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Our Careteam

Your pet’s emotional and physical well-being is prioritized with every visit. We put our patients first!

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Krystle

Krystle

Practice Manager

Krystle grew up on multiple acres in Bathurst, New Brunswick, where she developed a fascination with nature and wildlife early on. She can’t remember a time when there wasn’t a pet around her childhood home. For Krystle, coupling her innate customer service skills with her lifelong love for animals makes perfect sense—she gets to help both pets and those who care for them as Main West Animal Hospital’s Practice Manager!

After many years spent managing a private boating club, Krystle decided to look for work that felt more fulfilling and rewarding. That’s when she discovered an open position here at Main West Animal Hospital—she’s been a member of the clinic team since 2016 and hasn’t looked back since.

Krystle loves to learn new things every day within the world of animal medicine, and she especially likes putting a smile on visitors’ faces on a daily basis. For her, the hospital’s staff and clientele are truly members of the family!

Krystle’s interests outside of work include hiking, staying fit and living a healthy lifestyle (she’s even certified as a personal trainer!), writing and journaling, and spending time with her family. Krystle lives with her husband and her four boys, Hunter, Preston, Max and Jake, as well as a one-eyed cat named Silly who was adopted from right here at Main West Animal Hospital.


Brtitany

Brittany

Clinic Supervisor

Growing up on a chicken farm in Stevensville, Brittany has been surrounded by animals since birth. Not only did her family raise poultry, but they also had pets of a wide variety of species, from hamsters and hedgehogs, to cats, dogs, and even a deer. As Brittany got older, her passion for animal care continued to grow and she knew she wanted to work with them professionally one day. As the Clinic Supervisor here at Main West Animal Hospital, Brittany is fulfilling her lifelong goal and loving every second!

While in high school, Brittany completed her co-op placement here at Main West Animal Hospital and was ultimately offered a job. She worked as a receptionist here from 2006 until 2015, when she left for a few years to work at a different clinic. In 2023, Brittany returned to Main West, where it all began. Professionally, she has a special interest in dog training techniques. She also enjoys discussions about breeding, having bred working line German Shepherds for eight years.

Outside of work, Brittany lives in the country in Port Colborne with her husband and their two daughters. They currently have three dogs: two German Shepherds (Scout and Rook), and a Golden Retriever (Nora). They also have a cat named Mr. Kitty. In her spare time, Brittany enjoys camping with family and close friends up north in Matachewan, where they go four wheeling on the logging roads and visit the nearby lakes to fish. 

Brittany and Rook are also members of Gaspar PSA (Protection Sports Association) – a dog sport club, where each dog’s obedience and protection training skills are put to the test. The duo is currently training for their PSA 2 title.


Caryn

Caryn

Client Care Advocate

Caryn’s passion for animal care was passed down from her grandfather, who always taught his children and grandchildren to protect all living things, big or small. Serving in the veterinary field gives Caryn the knowledge on how to make pets’ lives extraordinary—she’s proud to serve as a member of Main West Animal Hospital’s talented care team!

Caryn is originally from Jordan, Ontario and started her animal-care journey as a co-op placement Veterinary Assistant. It wasn’t long before she developed into a full-time Veterinary Assistant and receptionist. Caryn also worked for many years at a pet food store and a local pet shop.

Having missed the hands-on aspect of veterinary care, Caryn decided to rejoin the veterinary profession and joined the Main West Animal Hospital team in late 2018. Her favourite part of her work is getting to greet the area’s animal companions when they visit the hospital—she loves to connect with each and every four-legged friend, as well as their loving owners.

Away from the office, Caryn can be found walking her dogs, hanging out at the beach, or cozying up with a glass of wine and a good book. She and her husband, Troy, have a daughter named Jordan (named after Caryn’s hometown!) and also share their home with two dogs: Marshall, a huge couch potato, and Cutler, who is always on the move.


