014, and particularly likes soft-tissue surgery and preventative medicine.
In her time away from the office, Dr. Richardson enjoys participating in fun activates like escape rooms and amusement parks. She’s also a fan of cheerleading, having cheered from her grade-school days all the way through her collegiate years at North Carolina State University. Dr. Richardson and her husband, Logan, have a young daughter named Eden and also share their lives with three pets. Titus is an American Staffordshire Terrier who loves to give kisses; Reese the American Staffordshire Terrier is a master at cuddling; and Hunnie is an aging mixed-breed dog who still has the stamina of a puppy.
Dr. Richardson attended North Carolina State University in Raleigh to earn her undergraduate degree in animal science, graduating in three years before moving on to the school’s College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduating with her Doctorate, she moved back to her hometown of Fayetteville to launch her career as a veterinarian—it wasn’t long before she joined the Cross Creek Animal Hospital family! Dr. Richardson has been a member of the team since July of 2014, and particularly likes soft-tissue surgery and preventative medicine.
In her time away from the office, Dr. Richardson enjoys participating in fun activates like escape rooms and amusement parks. She’s also a fan of cheerleading, having cheered from her grade-school days all the way through her collegiate years at North Carolina State University. Dr. Richardson and her husband, Logan, have a young daughter named Eden and also share their lives with three pets. Titus is an American Staffordshire Terrier who loves to give kisses; Reese the American Staffordshire Terrier is a master at cuddling; and Hunnie is an aging mixed-breed dog who still has the stamina of a puppy.
Dr. Meredith Short
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Meredith Short first became interested in medicine during her senior year of high school. It wasn’t long before she was shadowing physicians in both the veterinary and human healthcare worlds. Dr. Short’s passion never let up—she knew that a career in animal care was the perfect choice! She’s proud to serve as an Associate Veterinarian here at Cross Creek Animal Hospital.
Dr. Short is a native of Raleigh, North Carolina and spent her undergraduate years studying zoology and genetics at North Carolina State University. She remained at the University to attend their College of Veterinary Medicine and earn her Doctorate. Dr. Short joined the Cross Creek Animal Hospital family in the summer of 2017, and has been helping the pets of the Fayetteville area feel their very best ever since. She’s particularly passionate about proper life-stage care, and her favorite part of the work is getting to interact with loving pet owners, just like herself, on a daily basis.
In her time away from the office, Dr. Short likes relaxing on the beach, visiting her nieces and nephews in Seattle, Washington, and enjoying the company of family and friends. She and her husband, Joey, share their home with three loveable pets: Fischer the Yellow Labrador; a Border Collie who goes by Ella; and Sailor their three-legged cat.
Dr. Short is a native of Raleigh, North Carolina and spent her undergraduate years studying zoology and genetics at North Carolina State University. She remained at the University to attend their College of Veterinary Medicine and earn her Doctorate. Dr. Short joined the Cross Creek Animal Hospital family in the summer of 2017, and has been helping the pets of the Fayetteville area feel their very best ever since. She’s particularly passionate about proper life-stage care, and her favorite part of the work is getting to interact with loving pet owners, just like herself, on a daily basis.
In her time away from the office, Dr. Short likes relaxing on the beach, visiting her nieces and nephews in Seattle, Washington, and enjoying the company of family and friends. She and her husband, Joey, share their home with three loveable pets: Fischer the Yellow Labrador; a Border Collie who goes by Ella; and Sailor their three-legged cat.
