Staff
Shelly - Manager
Shelly is an Animal Care Aide at Essex Animal Hospital. With over 25 years of experience, Shelly has been in the animal care field since 1987, and continues to strive towards improving her skills and education each and every year, always seeking out the newest research and information available.
“What I am most excited about is the daily challenges that Essex has to offer, and the many great outcomes that come from our rehab center,” says Shelly.
Shelly and her family share their home in Essex with two furry friends, Skeeter and Paws. When she’s not at the animal hospital, Shelly enjoys keeping an active lifestyle by playing all sports and horseback riding.
Nicole - Assistant Manager / Veterinary Technician
Nicole is a Graduate from St. Clair College in 2003 from the Veterinary Technician Program. Her interests include the outdoors, hunting, 4 wheeling, hiking with her family and our 2 dogs, Chief and Copper. She has been a technician for 18 years and has worked in this field for over 20 years.
Nicole started her career at the Essex Animal hospital with Dr. Jan as a volunteer/kennel attendant when she was 15 years old. After 11 years of working in the field she has returned to work with Dr. Jan as a Veterinary Technician and has worked her way up to Assistant Manager.
Saving one animal may not change the world but it will surely change the world for one animal.
Jessy - Registered Veterinary Technician / Licensed Veterinary Technician
Jessy is a Registered Veterinary Technician at Essex Animal Hospital. Jessy holds a BSc from the University of Windsor (’09) and a VT from WCCCD Wayne State (’12) as well as a CCRA (Certified physical rehab technician) from Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI) Florida ('17). She loves the fact that her job allows her to witness an animal in all stages of their life, and the satisfaction derived in helping them to achieve a better quality of life.
As hobbies, Jessy enjoys reading all about new scientific findings in both the human and animal world. She especially has a passion for rehab and new developments in the veterinary field.
Jessy shares her home with six pets: four cats (Simba, Karma, WiFi, and Router) and two dogs (Max and Murphy).
Ashley - Registered Veterinary Technician
Ashley attended the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus and received her Veterinary Technician Diploma. Outside of work, Ashley enjoys hiking across Canada with her dogs Harriett, and Panda. She also enjoys photography, riding her horse Andy. She loves cuddling with both her cats Naomi and Nemo and her guinea pigs Tuba and Cello. She has a passion for large animal medicine and canine rehabilitation. While attending the vet tech program at Ridgetown College she also worked as a kennel attendant / assistant for 3 years. In total, Ashley has worked in veterinary practices for 8 years.
Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.
Certifications: RVT
Grace - Registered Veterinary Technician
She studied Veterinary Technology at the University of Guelph - Ridgetown Campus 2019. She has 4 pets; dogs Dave & Reed, her cat Marbles, and her crested gecko Spartacus. Her interests include spending time outside and watching the dogs and cat explore, cooking, reading and spending time with friends and family. Over her career she has showed dogs as a junior handler in elementary school and had a mobile pet sitting service when in school.
Certifications: Vet Office Administration certificate 2014 at University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus
Alicia - Veterinary Office Administration / Veterinary Assistant
She went to the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus for Veterinary Office Administration / Veterinary Assistant Certification. She loves horseback riding with her horse Paisley, listening to Taylor Swift, & rescuing animals. She has 2 dogs (Oreo & Buddy), 1 horse and a rabbit who were all rescued. Over her career she graduated from UOG in Ridgetown in 2016, joined DMS Veterinary group in 2017, worked with pet Value / Alicia's Animals Pet Sitting Service and joined us at Essex in 2020. She has an interest in large animal medicine.
No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle - Winston Curchill
Certifications: Veterinary Office Administration Certificate
Jessica - Registered Veterinary Technician
She went to St. Clair College Vet Tech Program & graduated in 2016. She enjoys spending quality time at home with her cats (Jon Snow and Chester B), dog (Morty), and favorite human Tyson. She also enjoys nature walks, road trips, concerts and anything Halloween. Since graduating the Vet Tech Program at St. Clair College in April 2016 she shortly after wrote and passed her registration (VTNE, Vet Tech National Exam) in June 2016 and has been in practice ever since, helping your furry friends.
Certifications: Nail technician, CPR, Certificate of Registration of the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technician, Registered Veterinary Technician
Anna - Registered Veterinary Technician
Anna went to St. Clair College Vet Tech Program and graduated in 2017. She enjoys spending quality time at home with her cats (Sterling, Anora, and Leena), breeding reptiles, and competition singing. She completed a summer internship at Wings Rehabilitation and has experience working at two small animal practices.
Keep rescuing animals. You may lose your mind, but you will surely find your soul.
Certifications: Animal Psychology 2016, Fear Free 2021
Denise - Animal Health Technician
Denise is an animal health technician as well as a puppy socialization and obedience teacher. She has been with Essex Animal Hospital since 1999, and loves being in the position to help make life easier for animals and their owners.
Denise is married with four children and one granddaughter, and enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and learning about self-improvement. Her family has three fur children: a 15 year old Cockapoo named Flirt and two cats, Marilyn and Mimi.
Jane - Kennel Supervisor
Jane came to Essex Animal Hospital as a volunteer. But after seeing the passion and love that she had towards animals, she was offered a position as the animal hospital’s Kennel Supervisor. “I love the interaction with animals,” says Jane. “It is very rewarding to be able to work and help with the wellbeing of family pets.”
When Jane is not working at the animal hospital, you can find her gardening, roller blading, and bird watching. Jane also participates in body building, and enjoys nature walks, dog walking, as well as cooking and baking.
Jane shares her home with her Yorkie Oliver. Before her lovable fur ball, Jane was a mother to a much loved English Setter she had until it turned 14 years old. From the age of 9 to 14, the pup had to use a k-9 cart due to a leg paralysis.
Gayle - Kennel Assistant
Gayle has been an employee of Essex Animal Hospital since 1990. On a typical day you may find Gayle answering phones, assisting our veterinarians and technicians, walking dogs, cleaning, restocking or cuddling one of our boarders.
Gayle is passionate about animal rights and pet overpopulation and devotes much of her time and resources to worthy animal causes and stray animals.
Deanne - Kennel Assistant
As a child, Dee always seemed to have unusual pets; chameleons, lizards, degus, quails, skunks and even a raccoon. Dee has always had a great love and respect for animals and has rescued more than 52 cats over the years!
Dee has been inspired working at Essex Animal Hospital, witnessing a beloved pet improve with every visit; some being able to use their legs again after therapy treatment like acupuncture, or underwater treadmill.
Dee studied Medical Terminology at St. Clair College.
As a big nature & animal enthusiast, she's an avid gardener. Dee has 5 people in her family: her husband Terry, their 2 sons Richard, David and their daughter Ashley. She also has two indoor rescue cats, Patchette and Trunk.