Christina

Client Care Advocate

Christina has always been a people person, and her inclination toward pets comes naturally. What better way to pair her love of animals with her nurturing instinct, she thought, than by helping pet owners in a veterinary clinic? Christina serves as one of Main West Animal Hospital’s Client Care Advocates.

Christina is from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and moved to Ontario in 2000. She previously worked as an Educational Assistant in the human healthcare field, caring for special-needs patients. In 2015, she made the decision to switch careers; that’s when she started looking for jobs in the veterinary world.

Christina was thrilled to join the Main West Animal Hospital family in January of 2016, and is particularly fond of the fast-paced clinic environment. Ultimately, she loves working alongside her talented coworkers to bring the highest-quality brand of veterinary medicine possible to the area’s pet owners.

Outside of work, Christina loves getting lost in a good book and spending quality time with her family at home. She and her husband have two wonderful children and also share their lives with a spunky dog named Molly.


Jessica

Jessica

Client Care Advocate

Jessica knew that she was meant to help animals ever since she was a little girl. She’s always had a soft spot in her heart for them, and her passion simply never let up. Caring for the earth’s creatures is Jessica’s true calling! She’s a member of Balfour Animal Hospital’s talented front-desk team and has plans for becoming a veterinarian herself in the future.

Jessica was born in Poland and came to Canada with her family when she was young. She grew up in the St. Catharines area and has been here ever since! Jessica plans on going back to school in the near future to study veterinary medicine and wanted to gain some real-world experience in the animal-care field in the meantime. That’s when she signed up here at Balfour Animal Hospital—she’s been a member of the hospital family since June of 2019.

Outside of work, Jessica’s interests include gardening, snowboarding, reading, working on cars with her fiancé, and spending quality time with her own pets at home. She lives with Bella, a Pomeranian/Chihuahua mix that has been with Jessica since she was a puppy, a Pomeranian/Poodle mix named Koda, and Tucker the Golden Retriever. Jessica also cares for two horses, Sam and Spanky, a pair of gerbils who go by Tunnel and Troy, and five barn cats: Mama Midnight, Oreo, Griffen, Shivy, and Pistachio.


Jenn

Jenn

Registered Veterinary Technician

Jenn is from the Niagara Region, growing up right here in Welland. Jenn always liked being able to make a difference in the lives of animals. She knew early on that she wanted to what nurses do for people, but for pets—what better way to do that than as a Registered Veterinary Technician!

Jenn’s veterinary journey started in 2001, when she began working at Main West Animal Hospital part-time. She continued working there over summers and on breaks from school while she attended St. Clair College in Windsor. After graduating in 2002 with her Veterinary Technician’s degree, she came on full-time at the clinic

As a tech, she enjoys laboratory work and laser therapy appointments. Most recently, she’s been doing rehabilitation appointments and is enjoying helping pets recover after orthopedic surgeries.

Jenn lives in Welland with her husband of 10 years and their six-year-old daughter. When Jenn has the occasional spare moment in her schedule, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family. They also recently added a new four-legged member to the family, a five-year-old black Lab named Birdie.


Amanda

Amanda

Registered Veterinary Technician

Amanda cannot remember a time when she didn’t want to work with animals—it’s been her dream since she was very young, growing up in Sarnia, Ontario. She’s thrilled to work alongside her skilled and compassionate fellow team members to better the lives of pets here at Main West Animal Hospital!

Amanda joined the clinic family in November of 2014. As a Registered Veterinary Technician, she particularly enjoys placing catheters, drawing blood, assisting in surgery, and educating pet parents on their animal companions’ complex behavior patterns and dietary needs.

In her free time, Amanda enjoys camping with her family and working out at the gym—she’s also a personal trainer! She lives with her husband, their son, and four cats. Mojo and Coors are sisters and enjoy cuddling whenever the opportunity presents itself; Yoda is a hairless Sphinx cat who acts more like a human than a cat; and Kenya serves as the mother figure of the bunch.


