Rangiora Small Animal Team
Marcella Cassiani
BVSc, MANZCVS (Dentistry)
Small Animal Veterinarian
Marcella was born and raised near Boston, Massachusetts and moved to New Zealand in 2004 to study veterinary medicine at Massey University in Palmerston North. In her second year of vet school she met a lovely kiwi boy and never left!
Since graduation she has worked in predominantly small animal practice and developed a passion for veterinary dentistry early on in her career.
Kasia Chapman-Labecka
DVM
Kasia, a Graduate of Warsaw, Poland Vet School of 1990, joined the Rangiora team in November 2016. Her work related special interests are vetting for Endurance rides as FEI 4 Star Treatment Vet and working as an FEI Testing Veterinarian. She loves these jobs as they take her to many spectacular and remote parts of NZ and overseas.
Kasia is the founder and President of Camelid Branch of NZVA 2010-2011.
Over last few years she pursued her interests in Small Animals Emergency and Critical Care by completing several Emergency and Critical Care courses in NZ and Australia, and is recently developing skills in a new field of Ultrasonography in Critical Care.
Kasia grew up behind the “iron curtain “in Poland. Against all odds she travelled extensively to many countries around the world – USA, UK, Western Europe, Nepal, India and less popular destinations like Mongolia and Cuba. After Graduation she spent a stint at Ghent University, Belgium, studying Equine lameness, later on moving to UK and working as a vet nurse. In 1993 she passed her Royal College of Veterinary Science exams.
She met her Husband Clive in UK, and 31 years later they enjoy their lifestyle block in Mid Canterbury bringing up three lively boys. Her menagerie of animals includes the laziest ever adopted cat “Puss-Puss”, the busiest mouse catcher “Mini”, a flock of sheep, free range chickens and Apiary.
In her spare time she likes keeping young and fit by dancing , performing on the stage of Amateur Dramatics, digging her large veggie garden, attending to bees, skiing, tramping and talking politics.
Bryn Morgan
BSc (hons) BVSc PGcertSAS MRCVS
Small Animal Veterinarian
Bryn graduated from the University of Sydney (AUS) in 2008 after previously completing a biological sciences degree at the University of Sheffield (UK).
He then retuned to his home town in the UK where he worked in private small animal practice for 2 years before completing a rotating internship at a large veterinary referral hospital.
On returning to private practice he completed a post-graduate certificate in small animal surgery after working as a ski host in France for a season.
In January 2019 he fulfilled a 10 year ambition to live in New Zealand, moving to Christchurch where he met his (now) wife Linda. They live together with their young son Akash and rescue rabbit Oliver in Kaiapoi.
Bryn has a keen interest in surgery, ophthalmology and veterinary imaging.
Although currently most of his spare time is taken up caring for his baby son he enjoys mountain biking, skiing, football, hiking and all things outdoors.
Ben Leitch
BVSc MVS(hons) MANZCVSc (Small Animal Surgery)
RVC is excited to announce that Dr Ben Leitch has joined our referral surgical team. He will be operating from our 24 Hour Best Practice Accredited Hospital in Rangiora. From advanced orthopedics to difficult soft tissue surgeries, Ben has the skills and experience to manage all of these, his diary is open, he is accepting cases.
Ben graduated from Massey University in 1994 and spent the next 7 years in the South Island in a variety of mixed and small animal practices. He then relocated to the North Island, and in 2008 returned to Massey University for what was supposed to be a one year surgery internship, inspired in part by seeing the skill of Warrick Bruce, and by a desire to work out this thing called a meniscus.
Ben took up residency and spent 5 years at Massey completing a Masters in Veterinary Studies, obtaining Australian College membership in small animal surgery and fulfilling all residency requirements for Australian Fellowship. Following this he set up a referral surgical service in the Bay of Plenty.
In late 2018 Ben took a position as lead surgeon at Petvet Lower Hutt providing referral surgery services to the greater Wellington / South Wairarapa area.
We are excited to have Ben with his extensive knowledge and skills join our team and proudly offer his services to pet owners and referring vets in the wider region.
Sarah Montgomery
BVMedSci BVM BVS PGCertSAM MRCVS
Medicine Special Interest Veterinarian
Sarah has a postgraduate certificate in small animal medicine (PGCertSAM) and has worked in referral practice in the UK, first as a rotating intern at a large referral practice in England and then as a medicine/imaging clinician in a hospital in Northern Ireland. Prior to this she worked in general practice in the UK and NZ for over 5 years.
