Our Careteam

Slide – BG

Krystle

Krystle

Practice Manager

Make an Appointment

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 Heartland Niagara 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 Main West Animal Hospital.

Cassandra

Cassandra

Veterinary Technician

Make an Appointment

Ever since she can remember, Cassandra has wanted to devote herself to bettering the lives of those in need. She always loved seeing pets reunited with their owners, so she had a thought: why not work to that end and make a lasting difference by becoming a veterinary professional? Now, Cassandra is a proud member of Main West Animal Hospital’s team of Veterinary Technicians!

Cassandra has lived all over Ontario and decided to settle in Welland in order to be closer to family. She studied animal care at the University of Guelph, and transitioned into the Veterinary Technology program when she decided that she wanted to work with pets in a more hands-on way. Cassandra completed a year of her co-operative career placement right here at Main West Animal Hospital, and knew that she would love to join the clinic team full-time. As soon as her second co-op year was over, she signed on as a Veterinary Technician!

Medically, Cassandra likes taking X-rays to get at the root of a patient’s health issue, and she’s also fond of grooming pets. Above all, she likes to meet new pets and their loving owners on a regular basis—nothing beats the feeling of helping the community’s families.

Outside of her interests in the veterinary world, Cassandra likes reading, learning new things, martial arts—she’s a black belt in Taekwondo!—and spending time with her own pet at home. She shares her life with one cat: Purry, an aging and grumpy feline whose favorite pastime is trying to steal food.

Amber

Amber

Veterinary Technician

Make an Appointment

Amber grew up here in Niagara Falls, where her family always kept pets around the house. She’s felt an innate connection with animals ever since her earliest days, and always dreamt of working in a medical setting to help pets live the happiest, healthiest lives possible. Amber’s vision has come true—she’s proud to serve as a Registered Veterinary Technician right here at Heartland Niagara Animal Hospital!

Amber was still in high school when she secured a co-operative career placement at Heartland Niagara Animal Hospital’s sister clinic, Main West Animal Hospital. She was hired on after her co-op hours were complete! Next, Amber moved to Kingston, Ontario to study veterinary technology at St. Lawrence College, and completed her placement during her final year right here at Heartland Niagara Animal Hospital. She was happy to accept a job offer after graduating college, and she’s been here ever since.

Around the clinic, Amber has a special fondness for dentistry work and loves to see a dirty, sore mouth become clean and comfortable again. She’s also passionate about working with exotic pets—no two days are ever quite the same.

When she’s not at work, Amber likes hiking, kayaking, and biking in the great outdoors, completing DIY projects, and enjoying the company of her own pets at home. She shares her life with two cats, both adopted while Amber was in college: Ood, a brown tabby, and a calico named Onyx.

Evelyn

Evelyn

Accountant

Make an Appointment

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.

Christina

Christina

Receptionist

Make an Appointment

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.

Sara

Sara

Registered Veterinary Technician

Make an Appointment

Sara was very young when she first decided that she would one day work with animals. She even recalls rolling her family dog, Brandon, into a mock “surgery” on an old television cart! For Sara, a career in the veterinary world simply makes sense; she gets to help animals on a daily basis as a Registered Veterinary Technician.

Sara is originally from Amherstburg, Ontario. She began volunteering in Windsor and helping with fundraising efforts for the Windsor-Essex Humane Society, then moved to Niagara Falls to volunteer with the Niagara Falls Humane Society. Sara then applied to St. Clair College’s veterinary technician program to earn her degree in veterinary technology. She became a Registered Veterinary Technician after passing her exams, and was thrilled to join the Main West Animal Hospital care team in February of 2016 and eventually the team at Heartland Niagara Animal Hospital.

When time allows outside of work, Sara likes playing baseball, rollerblading, enjoying the great outdoors, and spending time with family and friends. She lives in Niagara Falls with her fiancé, her young daughter, and two loveable dogs. Emma is a 70-pound Labrador mix who thinks she’s a lap dog, and Bailey the Coton de Tuléar considers herself Sara’s biggest fan.

