CareVets Gisborne

Ross graduated from the University of Liverpool Veterinary School and has since built an impressive international career. After gaining experience in the UK, Ireland, and Fiji, he established and ran his own award-winning practices in Chester and North Wales for 15 years. He then spent four years as a Senior Veterinary Officer in the Falkland Islands before moving to New Zealand to be closer to his Kiwi family. Ross now calls Gisborne home, where he enjoys the region’s stunning beaches with his wife, two adopted cats, and two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. When he’s not at the clinic, you’ll find him walking the dogs, swimming, snorkelling, or catching the occasional wave.

Rhonda joined CareVets in January 2021 as a Receptionist/Administrator and Assistant to the Clinic Coordinator, driven by her love of animals. It quickly became the most rewarding role she’d held, and she went on to cover maternity leave as Clinic Coordinator before stepping into the position permanently. Rhonda loves the challenge of the role and being closely involved in the day-to-day running of the clinic.

Her favourite part of any day is getting to cuddle the puppies that come in for their vaccinations. At home, Rhonda and her husband foster animals for the SPCA and share their lives with four dogs and two cats — all adopted or rescued through the clinic 😊

Emma has been a valued member of the CareVets team since 2021, bringing energy, skill, and a love for hands-on veterinary care to her role. She especially enjoys assisting with unique and challenging after-hours cases, where she can put her knowledge and experience to good use. Outside of work, Emma is just as hands-on—spending her spare time building engines for her motorsport cars. At home, she’s kept busy by her two Labradors, two rescue cats, and a lively flock of 12 chickens.

Hayley came to work at CareVets in 2020 while studying to become a veterinary nurse after a career change from shepherding. She has always loved animals and knew from a young age that she wanted to work with them in some way.

She lives on a lifestyle block with her partner and their two children — a boy and a girl — alongside Casper the cat, eight working dogs, and four horses. In her spare time, Hayley loves taking her horse to the beach for a ride and helping out on the farm with the dogs.

Kaz is excited to be back at CareVets after having a few years off. Her and her partner have two children together, a son and a daughter, who both love animals as much as she does. Kaz currently has five rescue animals, two dogs and three cats. She completed her Certificate in Veterinary Nursing back in 2005 and has a particular interest in working dogs and nursing emergency trauma cases.

Lesli immigrated from Canada to join our team. She graduated from the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus, Canada with a Diploma in Veterinary Technology. After working in large animal medicine for two years she switched to small animal for a new challenge, and hasn’t looked back. She takes an interest in surgery and medical cases, taking pride in offering the best patient care. Lesli has two fur-babies, a cattle dog named Chevy and a cat named Itty Bitty. In her free time she enjoys hiking and landscape photography.

Vicky has worked for CareVets for over 10 years since the clinic first opened in Gisborne as “PetVets on Ballance”. She loves her job and enjoys the interaction with our clients and their fur babies, most of whom she has got to know well over the years.

Since graduating from Massey University with a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing in 2009, Sarah has worked in a range of mixed and companion animal clinics across both New Zealand and Australia. She is passionate about animal welfare and strives to deliver a high standard of patient care.

Sarah lives on her own little farm with her partner and their two cheeky daughters. She truly lives and breathes animals, sharing her home with pigs, chickens, cows, dogs, cats, and many horses. In her spare time, she is a keen equestrian and often attends local competitions. Her main sidekick is Joey, the ‘almost’ famous blue heeler — he and Sarah have shared many adventures over the years.