RVC is very excited to be able to offer her medicine referral service. The 24 hour hospital facilities mean that the patients get 24 hour veterinary care in house and the large team of amazing nurses means we can offer 1-to-1 care to any of the more intensive patients. We are pleased to be able to offer treatments that are difficult to organise in general practice such as blood transfusions, chemotherapy and CT scans.
Liz Miller
BSc BVM&S CertAVP (GSAS)
Small Animal Veterinarian
In August 2019 Liz joined the RVC Companion Animal team. She studied for her 1st degree at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, then went onto the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, at the University of Edinburgh, and achieved Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Pratice, followed by the postnominal in General Small Animal Surgery.
Liz is a current founding board member of the World Veterinary Palliative Medicine Organisation (WVPMO), which is a global network of veterinarians improving and supporting the lives of animals and their caregivers, by promoting and advancing veterinary palliative medicine centered on quality of life.
Liz has keen interests in soft tissue surgery, oncology surgery, analgesia and anaesthesia, geriatric medicine, palliative care. Outside her busy vet schedule she enjoys gardening, biking and walking, handicrafts and vintage cars, but most especially spending time with her husband and son Sam, a funny, very active, cheeky wee chap.
Originally from Kent, in the South East of England UK, Lizi met her Kiwi husband whilst studying her first degree. Eventually moving back to New Zealand the family have settled in Amberley where they and their animals enjoy the mixed lifestyle on offer. The animal family includes Delphi, a super hyper 7 year old Sprocker, 9 year old Marti, a Birman x moggy who loves life on his terms, and The Girls - 8 heritage breed chickens.
Sophie Neilson
Small Animal Veterinarian
Sophie was born in the UK and is very proud of her Scottish heritage! She came to RVC in 2002 as a vet student, graduated from the Royal Veterinary College (London) in 2004, and has lived in NZ ever since.
Her special veterinary interests lie in general practice, consultation skills, communication and radiology (x-rays). She is studying towards her Certificate of Advanced Veterinary Practice in Small Animal Veterinary Primary Care, through the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, UK. After 16 years in practice, Sophie has held several roles at RVC and is now our Clinical Care Manager.
This is a diverse role meaning she works very closely with the clinical teams to try and ensure our patient care and client experience are meeting the high standards we have set for ourselves. This involves many things including talking to clients about their feedback, helping to deliver and provide training opportunities, case reviews, writing and ensuring internal and external guidelines and procedures are followed, managing the radiation safety aspect of the business, safeguarding passing our external radiation safety and Best Practice Hospital standards audits and ensuring we are applying the most up-to-date evidence to our patient care.
She lives in Loburn with her fiance Matt, her beloved cat “Smooch” (“Peach” to his friends!), two horses and some cattle. Outside the clinic she is a keen horse enthusiast and closet musician! She loves working with the vibrant, talented and dedicated team here at the RVC.
Kathy Preston
BVSc (Massey)
Small Animal Veterinarian
Kathy, a born and bred Cantabrian started with RVC in Sept 1997. A small animal vet, her primary interest is preventative medicine. Outside the RVC environment Kathy is active with her two fabulous boys and enjoys a good game of golf, tramping, social tennis, reading, gardening and getting stuck into renovations.
Kathy and her family revolve their lives around a succession of pets, and cannot imagine not having one in their lives.
Jose Doo
Small Animal Veterinarian
Jose Graduated from Massey University in 2009, she then moved to Australia for her first plunge into veterinary medicine and was lucky to start at a clinic that saw mostly small animals, but also tended to the exotics at a local wildlife park, along with a small number of large animals. This experience gave her a broad start, and encouraged her to become more interested in avian medicine especially poultry.
Jose returned to New Zealand in 2011 and worked at a number of locations before finally settling in Christchurch. Along with her partner, they are currently working at making a little off the grid paradise on 23 acres in Oxford, where they raise and breed a number of heritage breed chickens, and have just embarked on Pheasants.
Kelsie Lehmkuhl
Small Animal Veterinarian BVMS
Kelsie joined the team in November 2020, with special interests in small animal emergency and critical care, she enjoys being part of the Hospital team.
Born in Nebraska, she grew up moving all over the US and Canada with her parents and younger brother, then moved to Glasgow Scotland for veterinary school where she met her kiwi husband. Once graduated, they relocated to New Zealand.
Outside the clinic Kelsie has a varied list of interests including photography, rock climbing, hiking and camping. The fur family includes a ball obsessed border collie cross, named Koda, who travelled from the US to the UK and then finally to NZ, and two kiwi rescue cats, Bear and Ollie.
