Meet the Veterinarians & Team of River Road Animal Hospital in Wasaga Beach! We’re pleased to provide exceptional vet care for your pets!
Please call us at 705-322-3459 to speak to one of our caring veterinary staff members!
Our Caring & Compassionate Veterinary Team!
Veterinarians
I am a 1995 graduate of Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph. Growing up we would spend weekends on Georgian Bay and it was a dream to live in the area. After graduation my husband, Earl and I, our two tabby cats and Labrador retriever moved to Wasaga Beach. We have lived in the area for over 25 years and raised 2 sons, now away at post secondary school. We also have 3 dogs; Ava is a gentle Golden Retriever cross, Leif is a spunky Schipperke and Toby is a lovable but unusual Corgi cross (he looks like a Bernese Mountain dog with legs that are too short!). In my spare time I am often hiking the Bruce trail with my canine entourage. This area has so much to offer and we love to get out there and appreciate it.
I opened River Road Animal Hospital in June of 1998 with the primary focus as preventative care for pets. The hospital has grown over the past 20 years to a staff of 10 great compassionate animal lovers that provide the care they would want for their own pets. We have a team approach to health care and our talented and caring staff pursues continuing education and certification. By focusing on preventive medicine, we can identify areas of health concern before they become serious health problems.
I enjoy practicing in a small community because it gives me the time to know our patients well. Being in a more rural area, it was important to make all aspects of veterinary care available at the clinic. We offer a complete in house laboratory with laser analysis, surgical suite with anesthetic and monitoring equipment, digital radiology, ultra-sonic dentistry and radiology, electrocardiograph, electrocautery, ultrasound, orthopedic surgery and VIN membership to allow for consultation with specialists in every field.
I have a special interest in dentistry, senior pet care, ultrasound and pain control and palliative care. I am interested in new developments and attend continuing education in dentistry, pain management and anesthesia, compassionate care and ultrasound. I am also interested in tick borne disease, such as Lyme disease and have attended the International Lyme and Associated Disease conference. I love cats and have experience with breeding Himalayans and Birmese and am a member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners.
We welcome new patients and would be happy to answer any questions you have or give a tour of our clinic. You can also contact me directly at drkelly@riverroadanimalhospital.ca
Interest in Preventative and Senior medicine, Dentistry, Ultrasound, Soft tissue surgery, Tick-borne Disease, Cushing's and Endocrine Disease and Continuing Education in New modalities in veterinary care
Hobbies - Hiking with my dogs, skiing, boating, Waterskiing, Scuba and Knitting
Education: University of Edinburgh
Pets: Nevis, an energetic canine rescue from Manitoba
I am a 2021 graduate of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. I am originally from Oakville, Ontario, but moved up to the Georgian Bay area to spend more time outside. I am excited to join the River Road Animal Hospital team and treat the pets of the Wasaga Beach area. My veterinary interests include client education, pain management and dermatology.
When I’m not in the clinic, I can be found outside - either trail running, climbing or hiking with my husband and mystery mutt, Nevis (named after the tallest mountain in the UK, Ben Nevis). I love travelling and I have dreams of completing rafting and climbing trips to the NWT, Nunavut and Yukon in the future.
Education: University College Dublin, Ireland, 2014, ECC Internship - Lakeshore Veterinary Specialists USA, 2015, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist - Canine Rehabilitation Institute, USA, 2024
Originally from the GTA in Ontario, I fulfilled a lifelong dream of living in Ireland while completing my Veterinary Degree from UCD in Dublin. After completing my degree, I moved to the United States to complete an Emergency and Critical Care internship to harness my emergency skills and learn from specialists in their respective fields at a busy referral hospital. Upon completion of my internship, I decided to move to Australia to continue to practice emergency medicine and also started working in general practice. While in Australia, I developed a particular interest in dermatological cases, geriatric feline care, and fostered an ongoing love for emergency medicine. After enjoying many sunny years of helping Sydney’s puppies, kitties, kangaroos, and wombats, I decided it was time to move home to Canada to be closer to my family. However, I wasn’t ready to move home quite yet. I had to stop over in Vancouver for a few years to enjoy big mountain snow sports.
While in Vancouver, I had the privilege of working alongside some fantastic veterinarians who were able to provide exceptional pain relief and holistic care for patients through the use of acupuncture, chiropractic, and rehabilitation services. While I was working out West I started to focus my continuing education in the rehabilitation field, and I am now slowly growing the scope of my diagnostic and practical care through a physical medicine lens. Last year I completed my functional acupuncture certification in Colorado, and I am looking forward to starting my rehabilitation course in the near future. I look forward to helping geriatrics, trauma patients, and post-op patients feel well as they can as soon as they can.
Now that I have finally moved home to Ontario, I am thrilled to be permanently located on Georgian Bay’s shores alongside my extended family. When I am not at the clinic, I can be found skiing, hiking, gardening, or kayaking with my husband and our rescue pup. I look forward to exploring Georgian Bay and all of the outdoor fun this community has to offer.
Veterinary Technicians
Ever since I was in public school, I wanted to work with animals. In April 2002 my dreams came true. I graduated from the Veterinary Technician program at Northern College in Haileybury, ON. I completed the registry exam at the University of Guelph and on June 30th 2002 I received the good news that I had passed the exam and was now a Registered Veterinary Technician.