Lauren

Lauren

Registered Veterinary Technician

Lauren grew up as an only child, and the family pets were her constant companions. Even at a young age, she knew that she would love to help as many of the earth’s creatures as she possibly could. For Lauren, no other choice of career made sense! She’s a Registered Veterinary Technician with the Main West Animal Hospital family.

Originally from St. Catharines, Lauren began her veterinary journey at a pet clinic there when she was only 16 years old. Next, she headed to Technician school at Medaille College in Buffalo to earn her degree in veterinary technology. Lauren returned to the practice in St. Catherines as a Registered Veterinary Technician and would help pets there for the next 11 years!

When the time came for a change, Lauren was happy to join the Main West Animal Hospital family in July of 2020. Her favourite part of her job is one-on-one hospital care and getting to see her hard work pay off in the form of a happier, healthier pet. She’s also fond of helping to educate clients on the best care for their animal companions.

At home, Lauren and her partner have a young daughter (already a huge animal-lover like her mother!) and also share their lives with several pets: a Shepherd named Oakley who can balance a treat on his nose; Willy the Labrador who loves everyone he meets; and a pair of cats named Oliver and Ameilia. When she’s not spending quality time with her family and pets, Lauren enjoys running and practicing yoga. She even hopes to become a certified yoga instructor in the future!


Chrishon

Chrishon

Veterinary Technician

They say the third time’s the charm, and it certainly seems that way for Chrishon. When COVID brought an unexpected layoff, she decided it was ‘now or never,’ and went back to school for the third time to pursue a career working with animals. As one of our veterinary technicians, Chrishon feels she has finally found her calling!

Caring for animals is more than just a job for Chrishon. Throughout her lifetime, she has spent countless hours volunteering her time and serves as a board member of the Niagara SPCA. Even her dog is a volunteer, participating in the St. John Ambulance, Therapy Tails and Reading Rocks programs. 

Chrishon attended Sheridan College and completed the vet tech program during the pandemic. Her co-op was with Main West, so coming to work her full time was a natural fit. Professionally, Chrishon finds cytology particularly fascinating because, as she puts in, “you never know what you’re going to find.” Getting to know the animals and their families is also a nice perk of the job.

At home, Chrishon currently has one dog of her own: Wylee, who loves rabbits (but not in a good way). In her spare time, she enjoys playing hockey and spending time outdoors. A fun fact about Chrishon is that she used to do cartoon voices and has worked in radio.


Gabby

Gabby

Veterinary Assistant

Gabby has always wanted to do everything in her power to better the lives of animals. She volunteered with a therapeutic horse service, walked dogs for the local Humane Society, and cared for many pets of her own, as well as for friends’ and family members’ companions. For Gabby, a career in the world of pet care simply made sense! She’s a proud member of Main West Animal Hospital’s Veterinary Assistant team.

Gabby grew up in Milton, Ontario and moved to Niagara in 2008. She went back to school in 2017 at Seneca College to study veterinary technology, and graduated in 2018 with her Veterinary Assistant’s certification. That same year, she joined the team here at Main West Animal Hospital—Gabby hasn’t looked back since.

Around the hospital, Gabby enjoys working closely with the doctors and Technicians so that she can continue learning new things on a daily basis. Her favorite part of the work, though, is getting to know her clients and patients personally. Nothing beats the knowledge that she gets to make a lasting difference!

Gabby’s interests outside of animal care include art and photography, hiking, biking, kayaking, visiting the beach, going to concerts, road tripping, and playing sports. She plays soccer all year long, and just started playing beach volleyball! Gabby also loves to spend quality time with her family, friends, and pet: she shares her life with Phineas, a cat who tends to act more like a dog and demands love at all times.


Carter

Carter

Veterinary Assistant

Carter has been an animal-lover her whole life. The moment she adopted her childhood Husky, Dingo, she knew that she wanted to be involved in pet care in some way. Now, Carter gets to make a difference in the lives of not only animals, but their loving owners as well, as a member of the Main West Animal Hospital team!