Billy Fitzgerald
BVSc MANZCVS (ECC)
Billy joined the Rangiora team in early 2021. His special interests are emergency and critical care, anaesthesia, and analgesia which makes him an integral part of the Hospital team.
Originally from Surrey, in the UK, he moved to Wellington where he attended High School, and then went onto Massey to study Veterinary Medicine. Keen on football, snowboarding and surfing, he has noticed the water temp is just a tad cooler in the South Island!
He and his partner have a very bitey, but very loving cat called Bean, whose hobbies include eating, sleeping, zoomies (specifically at 3am), and hiding under the bed ready to pounce on any unsuspecting arm or leg that happens to dangle in the middle of the night.
Lynlee Kueh
Small Animal Veterinarian, BVSc, MVM
Lynlee joined the companion animal veterinary team in February 2018, her special area of interest is small animal medicine.
When not in clinic Lynlee loves to travel, relax with a good book, she also enjoys swimming.
Born in Christchurch, she moved to Malaysia for 10 years, but returned for High school, followed by Massey University where she studied for her veterinary degree. Now settled back in Christchurch, she lives with her husband, and a big goofey golden retriever called Toby who, in true retriever style, will do anything for food!
Shannon Boyle
BVSc (Distn)
Shannon joined the team in March 2022. Her special interests include clinical pathology and internal medicine.
After finishing her degree at Massey University, Shannon worked on the West Coast of the South Island for a few years before moving with her partner (whom is also a veterinarian) to Canterbury.
Outside of work, she enjoys tramping, reading and gardening. Shannon and her partner are kept very busy by their chatty SPCA rescue cat, Eva. Eva had 8 kittens before retiring to a now quiet indoor life.
Marcus Allan
BSc, BVSc, MVM
Marcus joined our small animal veterinary team early in 2023. As well as general veterinary medicine, he also has an interest in ultrasonography. His interests suit his role at RVC, which is primarily to manage the hospitalised patients.
Growing up in the North Island, in the Manawatu and Waikato region, he gained veterinary experience in Tauranga, Matamata and Hamilton before heading to the Middle East to practice.
Outside the clinic environment he is in his happy place being busy outdoors.
Alanna Francois
Small Animal Veterinarian
Lauren Keenan
Lead Surgical Nurse
With more than 10 years experience in a specialist surgical practice and a Certificate in Vet Nursing, Lauren has developed a keen interest in surgery. She has an appreciation for all aspects of surgery from complex fracture repair and emergency care, right through to the finesse and delicate nature of soft tissue surgery. As well as surgery itself, she is also interested in pain management and post-op rehabilitation.
Outside the vet clinic Lauren loves horses (and spending money on them), along with her partner they have a number of 4 legged friends including a very special rescue dog which sports a prosthetic leg.
Katie Duncan
RVTS. Clinical Support Lead
Katie has been with RVC since 2004. Additional to her diploma Katie is a Registered Veterinary Technician specialist in anaesthesia and analgesia, one of only 2 nurses in nz to pass the rigorous examination process through the AVTAA.
Katie enjoys the challenges of anaesthetising emergency and critical patients, and supporting them through to a comfortable recovery, as well as working with many of the exotic species at Orana Wildlife Park over the years. She also enjoys teaching and volunteered for vets for compassion in China in 2017 to teach Chinese vets about multimodal analgesia and anaesthesia.
Katie has a kitten called prickle, who was found in rubbish skip and a horse called Bell who she enjoys trekking on.
Debra Gyde
Vet Nurse
Debra joined the RVC team in September 2015 after working as a Vet Nurse for more than 20 years prior. She registered with a Diploma of Vet Nursing in 2018 having gained the qualification of prior learning via Capable NZ and Otago Polytechnic. She is passionate about promoting fear-free handiling of animals and enjoys both medical and surgical nursing.
Living on a lifestyle block with her husband, they have a menagerie of animals including a German Shepherd (Ash), a flat coated retriever, rescued from the Dunedin pound (Finn) and more recently 2 chincilla X kittens.
Farm animals include cattle, sheep and 4 horses, which are used for pleasure riding. Any spare time is spent with her family and gardening.
Kayla Wills
Vet Nurse
Qualified in Veterinary Nursing and Animal Care, Kayla has a special interest in surgery, especially anaesthesia.
Having always lived in the Waimakariri district, she started working at the Rangiora Clinic in October 2015 which has allowed her to stay close to the town she grew up in, Woodend. Keen on travelling and exploring new places,
Kayla also loves spending time with friends and family and fostering rescues!! Her animal family includes 3 dogs, staffordshire terriers and a greyhound, she also has a moggy and a birman cat.
