Meet Our Veterinary Team in Pasadena, TX

Dr. Gotcher has been a veterinarian at Angel Animal Hospital since 1992 and the owner of the practice since 1998. He earned his DVM from Texas A&M University in 1980 and is affiliated with the American Veterinary Medication Association and Texas Veterinary Medical Association. To stay current on the latest trends in veterinary medicine, he enjoys attending yearly continuing education meetings. Throughout his career as veterinarian, he has enjoyed developing professional relationships with his clients. He also especially loves the satisfaction he receives after completing a difficult medical or surgical case.

Dr. Gotcher and his wife Deborah have five children and seven grandchildren. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, and genealogy research.

Dr. Potter-Francis always wanted to go to vet school, but in college, everyone told her how hard it was to get in. And she believed them. She went on to graduate, get married, move to Louisiana… and get very bored. To curb her boredom, she volunteered at a small mixed animal practice and fell in love with all the animals, both sick and well. That’s when she went back to school and graduated from Texas A&M University with her DVM in 1990. Her special interests include internal medicine, geriatrics, dermatology, radiology, and dentistry. Dr. Potter-Francis has been a member of many different organizations throughout her career including the Texas Veterinary Medical Association, the Harris County Veterinary Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital Association, and the American Veterinary Medical Association, which she is currently a member of now. In her role as a veterinarian, she most enjoys helping people, pets, and her coworkers. She believes our clients are wonderful and that our staff is simply outstanding! Dr. Potter-Francis also loves that the work is never boring, from Mastiffs who swallow their whole bite of ice cream, spoon and all, to cats who play with fish hooks, there’s never a dull moment!

Dr. Potter-Francis is married to her husband, Robert, and they have three wonderful adult children, five grand-dogs, and three grand-cats. Their own pets include Trinity, a very sweet Border Collie, an older kitty named Ramona the Pest (or mommy’s little princess) and a red-eared slider named Twirtle. In her spare time, Dr. Potter-Francis enjoys sewing and knitting, gardening, being out in the sunshine, reading, traveling, and going to see her kids. Some of her favorite books are James Herriott’s books, My Friend Flicka, The Redhead and the Roan, Champion Dog: Prince Tom, etc.

Dr. Smith earned his DVM from Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. He has always had an affinity for animals, ever since he was very young. Dr. Smith started by working as a vet tech under doctors that had attended his university, and they helped to guide him on his journey. Saving animals and making their owners happy is truly rewarding to Dr. Smith. His wife, Dr. Brittany Smith, is also a veterinarian, and she occasionally does relief work for Angel Animal Hospital. Together, they share their home with Charlie, a Goldendoodle. When he isn’t at work, Dr. Smith enjoys fishing, being outdoors, tinkering with cars, and occasionally dabbling in woodworking.

Dr. Helaire has been a veterinarian at Angel Animal Hospital since December 2011. She earned her DVM from Louisiana State University in 1998 and is affiliated with the AVMA, HCVMA, and Veterinary Medical Association of Puerto Rico. “From an early age, I’ve always enjoyed being around and taking care of animals,” she said. I grew up in a household where we always enjoyed the company of pets.”

As one of the associate veterinarians at Angel Animal Hospital, she enjoys working alongside a very compassionate staff in a family atmosphere. “We all support one another in our endeavors to most effectively take care of our patients,” she said. She also loves the rewarding feeling and satisfaction found in helping animals feel better and, in many occasions, saving their lives. As a bilingual practitioner, Dr. Helaire assists with Spanish-speaking pet owners and is known as someone who fosters and supports a positive environment in the clinic.

Dr. Helaire and her husband, Orie, have a son named Jordan and a set of twins named Sofia and Sydney. When she’s not at work, she spends her free time with her family, doing outdoor activities, and interior decorating. Although she takes pride in what she’s accomplished as a veterinarian, she is most proud of the fact that she’s a mother of three who can balance her family life and career.