!Header Logo

!Give us a call button

Call today! 605-342-7498

!Social Media Icons

!Call Icon

Our Veterinarians

Meet the folks who make it all happen. We see big potential in every moment, and care deeply about what we do every day.

Dr. Penny Dye

Dr. Penny Dye

Veterinarian, Co-Owner

Dr. Dye grew up on her family farm near Chappell, Nebraska. She first realized she enjoyed working with animals as a member of the Future Farmers of America organization, caring for lambs and cattle. Working on a farm also helped her learn the basics of running a business, a skill that would serve her years later as the Co-Owner of Dakota Hills Veterinary Clinic!

Penny attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln to study Animal Science. She was accepted into The Ohio State University, where she obtained her veterinary degree. She got her first job at Dakota Hills in Rapid City. She has limited her scope of practice to small animals since 2006, and particularly loves the occasional challenge of a difficult surgical or medical case.

Dr. Dye lives with her husband Jack, who enjoys running their cow/calf operation, a 500-head commercial Angus herd. Their border collies, Lolly, Opal and Radar, get their greatest pleasure from herding cows. In her spare time, Penny enjoys raising and riding her quarter horses.

Dr. Kami Ireland

Dr. Kami Ireland

Veterinarian, Co-Owner

Dr. Ireland grew up on a small cattle ranch east of Rapid City. Her parents came from humble beginnings, and instilled in Kami and her sister the importance of acquiring an education and working hard to achieve success. Dr. Ireland now combines that work ethic with her love of animals as a Veterinarian and partner in ownership at Dakota Hills!

In 1997, Dr. Ireland graduated from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska with a Bachelors in Biology. She attended veterinary school at Iowa State University—largely because the teaching hospital’s horses and foals reminded her of her ranch origins—and graduated with her DVM in 2001. Afterwards she joined the Dakota Hills team.

Kami especially loves dogs. No matter how poorly a day might be going, she can walk into an exam room with a dog and suddenly nothing else matters! She also enjoys surgery and says internal medicine is her favorite veterinary discipline.

Dr. Ireland has an English Shepherd named Claire that pretty much goes everywhere with her.  Three barn cats also prowl around her property:  Vicryl, PDS and Catgut.  When she’s not at the office, Dr. Ireland spends most of her time raising performance horses and preparing for and competing at barrel racing events.

Dr. Curtis Stonecipher

Dr. Curtis Stonecipher

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Stonecipher developed his love for animals while growing up in Rapid City around dogs, cats, horses, mules and chickens. He recognized the unconditional love and devotion animals provided and decided he wanted to be able to return the favor!

After high school, Dr. Stonecipher attended college in Coffeyville, Kansas and Arlington, Texas before returning to South Dakota and finishing his undergraduate degree at Black Hills State University. From there he was accepted into the class of 2000 at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, he received a job offer from Dakota Hills Veterinary Clinic and has practiced here as an Associate Veterinarian since then!

Orthopedic surgery is Dr. Stonecipher’s personal passion. It’s very satisfying for him to physically see the results of his efforts and how it improves the life of a pet.

Dr. Stonecipher’s wife, Julie, is a sixth grade science teacher at West Middle School.  Their son, Carter, is a project manager for Kurtz Construction in Rapid City.  Their daughter, Rylie, is a student at The University of South Dakota studying biology and criminal justice.  The family has two Pudelpointers, Boone and Dachs as well as one Golden Retriever, Kodi.

Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. Stonecipher’s hobbies include hunting, fishing and old muscle cars.

Dr. Jason Shipman

Dr. Jason Shipman

Associate Veterinarian

When Dr. Shipman was growing up, his hometown didn’t have any veterinary services. He remembers taking the long drive out of town with his parents to see the closest vet for the family pets. This revealed to him the crucial role veterinarians play in communities and he knew at a very young age he wanted to be able to fill that role in the future. Being able to experience and help foster the human-animal bond is one of the most rewarding aspects of this career, and Dr. Shipman feels so fortunate to serve pets and their families each day.

Dr. Shipman attended the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND for his undergraduate studies, and then pursued his veterinary degree at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. He graduated with his DVM in 2019. After initially starting his career in Rapid City, Dr. Shipman elected to pursue new opportunities and experiences as a travel/relief veterinarian in Phoenix, AZ. Over the years, he was fortunate to work in dozens of different veterinary hospitals and with a variety of teams, but he was incredibly excited to return home to Rapid City and join the team at Dakota Hills.

Clinically, Dr. Shipman has a special interest in dentistry and dermatology. This interest is likely due to his personal experiences with both disciplines while in veterinary school. Dr. Shipman served as a research assistant with CSU’s Dentistry and Oral Surgery Department. During that time, he also adopted a German shepherd who turned out to be quite itchy. Since he was a student, she was lucky enough to be treated by CSU’s Dermatology specialists and Dr. Shipman was fortunate to learn from them along the way.

At home, Dr. Shipman shares his life with his wife, Kalli, an optician in Rapid City. She too is thrilled to be living back in her hometown, close to family and friends. Their fur family consists of one scruffy rescue dog named Zuri who, aside from her irrational fear of the dishwasher, is the perfect dog. In his free time, Dr. Shipman enjoys traveling, biking, camping, and constantly adding new plants to his landscaping. However, there are few things the Shipmans enjoy more than hosting friends for a nice evening in their backyard with dinner, drinks, and dogs.

Dr. Jordan Stratman

Dr. Jordan Stratman

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Jordan Stratman joined the team at Dakota Hills Veterinary Clinic in September 2024 as an Associate Veterinarian! She grew up in the Rapid City area and was happy to return to western South Dakota. Dr. Stratman earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Boise State University and completed her veterinary training at Iowa State University in Ames where she received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. When she is not busy providing exceptional veterinary care to her patients, Dr. Stratman enjoys reading, hiking, and camping. Dr. Stratman is looking forward to continuing to provide excellent care for all her patients as a valued member of Dakota Hills Veterinary Clinic and the amazing community she knows so well.