Janine Ealam
Vet Nurse
With a Certificate in Vet Nursing, Janine's special interests include canines, puppy training, and fostering kittens. Originally from Lower Hutt she relocated with her family to North Canterbury in 2007. She loves socialising and spending quality time with friends, family and especially the loves of her life, her poodles, Beau and Bella. Janine is also happy amongst her cats, many of which she has "lovingly inherited" from friends and family.
Nicole Bennet
Vet Nurse
Nicole gained her Diploma in Veterinary Nursing at Otago Polytech and began working among the RVC Companion Animal team in April 2019. She is especially interested in hospital care, caring for recovering animals and helping them heal.
Outside the clinic environment, Nicole enjoys swimming for fun and exercise. She likes to read and also explore the outdoors, hiking trails and beaches with her dog, Ralph, an 8 year old border collie who loves frisbees, chasing balls and taking his human for walks.
Originally from the Timaru region, Nicole has a close group of friends, who enjoy a variety of activities and hanging out together with their pets.
Andrew Dunn
Animal Care Assistant
Andrew originally comes from Dunedin but moved to Rangiora in March of 2014 to join the clinic in his first position in the Animal industry. He has always had an interest in working with animals and completed his Certificate in Veterinary Nursing at the Otago Polytechnic in 2012.
As the Animal Care Assistant his roles include making sure that patients are kept comfortable in the hospital, given clean bedding, maintain hospital cleanliness and the dogs that come in are walked in the mornings and afternoons.
Outside of the clinic environment he enjoys science fiction, music and playing video games.
Emma Forrester
Vet Nurse
Emma is passionate about client experience and strengthening the interaction between vets, nurses and customer services, with lends well to her involvement in the weight loss clinic and Puppy Classes.
Prior to joining the RVC team Emma worked at the Community Clinic for the Animal Welfare League on the Gold Coast. This was a fast paced, intense and varied role, which has gained her a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Most recently she has been helping out on the family sheep and beef farm in Harwarden, where she can be found in her red bands any time she is not at RVC! When she returned from Aussie, there was a little extra luggage in the form of a cat and a dog. Chad, a tabby cat from a shelter, and Kahli, and Australian Bulldog.
Cathy Strachan
Vet Nurse
Cathy joined RVC in December 2019 after graduating at Otago Polytechnic with a diploma in veterinary nursing. Still learning all that she can about all aspects of veterinary nursing, she enjoys anaesthesia and surgery. Cathy also has a special interest in rehabilitation and learning about how to help doggos and their owners with osteoarthritis, she really enjoys helping people care for their furbabies.
Originally from Wellington, Cathy has travelled and lived in a few places around New Zealand as well as spending a few years in Scotland. She has a dear wee young black and white cat that she rescued after he was brought into the clinic.
Kirsty Jones
Vet Nurse
Kirsty started working with the RVC vet nursing team in September 2016 and has become a valued part of the team. She holds a Certificate of Veterinary Nursing and a NZ Diploma of Veterinary Nursing, she is also a NZ Veterinary Nursing Association Registered Nurse.
When not taking care of patients in the clinic, she loves to volunteer for the SPCA, travelling, walking & exploring NZ. Kirsty was born in England, but grew up in North Africa, returning to England to live before emigrating to NZ. Currently living in Oxford with her young family and a menagerie of animals including cats, a dog, a pig, a cow, a sheep and a lovebird.
Holly Steven
Vet Nurse
Holly joined the RVC Companion Animal team in July 2019 with a Level 6 Diploma of Veterinary Nurse.
She has a keen interest in dog behaviour/training and also in cytology/lab work. She is also interested in competition level dog agility, and specialist training (SAR, therapy, guide dogs etc).
Holly moved from Feilding to start her new job at RVC and has recently had a gorgeous huntaway cross pup join her life, who she hopes will become her next competition dog.
Charlotte Price
Vet Nurse
Charlotte joined the Companion Animal team in March 2019, having recently graduated with a Certificate in Vet Nursing she continued to study, completing the Level 6 Diploma later in the year.
In the veterinary hospital environment Charlotte is interested in hospital care and emergency medicine. Outside the vet clinic she loves to spend as much time as possible with her furbabies. 2 cats, Billy who is a 9 year old tabby boy, very smoochy and loves to head butt and Bella who is an 11 year old dilute Torti girl, full of sass but very loving - on her own terms!
Stefanie Nicholas
Vet Nurse
Stefanie (Stef) joined the RVC vet nursing team in 2017 with a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing. She enjoys working in the hospital and nursing the critical care patients until they are well enough to go home. It is very rewarding seeing the animals, some who have been very ill and unhappy, transition back to themselves and reunite with their families.