Carter grew up in Northern Alberta and launched her veterinary journey by volunteering at the SPCA there. It wasn’t long before she’d been hired on as an employee. After moving to Niagara with her boyfriend, she joined the Main West Animal Hospital family a short time later in the fall of 2020. Carter couldn’t be happier with her choice! Her favourite part of every shift is getting to meet new pet parents, and she especially likes helping shy or nervous pets to feel more comfortable.

Away from work, Carter enjoys baking, playing video games, getting outdoors, and spending time with her boyfriend. The couple plans on adopting a Chihuahua in the very near future!


Hailey

Hailey

Veterinary Assistant

Hailey was born and raised on a small family farm in Fonthill, Ontario. For her, caring for animals has been a part of life since day one. A career in the world of pet care simply made sense! Hailey is proud to serve as a member of the clinic’s Veterinary Assistant team while she studies animal biology in college. 

Hailey was only in the 11th grade when she applied for a cooperative career placement here at Main West Animal Hospital. It wasn’t long after starting that she was asked if she’d like a summer job—Hailey gladly accepted, and she’s been a part of the hospital family ever since. Currently, she studies animal biology at the University of Guelph and hopes to be accepted into the Ontario Veterinary College in the future. 

Hailey gets to supplement her studies with real-world experience right here at the clinic. She especially loves learning about anatomy, observing during surgeries, and performing X-ray scans. Most of all, she enjoys meeting new pet owners and their adorable animal companions. 

Outside of work and school, Hailey is a big athletics and sports fan—gymnastics, horseback riding, and pole vaulting are a few of her favorites. At home, she and her family share their lives with several animal companions: Casper, a cat who Hailey rescued as a kitten; Quinlin the Yellow Labrador Retriever who loves to chase deer and mice in the fields; and two loveable and bonded horses named Echo and Roulette. 


Candy

Candy

Veterinary Assistant

I am a Veterinary Assistant. During the pandemic I decided to reassess my career and started to study to become a Veterinary Assist. 

I started at Main West Animal Hospital in Dec 2021. Thanks to Main West Animal Hospital in believing in me and allowing me the opportunity to fulfill my lifelong passion to work with animals. It’s never too late to start a new career no matter how old you are!!!

As a child I always told my parents I wanted to become a Veterinarian though they did not discourage me they did reminded me that as fulfilling as the job is there are also some downsides to the position. I am sure you all know what I mean.

Life went on and here I am at 40ish….. and as mentioned I decided to do a career change and do what I have always wanted to do, work with animals as a Veterinary Assistant. 

I am from South Africa and landed a job to work on a safari camp in my twenties in the Pilanesberg National Park located in the North West Province of South Africa. This was the most amazing job any one could ever ask for, as I am sure you can imagine. I was a camp manager and hosted many dinners, game drives, game walks and camp fires listening to the lions roaring at night and been able to see millions of stars.

My family and I moved to Canada in May 2019 from South Africa, Johannesburg. We were barely here when the pandemic hit and I lost my job. In the almost 2 years of the pandemic that I was not working is when I decided to start my studies to become a veterinary assistant. I am still currently studying but also working at main west animal hospital and loving my new career.

The most fulfilling part of my job is working with the animals of course. Every day is a new challenge as no day is the same and this is what makes my job so interesting and exciting. I learn new things every day about the animals which helps me understand my studies as I am hands on. I also really enjoy working with my colleagues as they a super helpful, friendly, companionate and fun.

As mentioned, I was born in South Africa and have recently immigrated to Canada in May 2019 with my Husband (soul mate) Des and my 2 children Micaela and Chris (the loves of my life). 

I met Des and his 2 children in 2010, I was working as a Manager at a Creche & Pre School. They unfortunately lost their wife/mom at a very young age to cancer. After spending a lot of time with them I adopted Micaela and Chris and married Des, as they say the rest is history and here we are 12 years later….in Canada and what a wonderful journey it has been!

