Our staff at the vets


Dr Sylvia McLean – BVSc, BAgSc (Munich)
 

Dr Sylvia McLean – BVSc, BAgSc (Munich)


Sylvia was born in Germany and grew up there. After graduating from Munich Veterinary School in 1983, she moved to Christchurch.

In 1987 she purchased the St. Martins Veterinary Clinic and developed it from a small branch clinic to a busy 2-vet practice over the years. The idea of building a larger purpose built clinic was born and developed after Heather joined the practice in 2001.
Finally in 2009 ‘At the Vets’ opened on the corner of Brougham Street and Waltham Road. At the same time the St. Martins Vet Clinic was closed down.
Sylvia’s special veterinary interests include dermatology. She is a member of the New Zealand Veterinary Association and the Companion Animal Society.

Sylvia has a son, Angus, now in his twenties’, who has joined the practice as a veterinary nurse.
In her spare time, Sylvia enjoys living on the harbourside, sea Kayaking, Yoga, travelling and socialising with friends.

She also has had a keen interest for many years in sport horse breeding and riding. Her most successful being “Jägermeister” who achieved a bronze medal in eventing under Andrew Nicholson at the Atlanta Olympics.




Dr Heather Remnant– BVSc, BSc

Dr Heather Remnant – BVSc, BSc


Heather graduated from Massey in 1990, and after working for her first 2 years in mixed practice in Taranaki, headed for England. Her first job there was in rural practice in Cornwall, then on to London to manage a busy small animal practice, where she stayed for 5 years, until moving to Christchurch in 1999.

Heather has worked at the St. Martins Vet Clinic (now ‘At The Vets’) since January 2001. She became a partner in the practice in 2003.

She is a member of the New Zealand Veterinary Association, the New Zealand Companion Animal Society and the Veterinary Information Network.


Heather's special interest is in Cardiology, and she is experienced in Rabbit medicine, surgery and dentistry. She does the majority of the rabbit work at the clinic.


She has a son Jack, who keeps her busy away from the clinic, along with a house load of pets.

  



Dr Veronika Pipe – MDVr NZVE

Dr Veronika Pipe – MDVr NZVE


Veronika grew up in the Czech Republic, where she graduated from vet school in 2004. She then moved to New Zealand, following her husband Jonny.
She completed the New Zealand National Veterinary Exams for overseas graduates in 2007 and worked in couple of small animal veterinary clinics in Christchurch before joining the team at At The Vets.

Her main interest is in medicine - she has taken on the masters
program at Massey university and successfully passed her first paper (Clinical Pathology).

Veronika is keen gardener and DIYier, she enjoys catching up with friends and family, and has just taken up yoga. She likes the outdoors, biking and walking tracks as well as
travelling overseas .
Veronika and Jonny share two cool cats and one dog; all ex SPCA residents.

 


Annette Smith – Head Nurse

Annette Smith – Head Nurse

Annette is “At the Vets”’ Head Surgical Nurse. She joined the clinic in 1999 after attaining The National Certificate in Veterinary Nursing the previous year. She first worked in a mixed practice in Darfield, then at several clinics in Christchurch and for a short time in South Africa.

After university, Annette lived in England for 5 years, where she worked with horses. Annette lives on a small farm-let and has horses, one of which is racing and doing very well at the moment! She also has chickens and a Large Bull Mastiff called Khan. Her Abyssinian cat Lola was adopted when it was in desperate need of a loving home, and found her way to our clinic.

 

  



Angus McLean – Veterinary Nurse

Angus McLean – Veterinary Nurse

We are happy to have Angus here as the practice’s sole male Veterinary Nurse. He studied Veterinary Nursing at CPIT in 2008, and is very accustomed to the clinic environment with both his parents being veterinarians.

Angus loves music and plays the drums. He is also a very active soccer player and competitive indoor cricket player. Angus has a very playful and beautiful Boxer called Sasha,  and of course, the ruler of the household – Evie the Burmese.

 

  



Kerry Brown – Veterinary Nurse

Kerry Brown – Veterinary Nurse

Kerry is the owner and manager of “Cats at the Vets”, the boarding cattery situated above the clinic. She thinks she has finally found her dream job – cuddling (and talking to!) cats, and making sure they are as relaxed on their holidays as their owners are! She also continues to Vet Nurse with At the Vets.

Kerry was a client of ours for many years with her cats before training as a Veterinary Nurse and joining our team in 2006. She does Pilates and weaves flax in her spare time. She has a border terrier cross called Olive, who gets on very well with the many cats which she has rescued and adopted over the years.

  



Rosita Machirus – Veterinary Nurse

Rosita Machirus

Rosita Joined our team at the end of her Veterinary Nursing studies at CPIT in 2010. She worked as a beauty therapist for many years in New Zealand and Australia, before deciding to follow her long time dream of working with animals.

Rosita loves travelling and her adventures have taken her through countries including India, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea and Vietnam. She would like one day to volunteer with animal organisations in Asia. Rosita has studied Indian dance in India and NZ, and performed in Diwaali festivals, including solo performances.

 

  



Victoria Tan – Veterinary Nurse

Victoria Tan

Victoria joined our team in June 2011. She studied veterinary nursing in 2008, and lives with 2 cats ‘Muffin’ and Peanut’, and 2 Mini Daschunds ‘Gemma’ and ‘Domino’.

Prior to veterinary nursing, Victoria taught English in Kyoto, Japan for 3 years, and then travelled around Europe in a campervan! She also has a BA in Psychology.

During her spare time, Victoria enjoys travelling, walking her dogs, fine wines and dinner parties with friends!

 

 

  



Nicki Shackleton BSc, BVSc (Dist), DACVP – Veterinary Pathologist

Nicki Shackleton

After qualifying as a Veterinarian and spending a few years in small animal practice, Nicki spent several years in the US and Canada where she qualified in the specialist field of diagnostic clinical pathology. She holds the Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, which is the highest qualification in the field of clinical pathology! After many years of working in academia and diagnostic laboratories, she created her own private consultancy, called Veterinary Clinical Pathology Ltd.

On a more personal note, Nicki lives on a lifestyle block with 2 dogs, 2 cats, many chickens, a bunny called ‘Angel’, her donkey ‘Solomon’, 2 horses ‘Shiraz’ and ‘Flicka’, and last but not least, her friendly goat ‘William’.

Nicki enjoys pottering around her small farm in her free time. She also spends time riding her horses, reading, and watching movies.

 

 

 

  



Sheryl Pearce – Veterinary Nurse

Sheryl Pearce

Sheryl joined the team in September 2011. She studied Veterinary Nursing in 2009 at CPIT. She lives with her handsome Australian Shepherd ‘Zack’.

In her spare time, she likes to play lawn bowls (which she is very good at!) and socialize with friends.

 

 

 

  

 

At The Vets · 406 Brougham Street (Cnr Waltham Road) · Christchurch 8023
Ph 03 332 6632 · Fax 03 982 3907 · clinic@atthevets.co.nz · www.atthevets.co.nz

 

 

 

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