Crystina

Crystina

Veterinary Assistant

Make an Appointment

Crystina grew up with her parents and brother in St. Catharines, where she always enjoyed the company of the family pets. In addition to her passion for animals, she always had a fondness for working directly with people and doing her part to help those in need. For Crystina, a career helping pets and their owners in the veterinary profession simply made sense!

Crystina’s veterinary journey first started in high school, when she enrolled in a cooperative career placement program and gained crucial experience working hands-on with pets in the field. It didn’t take her long to fall in love—Crystina knew that she would love to remain in the veterinary world and grow her skillset even further!

Crystina was thrilled to join the Main West Animal Hospital family as a Veterinary Assistant in February of 2017. Recently, she’s been enjoying learning more about the behavioural aspect of veterinary care and likes to help pet owners deal with issues like separation anxiety. Her favourite part of every shift, though, is bonding with the area’s loving pet parents and their furry friends.

At home, Crystina has three animal companions of her own: Pumpkin, an orange tabby cat who loves to play fetch; Karma the Siamese/Himalayan cat with a spunky attitude; and a fun-loving American Staffordshire mix named Chance.

Bianca

Bianca

Receptionist

Make an Appointment

Bianca has experienced veterinary medicine from a different perspective. While working at her first veterinary hospital, Bianca decided to participate in the clinic’s cat and kitten adoption program. Bianca volunteered to take abandoned kittens home each evening, feeding the tiny cats overnight so they could receive the nourishment they needed. Bianca received great satisfaction when each young cat was adopted into a loving home!

Bianca spent her childhood in Fonthill, Ontario with her mother, stepfather, and two younger brothers. After acquiring hospitality experience that would prove useful in her veterinary career, Bianca moved to Toronto to find work she enjoyed. After seeing a veterinary receptionist ad in the paper, Bianca realized this job would combine her love for animals with the enjoyment of a people-focused career.

After enjoying her work with Dr. Nicole Denouden at another veterinary practice, Bianca was happy for the opportunity to work with her again. At Heartland Niagara Animal Hospital, Bianca loves being a part of the care team, learning more about each patient and their pet parent each time she visits with them.

Bianca stays busy away from the hospital, enjoying life with her husband and their two daughters. Bianca thrives on outdoor activities, as she likes to walk, go camping, and take her dog for a brisk run. Bianca also loves the challenges of cooking and baking, and she always puts her own personal twist on an appealing recipe.

Bianca’s family has also welcomed two furry family members into their home. Bianca’s five-year-old daughter often carts Dutchie, the 18-year-old Burmese cat, around like a baby. In contrast, Austin the one-year-old rough-coated collie bounds around with plenty of energy. Austin is also a very social animal who often plays with children, cats, and rabbits.

Lauren

Lauren

Registered Veterinary Technician

Make an Appointment

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 Heartland Niagara 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 Heartland Niagara 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!

Aleah

Aleah

Veterinary Assistant

Make an Appointment

Aleah grew up in Welland with two brothers, a sister, and plenty of family pets. She’s had a love for our animal companion’s ever since she was a little girl, and always knew that she wanted to do her part to help pets live better lives. For Aleah, no other choice of career made sense! Now, she helps pets daily as a Veterinary Assistant.

Aleah was only 16 years old when she began her cooperative career placement at Heartland Niagara Veterinary Hospital’s sister clinic, Main West Animal Hospital. She was hired on here at Heartland Niagara Veterinary Hospital when she was 21 and in her third year of university studies, and hasn’t looked back since. Aleah became a full-time employee after earning her undergraduate degree, and particularly enjoys learning about new medical cases and treatment plans. Her favorite part of every shift, though, is building relationships with the area’s pet owners.

Away from work, Aleah enjoys snowboarding in the winters, working out and practicing yoga, and painting. Most of her free time, however, is spent raising her two puppies: Gracie, a smart and slippery Yorkshire terrier, and a Shih-Tzu/Poodle mix named Nyla who is very bossy and filled with attitude.

