Little Rock, AR

At Out West Veterinary Urgent Care in Little Rock, AR, our team combines advanced medical expertise with genuine compassion for pets and the people who love them. We’re proud to be a locally owned, community-driven clinic providing high-quality urgent care in a warm and welcoming environment.

Every member of our team shares a common goal — to deliver fast, effective, and compassionate care when pets need it most, while ensuring every client feels supported and informed from the moment they walk through our doors.

Dr. Taylor Francis, DVM

Medical Director

Dr. Cliff Peck and Dr. Mike Pallone founded it and then in 2025 Dr. Francis joined as medical Director. He a passion for providing accessible, high-quality medical care for pets and peace of mind for their families. Dr. Francis earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine and began his career in Texas before transitioning into the field of companion animal nutrition. His work as a veterinary consultant for Purina in Raleigh, NC, and Nashville, TN, allowed him to collaborate closely with veterinary teams and pet owners to improve patient health through nutrition and preventive care.

Drawn back home to Arkansas, Dr. Francis returned to clinical practice, where he discovered a special calling in urgent care medicine. Today, he leads the Out West team with a focus on efficient, compassionate treatment and clear communication during stressful moments. He’s especially passionate about bridging the gap between general practice and after-hours emergency care — giving pets the help they need without the chaos or cost of a specialty hospital.

When he’s not at the clinic, Dr. Francis enjoys spending time with family and exploring the natural beauty of Central Arkansas. He looks forward to continuing to grow Out West’s role in the community as a trusted partner in pet health.

Tiffany Skinner

DVM

Dr. Skinner was originally a small-town girl that grew up in South Arkansas. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, AR. She graduated with her DVM from Oklahoma State University and immediately returned to her home state of Arkansas to pursue her career. She worked general practice initially out of vet school, but for the last several years has been working on more urgent care and ER medicine which is why she makes a great fit for our morning and early afternoon hours providing both urgent care needs and general care preventative medicine.

She has worked with Out West Veterinary Urgent Care for over a year, providing excellent care for the urgent care cases in the evenings and weekends. She enjoys the challenging critical cases but also loves to see some happy healthy puppies and kittens when she can! She is comfortable seeing most cases involving small animal exotics such as reptiles (lizards, turtles, snakes, etc), birds (companion birds, excluding chickens) and pocket pets (hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, ferrets, hedgehogs, etc). She currently has 4 dogs of her own and a family that enjoys animals almost as much as she does! She has never pursued any other career path outside of the animal world due to her strong inclination that this was her calling from the time she could walk and talk. She is very compassionate about providing a caring and stress-free environment for pets and is looking forward to caring for as many pets and their people as possible!

Stephanie Dungey

Practice Manager

Stephanie Dungey joined Out West Veterinary Urgent Care in July 2021. She was hired to open the hospital for Dr. Pallone and Dr. Peck. She brings more than 34 years of experience in team management, with a strong emphasis on exceptional customer service and high-quality patient care. Holding a bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Stephanie spent 20 years in geriatric healthcare before earning dual master’s degrees in Healthcare Administration and Human Resource Development. She later transitioned into retail management, successfully leading teams of up to 100 employees.

A decade ago, Stephanie was recruited into the field of veterinary management, where she found the perfect opportunity to combine her expertise in administration, social work, and human resources with her lifelong passion for helping animals.

Outside of work, Stephanie previously maintained a hobby farm with goats, miniature horses, cats, and dogs. She now enjoys spending her free time with her two Great Danes and two remaining horses.

Stephanie is proud to help lead the mission of Out West Veterinary Urgent Care—to treat every patient as if they were our own.

Ashley Heatherly

Born and raised right here in Arkansas, Ashley Heatherly has always had a deep connection to the natural world. Having studied plant and animal science and earning multiple certifications in animal care, she combines a strong academic foundation with extensive practical experience. With over two decades of working in the emergency veterinary field, Ashley is well versed in patient care, client experience, and the fast-paced environment that comes with urgent care.

As the Medical Service Manager, Ashley helps guide staff and support the seamless flow of patient care throughout the hospital. In addition, Ashley helps shape the clinic’s growth by leading initiatives that improve efficiency, technology, and the delivery of top-quality medical care.

Though she is fond of all species, Ashley has a special soft spot for cats, and her home is a testament to that. When she’s not caring for patients or keeping daily operations running smoothly, you’ll find her fishing, camping, gardening, reading, or deep in a video game adventure.

Ashley combines expertise, compassion, and a touch of Southern grit, embodying the heart and hustle that make Out West Veterinary Urgent Care what it is.