We also brought our puppy Lucy and our 2 Kitties Jessie and Rosie. 

Lucy is our 17 and a half years old Jack Russell. We think she has husky in her as she is loving the snow. A bit weird as she came from South Africa where there is no snow and it does not really get that cold.

Jessie our 7 year old black kitten whom is also known as Pizza, do not ask!!!! And Rosie who is our 6 years old tortoiseshell kitten who loves to chat, yes she talks!!! They were both adopted from the SPCA in South Africa

In my spare time I like to up cycle, recycle and make furniture out of reclaimed wood. Recently my husband and I made our bedroom suit out of reclaimed old saw mill wood. I also like horse riding for fun and bike riding in the summer as Welland has many wonderful trails.


Keri

Keri

Veterinary Assistant

For as long as she can remember, Keri has had a deep-seeded passion for helping animals. As a young child, she found an injured bird on the back porch. With the help of her mom, Keri nursed that little bird back to health before releasing her back into the wild. Then there was the time she befriended a stray cat at the age of 4. These experiences shaped Keri’s desire to one day work with animals professionally.

Before joining the Main West Animal Hospital team, Keri had been working in administration. She started feeling that pull toward the veterinary field and decided to officially change careers. Keri started with us in June of 2021 as a Veterinary Assistant. Professionally, Keri has a particular interest in x-ray technology. She finds being able to see what’s going on inside a patient’s body absolutely fascinating.

Currently, Keri does not have any pets of her own, but she is excited about adopting a dog someday in the near future. Her personal interests include singing, theatre, and running. She recently completed a half marathon and looks forward to challenging herself with more races (hopefully with a four-legged running partner to keep her company).


Raven

Raven

Veterinary Assistant

Growing up, Raven always knew that she loved animals. It wasn’t until her dog gave birth to a litter of seven puppies and she was able to be involved in their care that she decided she wanted to one day work with them as a career. As a veterinary assistant here at Main West Animal Hospital, Raven gets to do her favorite thing every day: help pets enjoy happier, healthier lives.

Raven completed the Seneca College Veterinary Assistant program in 2022. While she was still in school, she finished her co-op here at Main West, and decided to stay once she graduated. Clinically, Raven enjoys assisting with laboratory procedures, such as cytology, as she finds the process to be quite fascinating. 

At home, Raven has three fur babies of her own: Mortemer and Henry, both Mastiffs who enjoy playing in the backyard and taking long naps, and a cat named Niamh, who likes playing with anything that squeaks and watching out the window. In her free time, Raven enjoys reading, baking, and listening to music.


Faith

Faith

Veterinary Assistant

Bio coming soon.


Jaymee

Jaymee

Registered Veterinary Technician

Jaymee grew up in Mount Hope, ON, on a property with lots of land to explore. As a child, Jaymee spent most of her free time outdoors, training her dogs and playing with the farm kittens nearby. As she grew older, she began thinking about the type of career she might want to pursue. When she learned about the role of veterinary technician, which would allow her to work with animals and help people, she knew she’d found the perfect match!

Jaymee’s journey began in high school when she did a co-op at a local veterinary clinic. She was ultimately hired and continued to work there while attending vet tech school. Upon completion of her coursework, Jaymee officially became an RVT. In August of 2022, she and her new husband relocated to the Welland area where she discovered Main West Animal Hospital and officially joined the team in the spring of 2023. Professionally, Jaymee has a special interest in behavior, training, and reproduction.

Outside of the clinic, Jaymee lives with her husband Dean and their dog, Fenja. When she has time to spare, Jaymee can usually be found outside, taking long walks with Fenja. She also enjoys hanging out with family and friends, and watching sports (primarily basketball, volleyball, and soccer). From time to time, Jaymee works with a shelter program to foster dogs and cats and help get them ready for their new homes.