Carter

Carter

Veterinary Assistant

Make an Appointment

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!

Sharon

Sharon

Registered Veterinary Technician

Make an Appointment

Some people like dealing with human beings and will enter the world of human medicine. Others prefer to be around cute, furry animals and will opt to pursue veterinary medicine. Sharon fits into the latter category. After trying her hand at human medicine, she realized that it wasn’t for her. Instead, she wanted to help those that could not help themselves, so the veterinary field was the perfect choice. Today Sharon is a registered veterinary technician at Heartland Niagara Animal Hospital!

Sharon graduated with honors from Centralia. She then began working at Balfour Animal Hospital in March 2020, and shortly thereafter, that practice was bought out by Heartland Niagara. So since Sharon went through the staff change/integration, she can officially say she’s been at Heartland Niagara since its inception.

Sharon vividly remembers an incident where she dealt with an extremely aggressive dog that happened to be suffering from a lot of pain. After a few days of being hospitalized and being subject to medical management and care, the dog did a 180-degree reversal. It was happily wagging its tail and licking Sharon’s face. She was able to help it feel much better, and will never forget how amazing it felt to help an animal in need.

When Sharon isn’t helping save the lives of adorable animals, you can find her staying in shape by running all over town. In fact, she recently completed a 10km marathon!

Kelly

Kelly

Clinic Supervisor

Make an Appointment

While working at her previous job, Kelly found herself longing for a change of pace and a new challenge. She had always been interested in working with animals, so she jumped at the opportunity to join the staff at Heartland Niagara Animal Hospital in a supervisor role. Much to her delight, she’s now able to combine her managerial experience with her love for animals on a daily basis!

Kelly was raised in Cambridge, Ontario. An avid horse rider, she loved the animals so much that she would volunteer at a therapeutic riding stable with her mother. Her overall love for animals stems from growing up in an animal-friendly household, where you would find dogs, cats, fish, turtles and birds.

Since Kelly doesn’t have a medical background, she appreciates and enjoys being able to observe and learn about the veterinary side of things. Nothing makes her happier than talking to pet parents to resolve their concerns.

Kelly is currently in between owning pets, but plans on adopting or fostering one soon. In her free time she enjoys curling up on the couch and watching horror movies. She also likes crafting, doing yoga, and enjoying nature while going on hikes.

Cassidy

Cassidy

Veterinary Technician

Make an Appointment

When Cassidy was a child, she had a hamster named Henry. After Henry suddenly became ill, a neighbor who was a vet tech stepped in and helped Cassidy learn how to nurse him back to health. Watching him recover was an incredibly rewarding experience and ultimately served as the inspiration for one day working with animals as a career. As a veterinary technician here at Heartland Niagara, Cassidy is honored to give back to her community as she continues to serve as an advocate for animals.

Surprisingly, Cassidy didn’t initially pursue her education in veterinary medicine. Instead, she started out as a theatre major. When the pandemic struck, however, she decided it was time to take a leap of faith and applied to Sheridan College for tech school. Not only did she graduate with honors, but she also served as the program tutor. To this day, she feels that deciding to finally pursue her dream was the best choice she’s ever made.

Professionally, Cassidy has a particular interest in performing cytology and peeking under the microscope. Being able to figure out what’s going on with our furry friends at the microscopic level is pretty amazing. She also thoroughly enjoys working with the HNAH team and the sense of community that exists within our clinic.

Cassidy currently lives at home with her Mom, Stepdad and two sisters. The family’s four-legged members include two French bulldogs and two cats. The pups love playing in their kiddie pool and going for walks along Welland Canal. In her spare time, Cassidy enjoys fishkeeping, playing video games, walking her dogs, and watching Disney movies. She also loves working in research and recently participated in an animal activism grant project through York and Brock University in 2019.

Martina

Martina

Veterinary Assistant

Make an Appointment

When you grow up surrounded by animals, you tend to develop a special place in your heart for them. This is what happened to Martina, who is now a veterinary assistant at Heartland Niagara Animal Hospital. When she reflects on her life, she realizes that her special relationship with animals began on her grandparents’ farm!