Outside the small animal clinic nursing environment Stef has her hands full caring for her horses, developing, breeding and riding them, as well as schooling young children.
A born and bred Cantabrian, along with her horses, Stef also has 3 very active dogs which keep her on her toes, as well as 4 cats.
Jaxson Kees
Critical Care/After Hours Vet Nurse
Jaxson gained his Diploma in Veterinary Nursing Level 6 early in 2018 after 2 years of study, and began working at RVC soon after.
He enjoys the emergency aspect of his role as it provides unexpected challenges, is ever changing and always provides him with new opportunities to expand and enhance his knowledge in the care and treatment of both long term illnesses, and short term and immediate cases presented in the after hours emergency clinic.
Canterbury born and bred he enjoys getting into the outdoors whenever he can, be it to the beach or tramping or for a weekend escape to the West Coast.
He up around pets, with his family always having one pet or another, namely Cocker Spaniels, a breed he has come to love.
Sarah Burrows
Vet Nurse / Equine Technician
Sarah started working at Rangiora Vet Centre in May 2016, prior to this she worked on farms around the wider Canterbury district and also on a cattle station in Australia, returning home to New Zealand to study.
After graduating Vet Nursing from Otago Polytechnic, she worked with the RVC companion animal team as a Vet nurse, shortly moving onto working with the Equine team as an Equine technician, which combines her passion for horses and nursing.
When not in the RVC uniform she enjoys riding her horse, Dexter a grey Throughbred, being out on the farm working and exploring new places with mates.
Wendy Robertson
Vet Nurse
Wendy started in March 2017 as a work experience student, and has been filling in many areas of the clinic ever since, continuing her studies to complete Vet Nurse Assistant Certificate, followed by a Vet Nurse Diploma.
With a love of all animals, she cares very much about animal welfare and has fostered some special SPCA animals. Balancing family life, work and also completing her studies takes up the majority of her time, never one to stand still she manages to find time to go to the gym, go for a run and keep active.
Having always been in the Canterbury region, she has now settled on a lifestyle block in Fernside with her husband Arthur and two cheeky boys, Levi and Xavier, who keep her on her toes constantly! The lifestyle block is also home to sheep, chickens and their two dogs Jake and Boss.
Fiona Wallis
Vet Nurse
Fiona is a Qualified Vet Nurse with Certificate and Diploma in Veterinary Nursing, she has a special interest in dentistry and surgery nursing.
Originally from South Canterbury she grew up in different parts of Otago and Southland, and studied Veterinary Nursing in Dunedin. This led to a position in a vet clinic in Mosgiel before she made the move to RVC in April 2021.
Outside the clinic environment, she enjoys keeping fit and being outdoors. Hiking, going to the beach, reading and attending to the needs of my cat Garfield, an Exotic Persian who loves food and belly scratches are her most favourite things to do.
Mikaela Alps
Vet Nurse
Jenna Wells
Vet Nurse DVN
Jenna joined the small animal vet nursing team initially in 2020 while completing work experience for her studies, she officially joined the team in May 2021 at the completion of her diploma.
She enjoys getting to know her patients, communicating and working closely with them. She also enjoy’s laboratory work and is especially interested in canine and feline behaviour and psychology. She looks forward to building on these skills whilst part of the busy RVC nursing team.
Outside the clinic environment, Jenna enjoys getting out into nature, yoga, photography, videography, and other creative projects.
Originally from West Sussex in the UK, she has grown up in the South Island and loves her pets to bits which include Max a senior border collie, her loyal companion who is everybody’s friend, Buddy, a senior Australian Cairn Terrier, he is highly inquisitive, mischievous and adores everyone. There are also 2 adult Birman, sisters, Iris and Sloane, they are affectionate yet independent bundles of fluff, who are frequently teased by Wolf the Mini Lop X. Completing the fur family is Diego, he’s a 14 year old domestic cat who owns any piece of furniture, or lap that he gets his paws on!
Paula Miller
Vet Nurse DVN
Paula has been part of our small animal veterinary nurse team on and off since 2014. In her Veterinary nurse role, she has a special interest in dental, skin and anaesthesia. Outside the clinic environment Paula loves creating things and keeping busy with skiing, reading, music concerts and travelling when she can.
The busy home is full of activity with husband and two children as well as 3 precious felines including 2 beautiful and bossy birman’s, named Remi and Uma, and a cheeky, naughty grey DSH called Winston.
The canine family members are Jack, a loving and loyal black labrador, and a demanding, funny and cute golden cocker spaniel called Ruby.