I am also a member of the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians. Through this program I am able to keep up with continuous changes to veterinary medicine and participate in continuing education programs.
My favorite part of working with animals is seeing how they are so strong and resilient. It still amazes me their ability to overcome obstacles. Being able to take part in helping them overcome these obstacles and prolonging their life makes every effort worth it!
I have enjoyed growing up in the small town of Stayner and I am happy to be working in a community so close to home. My husband Darryl and I enjoy being parents to our son Carson and daughter Payton. We love going camping, out for walks and visiting with family and friends. We have two dogs at home - a Shih Tzu named Oakley and a male brindle Boxer named Diesel.
I am a 1992 graduate of the Veterinary Technician program at Seneca College. I have always felt a deep concern for the well-being of animals. Almost all of my experience as a veterinary technician had been at a cats-only practice, and when I started working at River Road Animal Hospital, I received a great refresher course on dogs from all of the wonderful staff.
It is very rewarding for me to be involved in patient care and client education. Helping to make the patient’s visit as pleasant as possible, I hope the client leaves with a good feeling about choosing our hospital. I have lived in Wasaga Beach since 1997 with my husband Greg and we have three beautiful children; Rhiannon, Marlowe and Keiran. We also share our home with our dog Wembley, and our cats Phineas and Marble.
I grew up on my family’s farm, where I developed a strong connection to animals and a passion for their care. My passion for working with small animals began during my several years of experience working at a dog kennel, where I gained hands-on knowledge and a love for companion animal care.
I am a graduate of Georgian Colleges Pre-Health Sciences and Veterinary Technician programs. As part of my vet tech program, I completed my co-op placement at River Road Animal Hospital in May of 2024 and I officially joined the River Road team full time in July of 2024.
I successfully wrote my Veterinary Technician National Exam in March of 2024 and I became a Registered Vet Tech in May of 2025. I am committed to providing compassionate, high-quality care and continuing to grow as a professional in the vet med field.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my three pets: Levi, a rescued Australian Shepherd Mix; Kona a rescued black Lab mix; and Groot, a playful black domestic shorthair cat. They keep me busy and continue to inspire me every day.
I am a graduate of Georgian Colleges Pre-Health Sciences and Veterinary Technician programs. As part of my vet tech program, I completed my co-op placement at River Road Animal Hospital in May of 2024 and I officially joined the River Road team full time in July of 2024.
I successfully wrote my Veterinary Technician National Exam in March of 2024 and I became a Registered Vet Tech in May of 2025. I am committed to providing compassionate, high-quality care and continuing to grow as a professional in the vet med field.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my three pets: Levi, a rescued Australian Shepherd Mix; Kona a rescued black Lab mix; and Groot, a playful black domestic shorthair cat. They keep me busy and continue to inspire me every day.
Hello! My name is Kris! I started at River Road AH back in October 2024! I graduated from Georgian College’s Veterinary Technician program in 2023! In August of 2024 I wrote my licensing exam and am now a proud RVT! Ever since I was little I always knew I’d work with animals, I would tell everyone that I was going to be a “vegetarian” when I was older but actually meant Veterinarian! I have always wanted to be the voice for all animals big and small! I currently live in Orillia with my cat named Nelson!
Veterinary Assistants
Bio coming soon
I first came to River Road as a high school co-op student in 2018. After completing my 5-year bachelor of science I decided to return to River Road as vet assistant to gain more experience/ knowledge before applying to vet school. When I’m not at the clinic you can find me on my farm outside of Elmvale with my Golden Retriever Ellie, Border Collie Hazel, two cats Max and Ruby, horse Casper, and my goat Tinkles.
I joined River Road Animal Hospital in the summer of 2023, soon after graduating from Dalhousie University with a BSc in Bio-Veterinary Science and a secondary certificate in Animal Welfare. My goal is to further my education and pursue a career in veterinary medicine to fulfill my passion for animal care. I strive to empower pet owners with the knowledge and resources they need to become proactive partners in their pet’s healthcare. I have developed a particular interest in hospice and palliative care where perseverance, resilience, and compassion are essential. Outside the Clinic, I volunteer at a cat rescue agency and enjoy hiking with friends and my spunky American Eskimo, Zeus!
Hi mates, My name is Darren and I am originally from Ireland. I have over five years of experience in veterinary medicine, including emergency medicine. I am passionate about working in this industry and have a soft spot for cats. I am excited to be a part of the team at River Road Animal Hospital and always look forward to meeting you and your pets.
Coming Soon!
Reception
My name is Samantha, I joined the River Road Animal Hospital team in January of 2021. Prior to that I was in restaurant management for over 10 years. I always hoped to someday work with animals! Being a receptionist at River Road animal hospital has allowed me to combine my two passions, customer service and caring for animals! In my free time I enjoy crafting, working on home renovations and spending time with my dogs & cat!
Hospital Lead
I grew up with a love for animals. I have spent my whole life surrounded by family dogs and cats. I live in Wasaga Beach and have my own little family of Jack Russell Terriers. In 2010 when I was given the opportunity to work here at River Road Animal Hospital, I could not have been happier. Each day is different and I enjoyed getting to know all of the clients and their furry friends. I have grown with the practice and am now the practice manager of River Road Animal Hospital. I am pleased to work in all areas of the practice and still get to spend time with the furry friends coming in and the many clients I have known for years. I am ambassador for the clinic and am here to help with any concerns you have. I find this to be a very rewarding job.