As a youngster, Martina would always play with animals on the farm. She was around all sorts of creatures, including dogs, cats, cows and horses. In fact, she loved dogs so much that she started her own doggy daycare in her home garage. She fondly recalls her cherished dog Bailey being her first love and first real connection to the veterinary world.

Martina grew up in Niagara Falls in what she describes as “a large family of Italian immigrants.” Her first occupation was in the marketing industry, as a brand marketing manager for various startup companies. While working from home during the pandemic, she began to realize that the world of marketing simply wasn’t for her. She sought out a new challenge that was outside of what she was accustomed to. She realized that animals were her passion all along, and quickly made the decision to pursue her new career in the veterinary field!

When it comes to her favorite parts of the job, Martina loves the uniqueness and unpredictability that each day brings. She also relishes the opportunity to meet new animals and form bonds with them and their owners.

Martina currently resides in a house with two dogs and a cat. Her dog, a rescued Husky mix named Stella, resembles a coyote. Her mother’s dog is a Shih Tzu/Maltese mix named Tiger, and the cat is named Nova. The dogs get along very well; their relationship with Nova, however, isn’t as cordial!

In her free time you catch Martina taking the dogs to the dog park, or grooving to music at the dance studio. She also has a newfound love for cooking, so you might find her whipping up new dishes in the kitchen!

Soheyla

Soheyla

Veterinary Assistant

Make an Appointment

Soheyla’s love for animals began as a little girl, growing up in Japan, where she used to take in stray kittens. The medical world has fascinated her since a young age and she always aspired to a career in the medicine field. After graduating with a degree focused on human medicine, Soheyla thought, “Why not combine my love for medicine with my love for animals?”

She began working at the Fort Erie SPCA, gaining more understanding of animal care. Soheyla enjoyed not only helping the animals in need, but also finding them a new forever home.

The more time spent taking care of animals, the greater her desire to learn more about animal health and animal behavior. This realization led her back to school for additional specialized education. Soheyla attends classes in addition to her time spent working at Heartland Niagara.

Since joining the team, she enjoys helping families in the community, especially those who struggle with a language barrier. Soheyla speaks three languages – Spanish, Japanese and English – and is happy to use her skills to assist.

Outside of work, she spends time painting, crafting with epoxy resin and home decorating. Soheyla and her husband (who loves animals as much as she does) live with their rescue dog, Lilo, a cocker spaniel and lab mix, and their cat, Shadow. A new family addition is anticipated to arrive in June 2022 and they hope will be just as much an animal lover as mom and dad.

Heather

Heather

Veterinary Assistant

Make an Appointment

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!

Nikki

Nikki

Receptionist

Make an Appointment

Sometimes in life, you just have to go wherever your heart takes you. Nikki can attest to this firsthand; she spent several years working at a dental clinic, but found the position to be unfulfilling and joyless. The pandemic gave her an opportunity to reset and embark on a new career journey. This time, she wanted to pursue something that was actually passionate about and do something she actually loved. Nikki followed her heart, and it ultimately led her to Heartland Niagara Animal Hospital!

Nikki has always been an avid dog-lover. Unfortunately, her father being allergic to pet hair prevented the household from owning any animals. Today, she owns a dog named Fido, who is so smart that he can learn a trick in just one day!

Being a receptionist at Heartland Niagara Animal Hospital keeps Nikki pretty busy. She has many roles and wears many hats on a daily basis, but all of them are very rewarding. She relishes the opportunity to help her teammates out in any way possible and is always ready to lend a helping hand, especially if it involves puppies.

Born and raised in Niagara Falls, Nikki grew up with her parents and a brother. She absolutely loves spending time in nature, whether it’s kayaking on the water or spending time on the lake, surrounded by trees. Her family has a cottage a few hours to the north, a getaway location that Nikki describes as “my happy place.”

Ever since switching careers to the veterinary field and joining her new team, Nikki has been extremely happy. Now that she gets to see lovable furry creatures and work with an amazing staff, she can confidently say that she’s found her passion!