Sara

Sara

Client Care Representative

Sarah has always had an interest in animal health. She was inspired to pursue a career in veterinary medicine after enjoying the many precious years she had growing up with her family dog. Toward the end of her dog’s life, the veterinarian guided her family and showed them so much compassion throughout the process. Sara was deeply touched by what a profound impact a veterinary team can have on the lives of pet owners, and knew she wanted to one day do the same for others.

In 2018, Sara began her journey as a receptionist and assistant at a practice in Toronto. After working there for three years, and loving every second of it, she decided to move back to her hometown of Niagara Falls. Knowing she wanted to continue her career in the veterinary world, Sara officially joined the Main West Animal Hospital team in May of 2021 and says it’s the best decision she’s ever made. 

In her role as Client Care Representative, Sara relishes the opportunity to learn more about the various areas of veterinary medicine. She enjoys the fast paced environment and appreciates working with a team that is so helpful and caring. 

Sara’s family owns a Chihuahua/Terrier named Lucy, whom she visits as often as she can. Lucy has a spunky personality! Her favourite season is autumn because she loves to step on all the leaves. Their walks during this season take extra-long so she can crunch every single leaf beneath her little paws!


Chelsea

Chelsea

Customer Service Representative

Chelsea spent a year living far up north, in a community where animal care was not a priority and veterinary services were hours away. There, stray dogs and cats would roam in packs, their conditions deteriorating. The experience made Chelsea realize that in order to truly help, she would need to invest herself fully into the animal care field. Today, as part of the Main West Animal Hospital team, she is thrilled to be able to apply her passion for both animals and their owners.

Chelsea’s career began as a zookeeper, during which time she cared for a wide variety of species, from farm stock to small mammals, like chinchillas, skunks, foxes, rabbits and meerkats. She also worked with birds of prey, like owls and eagles, as well as some pretty neat reptiles, including tortoise, skinks and monitors. Along with this, she has combined her extensive experience in customer service to be the best Client Care Representative that she can be!

Professionally, Chelsea enjoys interacting with clients and getting to hear their funny pet stories. She also loves caring for the patients because they are truly the heart of every home. Seeing them leave, knowing they’ve been well taken care of, is something Chelsea finds incredibly fulfilling.

Outside of the clinic, Chelsea lives with Reilly, her loyal dog whom she refers to as the “light of her life.” Reilly is a complete goofball and a little too smart for her own good. The two are currently working on Reilly learning to tell left from her right, and she’s already catching on.

In her spare time, Chelsea enjoys spending time outside, hiking with Reilly, playing ice hockey or crafting indoors on her sewing machine. She recently started making a quilt from her old high school band shirts.


Andi

Andi

Laboratory Technician

After graduating from school trained as a human laboratory technician, Andi found out that one of her classmates was working for a veterinarian. She hadn’t known this was an option, but quickly realized it would be the perfect career choice for her!

Born in Buffalo, New York as the oldest of three sisters, Andi was originally hired at Main West Animal Hospital in 1984 as a receptionist and kennel assistant. Eventually, she was trained through a correspondence course with a lab. She even attended the University of Guelph for a short period, trained as a technician in their labs. Now she performs almost all of Main West Animal Hospital’s lab work in-house!

Cytology—the study of cells—is Andi’s chief professional interest, as it is a challenge for her and very helpful for the practice. She also enjoys being active in diagnosing, and seeing a pet through the healing process until they’re cured.

Andi has been married to her husband Bill for 46 years. They have two sons and six grandchildren, and live with two pets of their own, a dog and a cat. Outside of work, Andi enjoys Zumba, Tai Chi, and gardening.


Evelyn

Evelyn

Accountant

Evelyn has always enjoyed working with numbers, and she’s a pet owner herself. When the opportunity came about for her to couple her passion for arithmetic with her love for the earth’s creatures, the choice was simple!

Originally from Toronto, Evelyn moved to St. Catharines several years ago, where she began working at a computer school. Shortly after the school closed, she joined the team here at Main West Animal Hospital and Heartland Niagara Animal Hospital. Evelyn has been here ever since!

