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We’re so grateful for our amazing team and the love they show to every furry family member. 💖🐾 Their dedication and care make all the difference! Thank you for everything you do to keep tails wagging and spirits high! 🌟
Cheryl Vandal
Hospital Manager
Cheryl grew up in Ottawa and spent a lot of time on her grandparents’ farm as a child, where she always admired her grandpa’s innate knack for communicating with his animals. The work horses, milk cows, finicky roosters, and ever-faithful farm dogs just seemed to respond to him in a special way, and Cheryl knew that she wanted to share those same bonds with the earth’s creatures. That’s why she decided to become a veterinary professional and help all of the pets she possibly could!
After high school, Cheryl studied animal science in university before getting married. While living in Campbellford, Ontario, she began working at a local veterinary clinic, then moved to Winnipeg and started as the sole employee at a brand-new hospital there. Cheryl would remain at that clinic for the next two decades, serving in many roles including Hospital Manager. Next, she returned to central Ontario and joined the team here at Peterborough West Animal Hospital in 2013. She’s been a member of the family ever since!
Around the hospital, Cheryl loves innovating to find new ways to move the practice forward, both in client service and medical improvements. She’s especially proud of getting ultrasound added to the clinic’s roster of diagnostic tools recently! Cheryl also loves working closely with her team members and meeting new pet owners and their animal companions on a daily basis.
In her spare time, Cheryl is an avid gardener and especially loves planting flowers. She’s also fond of traveling, reading historical fiction, and spending quality time with her family and pets. Cheryl has three grown daughters as well as four fabulous grandchildren, and she shares her home with two pets: a beautiful Bernese Mountain Dog named Bailey who Cheryl calls her “Velcro” dog; and an affectionate ragdoll cat, Monty, who is the sweetest pet until he sees a brush or nail trimmer.
Victoria McEldon
Registered Veterinary Technician
Victoria is one of our Registered Veterinary Technicians at Peterborough West Animal Hospital. She moved from Scarborough to Millbrook in 2001. Since moving to Peterborough County her family developed their own little patch of heaven into a small hobby farm. Her home is not complete without her 4-legged family of dogs, cats, horses and cattle. Victoria’s goal is to purchase a local farm in the near future to call home. She has a small herd of Simmental cattle that she continues to grow and genetically improve.
Victoria was an active participant in 4H growing up, competing at both local and national level competitions. Once she graduated from 4-H she became a local 4-H volunteer and active agricultural member in the community. She loves to share her knowledge of and promote the agriculture industry within the community. Victoria’s special interest in animal husbandry and medicine was influenced greatly by her experiences in 4-H, part-time jobs at local veterinary clinics and her exposure to the agricultural industry in general. She became a licensed RVT in 2016 after graduating from the Veterinary Technology program at the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus. Since graduating, she has worked in both small and large animal veterinary fields. Victoria is excited to become a member of the Peterborough West Animal Hospital where she can further develop her skills and knowledge within the veterinary field.
Shauna Ryner, RVT
Registered Veterinary Technician
Bio coming soon.
Cheyanne Patterson
Registered Veterinary Technician
Bio coming soon.
Danielle Lane
Registered Veterinary Technician
Danielle’s career as a Registered Veterinary Technician is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: animals rely on us to be their voice. Growing up in a small town, she was surrounded by a wide variety of animals — from pocket pets and lizards to cats, dogs, racing pigeons through 4-H, and, most notably, horses. Much of her childhood was spent in barns, where she learned that good animal care requires patience, observation, and a willingness to listen even when nothing is being said out loud.
Her involvement in 4-H helped shape her understanding of responsibility and advocacy. She saw firsthand that doing what is best for an animal often means educating and supporting their owners, too. That realization led her to pursue veterinary technology, where she could combine hands-on medical care with client education to improve quality of life for both pets and their families.
Danielle completed the three-year Veterinary Technology program at St. Lawrence College, graduating in 2018. Within months, she successfully wrote her registration exam and became licensed. She began her career at a small animal clinic near her hometown, building meaningful relationships with patients and clients. Along the way, she also gained additional experience working in other small animal clinics and horse barns to broaden her skills. In 2023, after relocating to the Kawartha Lakes with her husband, she joined the team at Peterborough West Animal Hospital and continues to grow in her role.
In the clinic, she especially enjoys senior pet appointments, weight management cases, and tailoring care plans to each individual patient. She finds fulfillment in helping pets regain comfort and mobility, and in seeing the pride owners feel when their hard work pays off.
At home, Danielle shares life with her husband and son, along with Gizba, their fetch-obsessed bulldog rescue, and Loki, their spirited fjord horse who happily “smiles” for treats.
Stacey Kovalova
Registered Veterinary Technician
High-pressure racetrack mornings and complex equine cases helped shape the veterinary professional Stacey is today. Before entering small animal practice, she built her foundation working alongside a farm veterinarian and at Woodbine Racetrack, immersed in the demanding world of thoroughbred medicine. In that environment, injuries were serious, decisions had to be made quickly, and attention to detail was critical. She witnessed firsthand how experience, steady hands, and determination could change the outcome of even the most challenging cases.
Originally from Ukraine, Stacey moved to Canada ten years ago and brought with her a deep respect for animals instilled by her family. While animals were always part of her life, it was observing veterinary technicians at work that clarified her direction. She admired how they balanced technical skill with compassion, serving as calm, steady advocates for patients who could not speak for themselves. From that moment, she knew she wanted to become someone clients could confidently trust with their pet’s life.
