Our Veterinary Team

Dr. M. Frank Allison was born in Amory, MS. He graduated from Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine with his DVM degree in 1986. He then began his career employed in the Ocean Springs, MS area where he has been for the last 32 years. He became a partner in Town & Country Veterinary Hospital in Gautier, MS in 1989 and eventually sole owner.

He and his wife, Stephanie, opened a second office, The Pet Connection, in Ocean Springs in 2003 as a boarding and grooming facility initially, then added veterinary services in 2005.

Hurricane Katrina provided a temporary setback to the Gautier office, but both locations have been fully staffed and providing all pet care services since March 2010.

Dr. Allison’s special interest include all types of small animal surgery, including skin and cosmetic procedures, abdominal procedures, and orthopedic procedures.
Dr. Allison lives in Ocean Springs with his wife of 30 years, Stephanie, his two children, Anna Claire and Bo, and his numerous 4-legged children, Sam, Boots, Maxwell, and Pebbles. He enjoys outdoor activities, sports, and spending time with his family.

Dr. Allison is a member of the AVMA, and SMVMA. Dr. Allison attends First Presbyterian Church in Ocean Springs.

Dr. Frances Hayman Smith grew up near Prentiss, Mississippi. She graduated from Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1987. She practiced in Madisonville, Kentucky for six years before coming to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, working in Ocean Springs and Biloxi.

She left the Coast for Dallas, Texas and from 2000-2004 she worked as a relief veterinarian throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In 2004 moved back to Mississippi and worked in Petal. In 2006 she moved back to the Gulf Coast where she joined Dr. Allison in Gautier, and stayed with Town & Country when it was reopened in 2010.

Her areas of interest include internal medicine, behavior, and preventive medicine.

Dr. Smith lives in Ocean Springs with her daughter Deanna and many animals including Tank the Smooth Collie, River the Doberman Pinscher (named for a character in Doctor Who), cats Boots and Imzadi (Star Trek name), Olive the guinea pig, and hermit crabs Mettaton and Napastablook (from the video game Undertale).

Dr. Smith is a member of the AVMA and SMVMA. She enjoys reading, writing, and many crafts including those involved in making costumes for cosplay. She is the PETFLEET Director as well as the Director of the Veterinary Medicine division of STARFLEET Academy in STARFLEET International (sfi.org).

I have worked for Town & Country Veterinary Hospital for eighteen years.I enjoy working with our team and your pets. When not at work I love spending time with my husband and three wonderful kids and all our animals.