Away from work, Evelyn can be found reading, listening to music, playing pool, or spending quality time with her family and pets. She has three sons and four grandsons, and shares her home with two dogs—Sierra, who knows all sorts of tricks, and Stella, who can jump six feet into the air from a sitting position—as well as two loveable cats named Boots and Nikita.


Joanne

Joanne

Animal Health Technician

When she was 14 years old, Joanne saw a man on the side of the road beside a cow that was lying on the ground. As she went over to see what was going on, she realized the cow was birthing a calf! The man asked Joanne to comfort the mother cow, and minutes later the calf was born. From that moment on, Joanne knew what she wanted to be when she grew up.

Joanne grew up in Niagara Falls, Ontario. She graduated from St. Clair College in 1987 with a diploma in in Animal Health Technology. She started at Main West in 1988, covering for a fellow employee on maternity leave. When she returned after six months, Joanne was kept on as a full-time employee.

Taking radiographs is Joanne’s specialty, and one of her favourite parts of her job. She also likes seeing the same patients over many years and being able to develop a close relationship with those pets and their families.

Joanne still lives in Niagara Falls, sharing her home with her husband Mike, their son Chase, their daughter Kendra, and the family pet, Jackson. Joanne says her greatest achievements are her family, career, and putting her kids through college.


Mia

Mia

Veterinary Assistant

Like most of her colleagues, Mia knew from a very young age that she wanted to work with animals. When she was a child, she was always rescuing animals from her family’s backyard pool. One day, she saw a chipmunk swimming for its life. She scooped it out, expecting it to bite her out of fear, but instead, it climbed to her shoulder and sniffed her before calmly walking away. That moment solidified Mia’s passion for helping animals and her lifelong goal of working in the veterinary industry!

Mia’s career journey began right here at Main West Animal Hospital. Eventually, she would like to become a veterinarian, but for now she’s more than happy to gain hands-on experience as a veterinary assistant. Professionally, Mia enjoys seeing animals come in for mass removal surgery and the relief they feel once they’ve recovered. She’s also continually amazed at the resilience of animals and inspired by their innocence. It’s amazing to work in such an uplifting job!

Outside of work, Mia lives with her parents. Up until recently, her father’s allergies made it impossible to own pets, but fortunately that has since changed. Mia wasted no time adopting a ragdoll cat named Willow, who loves to sit in the open window and watch the birds in the backyard. Most of Mia’s hobbies revolve around physical fitness. She loves to practice aerial skills and recently competed in her first half-marathon. She is currently training for a full marathon. Mia also enjoys playing the board game Pandemic with her family.


Justina

Justina

Veterinary Assistant

When Justina was a young child, her family’s cat had a litter of kittens before they could get her spayed. When she was unable to deliver one of the kittens, the neighbor, who had worked on a farm and had experience delivering animals, stepped in to help, ultimately saving the mother cat’s life. Witnessing this event left an indelible mark on Justina and sparked a lifelong passion for animals.

Prior to joining the Main West team, Justina had spent some time in retail and marketing at a local pet store. While she loved the job, she felt herself wanting to do more, so when she stumbled upon the job opening on LinkedIn, she decided to throw her hat in the ring. Justina was hired just as the pandemic hit, but that didn’t stop her. She came aboard as a veterinary assistant and hasn’t looked back since!

Professionally, Justina has a special interest in diagnostics – particularly radiographs. There’s something intriguing about looking at an X-ray and trying to figure out what’s going on inside a patient’s body. She also enjoys assisting the doctors with surgery. 

Outside of the clinic, Justina is married to her high school sweetheart. The couple currently has one beautiful child and a pet cat. In her spare time, Justina enjoys hiking in the woods with her son, searching for animals and bugs. Her other hobbies include reading and being a mom.


