Staff

After completing a Masters Degree in Animal Science (MS) at Texas Tech, TX, Dr Sutfin studied Veterinary Medicine at Ross University, spending his final clinical year at Washington State University. He obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) in 2005 and worked in several clinics in the Shasta and Tehama County areas before purchasing Red Bluff Veterinary Clinic in 2010 with his wife, Dr Bateman. He has a special interest in small-animal surgery and enjoys all aspects of internal medicine. In his spare time, you’ll find him outdoors, hiking, fishing, snowshoeing and riding his horse.

After graduating with a DVM  from Liverpool University, UK in 1999, Dr Bateman worked in a small animal clinic in England before moving to the USA to begin a residency at Cornell University, NY in Anesthesiology. She completed the two-year residency through the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (ACVAA) in 2003 and went on to teach as Professor of Veterinary Anesthesiology for two years. She returned to clinical practice in 2005 and was Medical Director and Chief of Anesthesiology at a small-animal specialist MRI facility in the Bay Area. She and her husband Dr Sutfin purchased Red Bluff Veterinary Clinic in 2010 where she works part-time. She enjoys horseback riding and skiing outside work.

Dr Merhoff graduated from UC Davis with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) in 1974. He purchased Red Bluff Veterinary Hospital in 1977 where he remained until selling to Dr Sutfin and Dr Bateman in 2010. He currently works every other Friday and covers vacations. Dr Merhoff continues to enjoy all aspects of small animal practice in his retirement, with a special interest in surgery and lameness work-up. His outside interests include sailing, woodworking, fly-fishing, fly-tying and welding.

Shelby has been working in the veterinary field since 2015, with most of her professional career spent here at RBVC. She works throughout the clinic ensuring things are running smoothly, managing our support staff, and caring for your pets while they are in our clinic. In her free time you can find her chasing her two little boys around, and if any activity involves sheep and goats you can bet she’ll be there.