Welcome to San Cayetano Veterinary Hospital
Your Veterinarian in Rio Rico,AZ
Call us at (520) 761-8686

Dr. Horton was born in Salt Lake City, Utah into a family full of scientists and surrounded by animals. There was a goat, rabbits and chickens, as well as the full complement of dogs and cats. Exposure to veterinary medicine as an undergraduate at Utah State University in Logan, Utah solidified an already growing interest and led to the DVM degree (cum laude) through a combined program with Oregon State and Washington State Universities.

Rita was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. She met her husband, Dr. Horton in veterinary school and after several years in practice, went to work for USDA, primarily on the US-Mexico border.  She retired from federal service in 2016 and has since served as practice manager. The Horton-Kester family currently share their home with three talkative cats and two very noisy birds.

Norma was born in Elko, Nevada. She was mostly raised in the Rio Rico/Nogales area. She graduated from Rio Rico High School in 2002. She has been working for the San Cayetano Veterinary Hospital since February 2007. Her family has always kept pets and her father makes saddles for horses. She currently has 12 cats named Lynx, Mini, Purrsy, Cinnamon, Boo, Cyan, Noche, Lovie, Sunny, Romeo, Jadie and Pebbles and 3 dogs named Lia, Petrie and Scrappy.

Patricia (Patty) Hilton was born and raised in Clifton, New Jersey – a relatively small community just 10 miles west of New York City, with Mom, Dad, three sisters and Terry the Terrible Terrier. Patty grew up with a love of animals and was taught early on that our household pets were very much a part of the family.

Araceli was born in Tucson, Arizona but has lived in Rio Rico, Arizona since 1998. She has worked at San Cayetano Veterinary Hospital since July 2004. In addition to continuing her studies at Pima Community College and the University of Arizona, she shares her home with Amigo, a dog adopted from the Humane Society, and an Amazon Parrot named Solovino.

Born and raised in Rio Rico, Arizona, Vanessa has always had a passion for helping others – especially animals.  Her career started early in 2011 by volunteering at San Cayetano Veterinary Hospital.  She graduated from high school, then went to college, earning a certificate as a Veterinary Assistant.  She then was hired as a receptionist at SCVH, and is continuing her education for a Veterinary Technician degree, hoping to graduate in 2020 with the support of her mother, father, brother and fellow staff members – whom she considers her second family.  Her current fur babies are Chip, a male miniature Welsh Terrier, four female cats, and three male cats.

Micaela was born and raised in Nogales, Arizona and has always had a love for animals big and small, love that was passed down by her grandma after spending her childhood playing with all sorts of critters from typical cats and dogs to her miniature pig and exotic birds.  After high school she moved to Tucson where she worked at a veterinary hospital for almost 3 years but felt that she was missing family and home too much.  She came back down and found SCVH where she has been working since 2016 and feels blessed to be doing what she loves with people that share her passion while being close to home.

Erika was born in Tucson, Arizona.  Her family moved to Nogales, Arizona in 2001 and she has lived there since then.  She always wanted to work with animals and had the pleasure of working at the Santa Cruz Humane Society with the cats.  She worked in Tucson for more than a year and now has the pleasure to work with everyone at SCVH.

Joyce was born in Phoenix, Arizona, brought home to Nogales, and raised. She had all of her schooling in Nogales, as well. She has 10 cats, - her daughter-in-law has some of hers at her place, too - 3 dogs, 5 human puppies and nothing else, yet.

Denise was born and raised in Nogales, Arizona.  She graduated from Nogales High School class of 2003, and soon after began a career in Law Enforcement as a 911 Operator/ Dispatcher.  It is here she met and married Peace Officer Jeremy Brinton.  Denise exited the work force to begin a family and is now mom to Sofia Alicia and Adele Elise, step-mom to James and Justin, and fur-mom to Readi (German Shepherd) and Nicki (Long Haired Tabby).  Denise again entered the workforce when her children began school.  In her free time she enjoys crocheting, baking, and gardening.  She is currently a receptionist at San Cayetano Veterinary Hospital.

Elizabeth (elo) was born in Minneapolis, MN.  Her parents started moving when she was 6 weeks old - 8 states, 13 schools, back to Minneapolis in junior high.  She majored in Forestry, but a hiatus to earn money led her into IT.  She moved to Green Valley, AZ in 1999, and enjoyed working for custom home builders, golf courses, and being semi-retired.  Her home has always been full of animal rescues - mostly cats and dogs, but also parakeets, finches, a boa, a ferret, land snails - any critter that somebody else has cast aside.  Her main passions are to document the natural world in photos, occasionally to sculpt AZ wildlife, and to travel the world whenever possible.