About La Cumbre Animal Hospital
Since 1959, La Cumbre Animal Hospital has cared for Santa Barbara’s pets and the families who love them — along with the neighboring communities of Goleta, Montecito, Summerland, and Carpinteria.
We're an independent, female-owned animal hospital built on a simple belief: exceptional medicine and genuine warmth belong together.
Our Story
La Cumbre Animal Hospital was founded by Dr. Francis Knoop in 1959 and has grown from a single-doctor practice into the six-veterinarian team we are today. Dr. Beverly Holmes and Dr. Eve Kuesis joined in the mid-2000s and purchased the hospital in 2012, carrying forward a legacy of high-standard medicine and deep community roots.
After more than 60 years on La Cumbre Road, we moved just up the street to a new home at 3910 State Street — a facility thoughtfully designed around Fear Free principles, from calming colors to a dedicated cat entrance. Today we hold the longest history of AAHA accreditation of any animal hospital in Santa Barbara, a standard we’ve proudly maintained since 1991.
Dr. Beverly Holmes
Veterinarian & Practice Owner
Dr. Beverly Holmes joined La Cumbre Animal Hospital in 2004 and became an owner in 2011. She earned her veterinary degree through the joint Washington State–Oregon State program and completed an intensive internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. Her work focuses on patient longevity, with advanced training in dental care and oral surgery. She is Fear-Free Certified and Cat-Friendly Certified through the AAFP — in practice, a slower exam, fewer restraints, and treats deployed liberally. She is a past president of the Santa Barbara–Ventura Veterinary Medical Association and has served on the education committee of the American Animal Hospital Association. Her volunteer work centers on Mission Rabies, which takes her to subtropical regions where vaccination campaigns protect animals and people alike.
With both children off at college, the household is run by two cats, Queen Mizu and Isadora, who keep the family’s rescue dogs — tiny Poppy and Great Dane Sushi Pebbles — firmly in their place. Otherwise she’s out adventuring on land or by sea.
Dr. Eve Kuesis
Veterinarian & Practice Owner
Dr. Kuesis earned her Bachelor of Science from UC Berkeley and her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from UC Davis in 1993. A co-owner of the practice, she brings decades of experience and a lifelong love of animals to her care.
Dr. Donna Alonso
Veterinarian
A UC Davis graduate (DVM, 2003), Dr. Alonso has special interests in geriatric medicine, surgery, and veterinary acupuncture, with advanced training in acupuncture and food energy therapy through the Chi Institute. She has a deep appreciation for the human-animal bond, especially in caring for senior pets.
Dr. Uta deHaas
Veterinarian
Originally from Germany, Dr. deHaas earned her DVM from Purdue University and spent many years in a 24-hour veterinary hospital near Chicago before joining La Cumbre Animal Hospital in 2021.
Dr. Cameron Stotter
Veterinarian
A UC Davis graduate and veterinarian since 1999, Dr. Stotter has practiced across California before making the Central Coast her home. She joined La Cumbre in 2016 and has a special fondness for cats.
Dr. Elizabeth Olken
Veterinarian
Dr. Olken graduated with honors from Colorado State University and built her early career in Los Angeles before bringing her family to Santa Barbara to join our team. She rounds out a group of veterinarians united by a commitment to thoughtful, individualized care.
Rooted in Our Community
Caring for Santa Barbara has always meant more to us than medicine. Through our Paw Prints in Our Community efforts, partnerships like Heal the Ocean, and robust recycling and composting programs, we’re committed to giving back to the pets, people, and coastline we share. For many local families, bringing their pets to La Cumbre has become a tradition spanning generations.
Why Santa Barbara Families Choose Us
Time to Truly Care
Our signature 40-minute exams give us room to listen, answer your questions, and send you home knowing more than when you arrived.
The Gold Standard in Medicine
AAHA-accredited since 1991, we invest in advanced equipment, in-house diagnostics, and ongoing education to deliver the highest standard of veterinary care.
Fear Free, by Design
Our veterinarians and much of our team are Fear Free Certified Professionals, and we have a Cat Friendly Certified practitioner on staff — so every patient, feline or canine, feels calm and cared for.
Relationships That Last
With team members who have been here for well over a decade and care plans tailored to each pet’s lifestyle, we practice relationship-based medicine — including compassionate, dignified end-of-life support when the time comes.