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Greetings for the 2022 Holiday Season

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The year is quickly coming to a close and we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you for your continued support. We are so happy that we were finally able to open the doors to allow you in.  Since the initial lockdown in 2020 there were so many changes as to how we cared for our patients and interacted with our clients. Curbside brought a whole new set of challenges and we’re glad that all of that is finally behind us. You are all rock stars for being patient with us. It’s been wonderful to finally meet our new clients face to face.

Dr. Shannon Lee is our clinic owner and has been since 2014. She graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2004 and subsequently decided to pursue additional training in working with exotic animals which have always been her passion.  Following graduation she completed a 1-year internship in avian and exotic medicine and surgery at OVC.  When not busy in the clinic Dr. Lee and her husband, Matt are kept busy with their three children, 13-year-old Brooklyn, and 8-year-old twins, Colton and Aubrey. With the children enrolled in dance, karate and horseback riding their schedule is quite full! They also share their home with a bouncy mastiff cross named Max and a turtle named Franklin.

Dr. Lee and Zeta

Dr. Lorna Mantle graduated from OVC in 1981 and has been associated with us on a full and part-time basis since then. She shares her time away from the clinic with her husband Tom, 4 house cats, her horse Victoria and numerous heritage chickens on a small farm. She also has a cat and an opossum that have taken up residence in the barn.  Dr. Mantle plays the cello, loves gardening, reading and travelling. She and her husband took a trip this past summer to Nova Scotia.

Dr. Kristen Gleiser is here 1-2 days a week keeping busy in surgery and seeing patients in appointments.  She graduated from OVC in 2001 and has a special interest in dental health for all her patients.  She has three young daughters at home who keep her very busy. They have one very cuddly cat named Cinnamon.

Dr. Gleiser and Rufous

Dr. Emily Blake has been working with us on Thursdays and Fridays. She graduated recently from the Ontario Veterinary College and has a keen interest in birds and other exotics.  She is working with us and at our after-hours clinic, Brant Norfolk Veterinary Clinic, as part of a mentorship program.

Dr. Mike Bondar has been helping out on Thursdays. He graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1993. He opened a veterinary hospital in Toronto back in 1997, where he practiced small animal medicine and surgery. Nowadays he works with veterinary telemedicine services and pet owner education via social media.

Dr. Michelle Tome is currently here 1-2 days a week in surgery. She has a special interest in internal medicine and critical care. At home, she and her husband and their three children share their house with a labradoodle named Marshall and five cats: Dylan, Barak, Jackson, Seashell and Oyster. When she is not at work Dr. Tome can be found skiing, swimming or gardening.

Kate Young has joined our team as practice manager. She comes to us with a wealth of experience managing all aspects of a busy veterinary clinic. She oversees staff, doctors, patients, inventory, and as an RVT she also helps out on the floor monitoring surgery, placing iv catheters and taking x-rays. You will also see her helping out on the front desk when needed.  She has been an invaluable addition to our team. Kate has spent several years competing in national fly ball competitions with her dogs.  Chips was the fastest dog in Canada in 2019!!

Kate and Chips

Our reception team has grown again. Holly has been here for 6 years now, and you mostly know her from her work in the reception area. She has recently started to work at the back with the technicians with a goal of becoming an RVT. She already has some formal training and has lots of hands-on experience with exotics, being the owner of 3 bunnies of her own.  We even call her our “bunny guru”! When not at the clinic she is busy with her horse, Frosty competing in local horse shows in Western speed events, and keeps active with hiking and rock climbing.

Holly and Ben

Lisa started out with us in February 2021 when we needed someone to fill a maternity leave. She fit in so well that asked her to stay.  She spends her time away from the clinic with her Blue Heeler, Nina, and her two cats Hank and Waylon.  She enjoys hiking with Nina and photography.

Santa Clause (aka Lisa) and Nina

Grace started out in 2021 as an Animal Care Attendant and changed the course of her career when a position opened up in reception. She’s a natural! She’s doing a wonderful job and loves helping everyone.  When she’s not manning the phones here she spends her time horseback riding, hiking, reading and drawing.

Grace and Zeta

Melissa is a PhD student who is currently studying bovine nutrition at the University of Guelph. She’s working with us for one year while she completes her studies. She has experience working in all aspects of the clinic so not only does she work in reception, but she often helps the technicians with surgery patients.  In her spare time Melissa enjoys hiking and travelling.

Melissa

Our veterinary technicians work primarily in the back. They are responsible for taking blood samples, taking x-rays, running blood and urine tests in our lab, anesthesia, monitoring patients before, during and after surgery, and taking care of sick patients that are in hospital.