Jessica

Jessica

Veterinary Assistant

Make an Appointment

Growing up in Niagara Falls, most of Jessica’s childhood days were spent horseback riding at her aunt’s or playing with all the animals at her grandparents’ farm. She always knew deep down inside that working with animals was what she wanted to do. As one of Heartland Niagara Animal Hospital’s veterinary assistants, Jessica finally gets to live out her lifelong passion and share her love of animals with others.

In 2020, Jessica was laid off due to the COVID pandemic. Discontent with sitting around, she immediately began searching for another job. When she came across the ad for this position, she was determined to land the role. Her determination paid off when she was hired in June of 2020.

Professionally, Jessica really enjoys being part of such an amazing team. And, of course, let’s not forget the opportunity to interact with animals on a daily basis! No matter how busy she may be, she always makes the time to greet each of our patients and make sure that they are as comfortable as possible.

Jessica hit another milestone in 2020, when she married her husband. The couple welcomed their first son in April of 2021. Their fur family consists of two dogs: Nova and Cooper. Nova is a sweet princess whom they rescued in 2016 from a reserve. The only thing that will convince Cooper to leave Jessica’s side is a good game of fetch.

Most of Jessica’s hobbies revolve around spending time with her family. That said, she does enjoy snowboarding and hiking. She also recently took up candle making and started her own business, making soy-based, all-natural candles infused with essential oils. Not only does this provide her with a healthy alternative that is safe to burn around her pets and son, but the process of making them is something she genuinely enjoys.

Joanne

Joanne

Veterinary Assistant

Make an Appointment

During the pandemic, Joanne’s cat Pepper began suffering from seizures. With all the local veterinary clinics closed down, Joanne had no choice but to manage those seizures on her own. This experience made her re-evaluate what she truly wanted to do for the remainder of her career. A job that would allow her to leverage her decades of customer service and managerial skills to help both people and pets made perfect sense!

Living in Niagara, Joanne spent many years in the tourism industry before deciding it was time to make a shift toward something more community based. She got her start in the veterinary industry at a clinic in St. Catharines, Ontario. But while she loved the job, she disliked working so far from home. When an opportunity arose to work at Heartland Niagara Animal Hospital (which happens to be located in the very neighborhood she lives in), Joanne jumped at the chance!

At home, Joanne resides with her husband and their two cats: Cheddar and Pepper, to whom the couple are rightful servants. They also have a wonderful Granddoggy named Captain, who is 100lbs of fuzzy fun! During the summer, Joanne and her husband host plenty of BBQs and invite their family and friends, and all their dogs are welcome as well!

In her spare time, Joanne enjoys going to the theatre and watching movies, and has been known to binge-watch an entire Netflix series in one night. She and her husband are also avid runners with several marathons under their belts. Their favorite time, though, is spent with family, playing cards and board games.

Alison

Alison

Veterinary Assistant

Make an Appointment

Ever since Alison was a young child, she always knew she wanted to work with animals. When she’s with a dog or cat, it’s like all the bad in the world seems to melt away, and she’s in a safe zone filled with happiness and unconditional love. As a veterinary assistant, Alison is finally able to fulfil her life’s purpose of helping animals enjoy better lives!

When Alison moved from Toronto to Niagara Falls, she initially set out to find a vet for her two dogs. When she came across Heartland Niagara Animal Hospital, she knew she’d found a home, not only for her pets, but for herself as well. She applied for her dream job, and the rest is history! Professionally, Alison enjoys helping the doctors work their magic and help sick patients get better. It’s truly inspiring! She also finds radiography fascinating – especially when it involves seeing babies in a mama’s belly!

At home, Alison is ‘mom’ to a snuggly French bulldog named Charlie, and a Shiba Inu who is a fluffy ball of energy. After a long day of work, there’s nothing like being greeted with their snorts, smiles, and slobbery kisses!

Kiss icon

23,458

Sloppy Kisses

Bellies icon

19,389

Bellies Rubbed

Treat icon

27,193

Treats Given