After completing her Veterinary Assistant certificate, Stacey pursued her Registered Veterinary Technician diploma while continuing to gain extensive hands-on experience in equine practice. The racetrack environment demanded resilience, adaptability, and critical thinking — qualities she now carries into every shift.
In 2025, after graduating and relocating to Peterborough, she joined Peterborough West Animal Hospital and transitioned into small animal medicine. She developed a strong interest in surgery and hopes to specialize in anaesthesia in the future. She values the precision, teamwork, and communication required in the operating room and takes pride in ensuring each patient remains safe and comfortable throughout every stage of care.
Outside the clinic, Stacey enjoys travelling, reading, and staying connected with family both in Canada and back home in Ukraine. One day, she hopes to own a small farm and rescue an off-the-track thoroughbred of her own.
Laura Goslin
Veterinary Technician
A family friend who is a veterinarian inspired Laura to join the world of animal care herself. She volunteered at the family friend’s clinic throughout her high-school career and even worked at her emergency clinic. Now, Laura gets to work alongside that very same friend at Peterborough West Animal Hospital! She’s a proud member of the clinic’s Veterinary Technician team.
Born and raised in Ennismore, Laura completed her high-school co-operative career placement at the Peterborough Humane Society. Next, she headed to St. Lawrence College in Kingston to earn her degree in arts and science before receiving her degree in veterinary technology from Sheridan College a short time later. It wasn’t long before Laura joined the team here at Peterborough West Animal Hospital—she’s been a member of the hospital family since April of 2016.
Laura particularly loves performing dental cleanings, and always finds it incredibly rewarding to see a pet’s clean and healthy mouth. She’s also fond of venipuncture and supportive care for sick patients. Above all, though, Laura loves knowing that she’s able to make a real difference for the families of the community.
Away from work, Laura spends much of her free time raising her young son. The family also shares their home with a friendly German Wirehaired Pointer named Daley, Miley the Calico cat, and a surprisingly affectionate Beta fish who goes by Cook. When she’s not spending time with family or helping pets and animal owners here at the clinic, Laura loves hiking, gardening, traveling—she backpacked through Europe with a friend during a summer break from college, hitting five countries and eight cities along the way!—and bartending. She paid for her entire schooling by serving and bartending, and currently runs a mobile bartending service during her free time.
Brittanie Findlay
Veterinary Technician
Bio coming soon.
Jennifer Bellissimo
Veterinary Assistant
Jennifer is one our valued vet assistants here at Peterborough West Animal Hospital. She became a team member in 2012 and is also one of our frontline client care specialists. Jennifer also plays a key role in our business development here at the hospital. Originally from Mississauga, Ontario, she moved to Peterborough in 2008 with her husband. For as long as she can remember, Jennifer has had a strong connection with animals and has always wanted to work with them. When she moved to Peterborough, Jennifer did some volunteer work at a local animal shelter as well as an animal hospital.
Jennifer graduated from the University of Guelph where she completed a B.A. in health sciences, sociology and criminology. Her career path led her to an exciting sales and marketing position with Sun Media which she excelled at selling and developing advertising strategies for major companies.
While working part-time with us Jennifer also attended Fleming College to study in the paralegal program. She became a licensed paralegal in 2014.
At Peterborough West Animal Hospital, Jennifer gets to meet and get to know some pretty amazing pets and pet owners! She has formed many strong relationships with clients and their pets over the years and continues to provide the exceptional service clients deserve and expect.
Jennifer has 3 cats, C.J, Bella and Scooter, and a Bearded Collie named Brody that keep her and her husband busy and happy. Aside from animal care, Jennifer also has a passion for landscaping, travelling, outside adventures and continuing education.
Brittany White
Veterinary Assistant
Bio coming soon.
Charlotte Nott
Veterinary Assistant
Charlotte’s connection to veterinary medicine began with a moment her family still calls a miracle. Growing up in the UK, she experienced firsthand how powerful veterinary care can be when her childhood cat was hit by a car and went missing for two days. When they finally heard faint squeaks from a bush in their backyard, they rushed her to the veterinarian. The diagnosis was grave — her abdominal organs had shifted into her rib cage, and her chances of survival were uncertain. Her father chose surgery despite the prognosis. Just two hours later, they received a call saying she was climbing the walls of her cage. Charlotte went on to share 20 more years with that cat, who even immigrated from the UK to Canada. That experience shaped her belief in advocacy, resilience, and the difference a dedicated veterinary team can make.
Charlotte first joined Peterborough West Animal Hospital in 2014 as a volunteer and quickly fell in love with the close-knit team and fast-paced environment. She was hired shortly after to cover a maternity leave and remained until 2016, when she pursued a career in welding. Over eight years, she built a successful path in the welding industry and became a welding instructor, combining technical skill with a passion for teaching. After welcoming her son, she felt drawn back to veterinary medicine. In 2023, she returned to the clinic on Saturdays and occasional on-call shifts, and by 2025–2026, she transitioned into an almost full-time role assisting in surgery and technical care.
Charlotte thrives in hands-on work and especially values anaesthesia monitoring and surgical assistance, where focus, precision, and teamwork are essential. She finds deep fulfilment in helping patients through vulnerable moments and watching them return home feeling better.
At home, she shares life with her husband, son, and two cats, Jackie and Sage, along with her lifelong love of horses and coaching as a registered Equestrian Canada coach.
23,458
Sloppy Kisses
19,389
Bellies Rubbed
27,193
Treats Given