Sue is our senior technician and has been with us since 1994. She spends most of her time assisting in surgery and working in the lab. When not busy working here she enjoys spending most of her time at home gardening in the nicer weather, travelling when possible, and hibernating this time of year. She and her husband Ed share their home with their 2 cats Rufous and Baxter. This past June Sue and Ed were able to hit the road in their 35-year old Roadtrek van and visit Nova Scotia. It was quite the whirlwind trip: over 5000km in 13 days. They absolutely loved it and can’t wait to do it again!

Sue and Rufous

Emily’s family grew by one when she adopted Annie, her Jack Russel puppy. Annie has been a great addition and is currently enrolled in puppy obedience classes. She is doing great!  Her older brother Gibson loves playing with her. Emily enjoys reading and golfing in the summer.  Emily got engaged this summer while on vacation in Newfoundland. Congratulations, Emily and Dawson!

Emily and Annie

Crystal is currently on maternity leave. She and her husband Dave welcomed Abigail Everly Nicholls to their family in September. Abigail is their first child and their two dogs, Archie and Steve, are totally in love with her.  We are too!

Nikita is the newest addition to our RVT team. She joined us a few months ago. She can be seen working in just about every aspect of the clinic: surgery, patient care, appointments and reception. In her spare time Nikita likes to garden and has over 100 plants at her house. This year she got a new border collie puppy named “Goose”. He is learning to herd and will soon be starting agility classes.

We also have two part-time staff members who help us on weekends. Megan and Emily (yes, we have 3 Emilies on staff!) look after our clinic cats on the weekends. Emily also helps out 3 afternoons after school.

Santa and Emily

Speaking of clinic cats, Zeta is doing well and still keeps busy supervising everyone.  She has slowed down a bit but still provides a lot of laughs every day.  She is the best when it comes to taking pictures. She’s very photogenic and she knows it. Our other clinic cat, Tommy, likes to keep a lower profile. It’s very unlikely that you’ve seen him.  He’s very shy and spends most of his time in the back or the staff room downstairs. He gets extra spoiled with cuddles during lunch hour.

Santa and Tommy

Continuing education has been very challenging since the start of the pandemic.  For the past two years we have been keeping up with continuing-ed online.  We have finally been able to attend conferences in person for the first time since early 2020.  Dr Lee attended a conference on exotics this past summer. Our technicians are anxiously awaiting their annual conference that takes place in March. There’s nothing like experiencing the lectures in person. Guest speakers from all over North America attend these conferences to lecture about internal medicine, surgery, anesthesia, cardiology and more.

We are still working closely with Hobbitstee Wildlife Refuge.  Chantal Theijn works tirelessly helping injured wildlife and we are proud to be an integral part of her team.  It’s very rewarding to help get these creatures returned to their home in the wild after being treated for minor to life-threatening injuries and illnesses.  Over the past few years with Chantal’s help we have examined and treated a wide range of  species –  from snakes to eagles and everything in between. There’s never a dull moment whenever Chantal shows up with a new patient.

So, in closing we would like to thank you for choosing us and entrusting us with pet’s care.  We wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.   Remember to stay safe.  All the best for 2023!

An Important Thing To Do If You’re Travelling Without Your Pets

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If you are planning a vacation getaway soon and are boarding your pets at a kennel, using a pet sitter, or plan to have someone come to your house to take care of them please let us know ahead of time who is looking after your pets. Because of Ontario privacy laws we cannot talk anyone about your pets who is not listed on your file. Unfortunately, pets sometimes get sick when their owners are away and having a plan in place will alleviate a lot of stress for you the owner, the caretaker, the veterinary team and the patient. At the very least we should be able to contact you while you’re away, and if not, someone at home should have the authority to make decisions on your behalf. This information must be in your file. Payment arrangements can also be made with us before you leave. Since many of you travel during the holidays and throughout the winter months this would be a good time to sit down with your family and come up with a plan for your pets’ emergency care if needed while you are away.

Closed on Saturdays

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Starting June 18th we will be closed on Saturdays.

We’ve had some staff changes recently so closing will help our staff rejuvenate and remain healthy in order to better serve our clients and patients. Our hours Monday to Friday will not change.

We are very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. If you routinely pick up your pet’s food on Saturday you may be interested in signing up for our Webstore. Webstore orders can be delivered directly to your home for a nominal fee and for orders over $100 shipping is free.

We want to thank you for your trust and patience during the past 2 years with all the changes that have taken place in order for us to provide the best care possible for your pets.

