CareVets Glen Eden

Dr Petra grew up in a small town near Hannover, in northern Germany. She qualified as a veterinarian (Tierärztin) from Hannover Veterinary School in September 1995 and registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in London later that year. She spent nearly 10 years working in small animal clinics across England before moving to Auckland, New Zealand, with her Kiwi partner in October 2005. Dr Petra passed her New Zealand National Veterinary Exams (NZNVE) in November 2006.

Since 2007, she has worked as an independent veterinary locum for small animal surgeries in the Auckland area. After taking maternity leave, she resumed part-time locum work in 2012. Dr Petra has been a part-time veterinarian with the CareVets Glen Eden team since August 2015, contributing her expertise to her local West Auckland community.

Naruia, known as Ru, graduated with a Certificate in Animal Management in 2015 and a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing in 2017. She is a registered veterinary nurse with the NZVNA. Ru enjoys working with all species but has a special interest in exotics, including birds, reptiles, and pocket pets. She has been fortunate to work with incredible animals at Butterfly Creek, such as meerkats, otters, and cotton-top tamarins. At home, she cares for many beloved pets, and her dogs are lucky enough to join her at work each day. Ru loves being a veterinary nurse and couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

Jessica brings over 14 years of experience to the team and obtained her Diploma in Veterinary Nursing in 2011. She shares her home with her dog, Amara, two cats—Frankie and Clio—and her two young children. In her spare time, Jessica enjoys bike rides with her children, visiting Kakamatua with her dog and family, and spending quality time with her loved ones.

Robyn graduated with a Certificate in Animal Management in 2010 and completed a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing in 2012. She became a Registered Veterinary Nurse through the NZVNA in 2018. Robyn has a true passion for emergency nursing, finding it both challenging and incredibly rewarding. At home, she shares her life with a gorgeous cat, Arizona, adopted from the SPCA, and a very noisy cockatiel named Pikachu.

Asuka graduated with a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing in 2006 and joined CareVets Glen Eden in 2008. She works as a veterinary nurse, receptionist, and administrator. In her spare time, Asuka enjoys spending time with her family, which includes her husband, two young children, a cat named Norochan, and two budgies, Saffy and Rosie. She is also known for making the best tiramisu!

Gemma graduated with a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing in 2020 and joined CareVets Glen Eden in 2023. She is our “bunny lady” and has extensive knowledge in rabbit nursing care and husbandry. Gemma cares for two very special bunnies of her own: Piper, who has only one kidney, and Jasper, who has three legs. In her spare time, she enjoys competitive cheerleading, reading, and listening to Taylor Swift.

Amanda has extensive knowledge and experience in the veterinary industry and has been with the clinic for many years. She enjoys interacting with clients and their pets, always going above and beyond to help them. In her spare time, Amanda is involved in canine obedience training and competes in dog shows. She is a fancier of the magnificent Cane Corso breed and owns two, Enzo and Kiaraa, with a third on the way. In contrast to these large dogs, she also cares for wee Miss Piper, the clinic’s mascot dog.

Melissa joined CareVets Glen Eden as a veterinary nurse in 2018. She is passionate about animal welfare, supporting rescue and rehabilitation efforts as well as public education to improve the wellbeing of pets and wildlife. Melissa has a special interest in canine behaviour, fitness, nutrition, and enrichment. In her spare time, she enjoys the company of her three rescued Pit Bull mixes, Rocky, Ramona, and Maverick.