Heather

Heather

Veterinary Assistant

Heather has always had a passion for helping others – whether people or animals. After years of begging, her parents finally relented and let her get a dog, and that passion has only continued to grow. Being a pet parent herself, Heather feels that she is better equipped to help other owners and their pets. In her role as veterinary assistant, she loves making connections and sharing laughs over wagging tails!

Heather joined the Main West Animal Hospital team in April of 2022. She is currently attending Brock University’s medical science program, and recently completed a research project focusing on vector-borne diseases, such as those transmitted by ticks and mosquitoes, which can infect humans and animals. Professionally, Heather has a special interest in pet nutrition and is currently finishing her nutritional certification course through Royal Canin.

When she’s not busy working or studying, Heather enjoys spending time with her dog, Reggie, as well as her boyfriend, family, and friends. She and Reggie share many of the same interests, including exercising, eating well, and staying fit. Fresh veggies from the garden are always a treat – that is, when Reggie doesn’t get their first and help himself!


Jackie R.

Jackie

Veterinary Assistant

When Jackie was in preschool, she begged her mother to let her get a puppy. Finally, at the age of nine, her mother gave in and brought home a wheaten terrier whom the family named ‘Frisbee’. Frisbee suffered from allergies and stomach issues, and Jackie remembers many trips to the vet and how fascinated she was with animal medicine. It came as no surprise that she would one day end up pursuing a career working with animals. Now, she can’t imagine doing anything else!

Jackie’s journey began with her other passion – horses. She received a diploma in equine care and management and went on to groom professionally for Olympic and Pan-Am game equestrian riders. After receiving her level 8 rider designation and coaching license with Equestrian Canada, Jackie became a full-time horse trainer and competed professionally for two years. A serious accident would ultimately change Jackie’s career trajectory, and she decided to focus on small animal care.

Jackie joined the Main West Animal Hospital team in January of 2023. Professionally, she has a special interest in radiography the and rehabilitation of animals with orthopaedic injuries. As a life-long sufferer of IBS herself, Jackie also has an interest in helping animals with gastrointestinal challenges. Being able to relate to their struggles and provide some much-needed relief is truly a special experience.

Outside of work, Jackie lives with her fiancé on a 1.5-acre piece of property. Their growing farm features a large vegetable garden and includes six chickens, four fish, and a Flemish giant X bunny named Asiago. Right up the road live Jackie’s horses, Cody and Classy. Cody won reserve champion at the first shoe Jackie competed in as a professional and showed up to the 3-foot hunters. Classy is an off the track thoroughbred that Jackie purchased in November 2021. In the span of eight months, Classy was competing in the 2-foot, 9-inch ring at Angelstone Tournaments.


Jenna

Jenna

Veterinary Technician

Jenna has known she wanted to work in veterinary medicine for as long as she can remember. As a young child, she dreamed of working with animals. Her interest in medicine and innate desire to help others made the decision that much easier. As one of the veterinary technicians here at Main West Animal Hospital, Jenna feels lucky to be able to meet so many amazing animals and is grateful that their parents trust her to care for their beloved family members.

Jenna’s career journey began through a co-op right here at MWAH, where she spent five weeks refining her skills and learning new techniques while gaining valuable hands-on experience. By the second week of her placement, she was offered a full-time position which started upon completion of her final semester of school. Clinically, Jenna enjoys working in the lab. From blood smears to ear cytology, you just never know what you’ll see under the microscope. She also has a special interest in venipuncture.

At home, Jenna has three pets of her own, including a tri-colour chihuahua named Hazel, who has every accessory imaginable and accompanies Jenna everywhere she goes, and two ragdoll sisters named Tofu and Coconut. An avid soccer player, Jenna played for just over ten years, six of which were played competitively across southern Ontario and northern New York. She also enjoys spending time outdoors – particularly if it involves fishing from a canoe in Frontenac.


23,458 sloppy kisses

23,458

Sloppy Kisses

19,389 bellies rubbed

19,389

Bellies Rubbed

27, 193 treats given

27,193

Treats Given