If you have any questions regarding Saturdays please don’t hesitate to call.

Our emergency service remains the same: Brant-Norfolk Veterinary Clinic, located at 143 Lynden Road, Brantford, Ontario. 519-720-0753.

For our exotic patients contact Campus Estates Animal Hospital, located at 1460 Gordon Street South, Guelph, Ontario. 519-837-1212.

 

Our After Hours Clinic Has Relocated!

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Brant Norfolk Veterinary Clinic has moved!
As of yesterday, March 7th, our after-hours clinic has relocated to 143 Lynden Road in Brantford. The clinic is now located slightly west of their old location. You’ll find them next to Pioneer Pools.
Their phone number is the same: 519-720-0753.
If you have an emergency after hours please call BNVC for assistance. They are open whenever we are closed.

Welcome Back!

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Welcome back!
We are so excited to finally to be able to allow you to accompany your pets into the office again!
We have missed your smiling faces and can’t wait to see you again!
We would like to take this time to assure you that although public health restrictions are loosening, we are still doing our best to assure that we protect all of those around us.
Here is a list of all of the things we are doing to ensure your continued safety:
• All staff are vaccinated
• Face masks are expected to be worn in the clinic at all times by all staff and patrons entering the building
• Enhanced disinfection protocols
• Hand sanitizing stations available in common areas and at entries/exits
• Continuation of curb side services for those individuals who prefer this and for visits not requiring entry into the clinic such as food/prescription pick ups
• Use of hepa filters and CO2 monitoring devices to monitor air quality.
Commonly Asked Questions:
1. Will I be able to accompany my pet into the clinic for his/her examination?
While we are excited to begin allowing clients back into the practice, we must continue to do so in a responsible and safe manner. Due to room limitations and overall size of the practice, we will be offering in-clinic appointments to SELECT clients ON ARRIVAL based on room availability at that time. Please be aware that this means you MAY NOT be invited to accompany your pet into the building if an appropriate examination room is not available at the time of your appointment.
We have opted to proceed in this fashion as we begin to open doors to allow for inevitable delays between appointments while we work out the details of enhanced disinfection protocols required between clients while minimizing delays this may cause between appointments.
2. How many people will be allowed to accompany our pet for his/her visit?
Due to the small size of our examination rooms and the number of people/animals in the building, we will be limiting the number of family members entering the hospital to 1 person per visit. Exceptions MAY be made in unusual circumstances or in the case of humane euthanasias.
3. What can I expect from my in clinic visit?
When you arrive at the clinic for your appointment, simply call inside and let our reception team know you have arrived. If at that time there is a room available facilitating the ability to do an in person visit, we will inform you and give you the option to accompany your pet. If you choose to accompany your pet into the building, you will be directed through our side entrances to the available examination room (Exam room 1 or exam room 2). One of our veterinarians will discuss your concerns in the exam room with you. Examinations will be performed outside the exam room with technicians helping to hold your pet. This is to facilitate social distancing with the need to have a technician available to help with the examination. At the end of your visit, our reception team will perform your billing in your examination room and exit will be through the side door.
4. Will my pet still be able to be seen curbside during this time?
During the pandemic some clients may have found their pets were anxious being led into the clinic without them, but many more have found that the pets are actually quite happy to visit without their pet parents. We are happy to continue to accommodate curbside services those clients who wish to avail themselves of the service.
As many of you may be aware, we took the opportunity throughout the pandemic to provide a much needed renovation to the inside of the clinic. We hope you will be as happy with the outcome as we are. As part of this renovation we were able to create a 3rd examination room in what was previously our pharmacy area. Due to the small size of this room and its location centrally within the clinic, we have made decided to utilize this space for curbside appointments only. Depending on room availability, you may find that curbside service is a more timely option for your visit. If so, we will be sure to let you know that this choice is available.
5. Why can’t I be present during my pet’s examination?
As previously mentioned, our exam rooms are small and in order to facilitate safe social distancing, we will be utilizing our staff for handling during examinations. To maintain safe occupation limits, the addition of a third person in the room has been deemed an unnecessary risk at this time. In order to keep your appointment on time and efficient, we have determined that utilizing our technical staff in 1 central location with pets brought to them will be more efficient.
6. What if I, or someone I know has been diagnosed with COVID or has symptoms of COVID?
As per general health and safety guidelines, we will be using our COVID screening tool to determine safe entry into the building. If it is determined that entry to the building is not safe for everyone involved then a curbside appointment will be offered.
7. Can I enter the building without a mask?
Due to the increased risk of transmission of COVID in smaller enclosed spaces such as our examination rooms, all clients entering the building will be required to wear a medical face mask covering their chin, mouth, and nose. Should you prefer NOT to wear a mask, we will be happy to provide curb side services.
8. How will I pick up my medications/prescription foods?
In order to limit the number of people inside the building at any given time, we will continue to offer curbside service for prescription and food pickups. When you arrive, simply call the clinic and let us know which parking spot you are in and we will bring your order directly to your car along with a payment terminal if required.

