My mission is to help anxious or stressed pets live happier lives with the help of The Strand Vet.

Living in a busy city is hard on all of us but we are here to be the voice for the voiceless (sometimes they talk but we do not always know what they are saying). Constant stimulation and busyness (or 10 other cats in their domain) increase windup and anxiety which leads to chronic disease, just as it does in us. They have their own way of meditating (cue sitting in front of the fire or catching some sun rays while we are all at work), but this is not always enough.

I love helping my teammates, especially those in the early days of their careers, to learn and appreciate the boundaries needed to avoid compassion fatigue, this is an awesome profession, but it does have its challenges. Often younger vets and nurses struggle to prioritise themselves, they have been waiting so many years to help others that they forget who number one should be. Through my own journey I use my learnings to help others.

Learning is a driver which inspires me career wise. I feel a thrill when learning new things, whether it be medical, or business and this makes me grateful for the challenge this profession brings daily. The Ying to this Yang is balancing my compassionate, learning side with special family time, my own solitude, time with friends and being on the water. I cannot bring 110% to my job without this important downtime and I make sure this is prioritised as much as caring for my patients and my team.

My own pet’s, past and present, have taught me so much about love, compassion and empathy (I had newfound respect and empathy for owners when my own crazy Labrador went through cruciate surgery). Supported by my business partner Megan (I could not have wished for a better wing-woman to guide me through this journey) and our team - all passionate, driven, intellectual women who share the same vision and values, I and we continue to dream big in this noble profession.