Curbside Service Will Remain in Effect

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We know you have all been wondering when we are going to start allowing clients into the building for appointments. Unfortunately with the increase in COVID-19 infection numbers in Ontario we will be continuing with our curbside service indefinitely. We will certainly keep you posted as things change. Thank you all for your patience. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Greetings for the 2021 Holiday Season

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2021 is quickly coming to a close and we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you for your continued support during these trying times. We are fortunate to be able to continue providing medical services for our patients, even though it’s curbside. We know it is difficult to remain in your vehicle while your pet is in the clinic but it’s important that we keep everyone, clients and staff, safe.

We decided that we would use the time that clients are not coming in to update the front reception area. It was a much needed renovation and our contractor has been able to get things done faster by working during business hours. As soon as everything is complete we will post pictures. We were hoping to open up to clients again in January but with this recent increase in COVID numbers we just don’t know. We will keep everyone posted on Facebook and our website.

Our staff has grown quite a bit this year. In addition to our long time staff (like Sue who’s been here forever) we’ve had some new people join our team and previous team members return.

Dr. Lee (Shannon) is our clinic owner. She can be found each day performing surgery, with dentistries being her specialty, and seeing patients in appointments. When she’s not at the clinic she and her husband Matt are busy with their daughter Brooklyn, twins Colton and Aubrey, and their dog Max. The kids are busy with activities such as horseback riding, dance and Girl Guides. Shannon even took on the task of leading the Girl Guides Sparks group this past year. She will be leading the Brownies group in 2022.

Dr. Mantle (Lorna) shares her time away from the clinic with her husband Tom, her horse Victoria, 5 cats and numerous heritage chickens. She also plays host to an array of woodland animals that consider her home to be their home. She also plays the cello, loves gardening and travels when she can. Sue has even managed to invite herself along on a few of her trips.

We welcomed Dr. Courtney Winkels this summer to our full-time veterinary team. She is a 2021 graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College. She has a special interest in exotics, especially birds, and has been so happy to meet everyone so far, if only on the phone. She recently adopted Lieutenant Dan, a 10 year Munchkin cat. He settled into his new home immediately and is adorable!

Dr. Justine Forbes (we mentioned in last year’s newsletter that she left to work in emergency medicine) is back working 1 day a week and will be here 2 days a week starting in January. We certainly missed her while she was gone!

Dr. Jim Stephenson, who owned the clinic before Dr. Lee, is helping out with surgery one day a week. So much for retirement!

Dr. Becky Kendall will be here Mondays starting in January. She has been helping out on occasion during the past year on an as-need basis, but after the holidays she’ll be here on a regular basis.

Our reception team has grown this year. Holly has been with us for over 4 years now. Her voice is probably one of the first that you’ll hear when you call us or when we call you. When not at the clinic she is busy with her horse, Frosty and keeps active with hiking and rock climbing.

Laura is on maternity leave with her second child, a daughter born in July and little sister to Conor. She even found and trained her replacement while she’s off! Lisa has an extensive background in customer service and loves helping everyone where she can. Lisa has fit in so well that we are keeping her when Laura comes back! She recently acquired a new puppy that is a real bundle of energy! Nina is a Blue Heeler and is a wonderful addition to Lisa’s four-legged family, which includes 2 cats named Hank and Waylon.

Grace is our newest addition to the reception team. She’s doing a wonderful job and can’t wait to meet everyone. When she’s not manning the phones here, she spends her spare time horseback riding, hiking and reading.

Kandace has also joined our team as our Animal Care Attendant. She is here to give specialized attention to all the animals that are in the clinic. She graduated from Durham College after studying animal care. When she’s not here she enjoys reading and walking her dog.

Gail has joined our team as our office and inventory manager. She comes to us with years of experience working in the veterinary field. She spends her time away from the clinic helping out with the family business, and spending time with her 3 dogs and 2 cats. She also enjoys crafts and creates beautiful water colour paintings.

Our veterinary technicians work primarily in the back. They are responsible for taking blood samples, taking x-rays, running blood and urine tests in our lab, anesthesia, monitoring patients before, during and after surgery, and taking care of sick patients that are in hospital.

Sue is our senior technician. When not busy working here she enjoys spending most of her time at home gardening in the nicer weather, traveling when possible, and hibernating this time of year. She also enjoys reading, Netflix, and shares her home with her husband Ed and their two cats Rufous and Baxter.

Crystal went on a trip to Saskatchewan to visit family and attended a wedding this past summer. She was excited to get on a plane, even if it was a short flight! She attended the RVT conference this past March on-line to keep up her continuing education. She shares her home with her husband Dave and their dog Steve.

Emily passed her RVT exam and is now a Registered Veterinary Technician. Congratulations, Emily! She enjoys spending her free time with her dog Gibson, reading and golfing in the summer.

We also have two part-time staff members who help us on weekends. Samantha helps with reception on Saturday mornings and Megan helps looking after our clinic cats on the weekends. At this time we are still not doing any boarding or grooming.

Speaking of clinic cats, Zeta is doing well and is still supervising everyone. She has slowed down a bit but still provides a lot of comic relief for us. What would we do without her? Our other clinic cat, Tommy, likes to keep a lower profile. However, this year we did manage to get him to participate in some of our Christmas photos.

For Christmas this year Dr. Lee treated the staff to a workshop at Walter’s Greenhouse a few weeks ago. We made beautiful outdoor planters. It’s amazing how creative we all are! It was nice to spend a day together away from work to have some fun. 

Veterinary medicine is constantly evolving, so our doctors and staff must be open-minded and be willing to keep up with these changes. Continuing education has been very challenging since the start of the pandemic. Conferences are taking place online in order to keep everyone safe. Most lectures are done via webinars over the internet so everyone can listen at the same time and ask questions while the webinar is live. We miss going to the conferences but thank goodness for technology to keep us in the loop!

We are still working closely with Hobbitstee Wildlife Refuge. One of the highlights this year was helping a great horned owl with a broken leg. Broken legs in wild birds are uncommon – broken wings are what we see most often. We teamed up with Dr. Grant Scherer from Paris Veterinary Clinic again (he repaired a fawn’s broken leg last year) and after a successful surgery and physical therapy the owl regained full use of her leg and was eventually released back into the wild. Hobbitstee is one of a few licensed wildlife rehabilitators in Ontario. By working closely with wildlife custodian Chantal, we have learned how to examine and treat the diverse species that are rescued and rehabilitated. Congratulations are in order for Hobbitstee Wildlife Refuge. They recently moved to a much larger property giving them the much needed room they need.

So in closing we would like to thank you for choosing us for your pet’s care, and for your patience with curbside service. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday and Happy New Year. Remember to stay safe. All the best for 2022.

The Doctors and Staff of Scott Veterinary Clinic.

Holiday Hours

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SCOTT VETERINARY CLINIC

HOLIDAY HOURS

Friday December 24 CLOSED – CHRISTMAS EVE

Saturday December 25 CLOSED – CHRISTMAS DAY

Monday-Thursday December 27-30 8am-6pm

Friday December 31 CLOSED – NEW YEARS EVE

Saturday January 2 CLOSED – NEW YEARS DAY

Regular Hours will resume Monday, January 3rd, 2022

IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE CONTACT:

Brant Norfolk Veterinary Clinic (Dogs & Cats) 519-720-0753

Hamilton Emergency Veterinary Clinic (Dogs & Cats) 289-779-6907

Campus Estates Animal Hospital (Dogs, Cats, Exotics) 519-837-1212

Shop Online For Your Pet

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We’d like to introduce you to our online “Webstore”.

We recognize that you live a busy life and taking the time to drive to the clinic for your pet’s food can be a hassle. Who doesn’t love shopping from home? We also offer the added convenience of home delivery (free for orders over $100) or pick up here at the clinic. Home delivery in Southern Ontario has a nominal fee and products can even be delivered out of province for an additional fee. You can order your pet’s food and medications online through our webstore 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You can “Auto-Order” your items, too. After setting up your account your items can be delivered on a regular basis so you don’t have to worry about forgetting. As an added bonus, some companies offer a discount when auto-ordering their products.

To sign up for the webstore follow the link at the top of this page or call us for more information at (519) 752-3431.

Covid-19 Update

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We are happy to announce that we will soon be welcoming our clients back into the clinic! There is no definite date at this time but it will be sometime in the very near future. We are working hard preparing the inside of the clinic to keep everyone safe. Until our re-opening date we will be continuing with curb side service. Please stayed tuned for more updates.