Puss - Clinic Cat

Hi! I am Puss the clinic cat. I started life as a stray that came into the clinic a number of years ago. Whilst the clinic looked after me for a short time (as part of the cat adoption program) they were able to find me a home with a loving and caring man who spoilt me rotten. Recently my dad passed away and I was again made homeless until the Essendon Veterinary Clinic decided to allow me to become their practice manager/ resident cat, where I shall live out the remainder of my life. Being only 4 years old, I have a long life to live and enjoy.

Dr Kylee Woods - Veterinarian (currently on maternity leave)

Kylee graduated from Melbourne University in 1996. She worked in small animal clinics in Canberra and England, then returned to Melbourne. Kylee and her husband Geoff have a son, Samuel. They also have quite a menagerie at home with Sebastyon the Chinchilla cat, Busted the domestic short haired cat, Mickey the Italian Greyhound, Mrs Snake the carpet python, Peter the peacock and some chooks. In her spare time, Kylee enjoys going camping and hiking, gardening, cooking, Landcare and CFA.

Dr Tania Mullen BVSc - Veterinarian

Tania was born in Melbourne and studied at Melbourne University graduating in 1999. She worked for 2½ years on the eastern side of Melbourne before heading overseas. Tania has a special interest in dentistry and medicine.

Outside of being a vet, Tania enjoys swimming, going to the gym, travelling overseas and motherhood. She is also the proud mother of a grey tabby called Spud.

Dr Seina Capp - Veterinarian BVSC (Hons)

After graduating from University of Melbourne in 1993 with honours, Dr Seina spent several years in mixed animal practices in rural Victoria where she gained a great deal of experience with many different species. On any one day she could be treating mice, lizards, ostriches, dogs, cats, and race horses just to name a few. Here she also gained a great deal of experience and a love for surgery. On returning to Melbourne Dr Seina completed a post graduate course in small animal surgery, and is currently completing a post graduate course in small animal (dog and cat) medicine.

Dr Seina started with the wonderful dedicated team at Essendon Veterinary Clinic in 2004, and loves both the wonderful human and furry four legged clients she sees. She has 4 babies of both the hairy and hairless variety - two beautiful girls, Elsie and Maisie, Charlie the old Siamese Rex cross and Ally the hyperactive Schoodle.

Dr Ashleigh Long - Veterinarian

Dr Ashleigh joined Essendon Veterinary Clinic to help out since the local baby boom and she is still with us 2 years on and enjoying every bit of her role as one of our experienced veterinarians. She graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2005, and since then has worked in East Doncaster and in Gawler, South Australia.

Dr Ashleigh has two mischievous kids in the form of an energetic whippet and a domestic short haired cat. Although this results in a very chaotic household, she wouldn't have it any other way and everyone gets along great. The only arguments are over who gets which bed!

Dr Ashleigh has an interest in all animals great and small, but particually loves cats and their medical ailments. She enjoys working with the friendly skilled team here at Essendon and our wonderful clientel.

Dr Bridget Naughton - Veterinarian

Dr Bridget graduated with honours from the University of Melbourne in 2000. She has worked in country Victoria and the United Kingdom treating all creatures great and small (the largest being a camel and the smallest being a dwarf Russian hamster). She has volunteered around the world to help the local dog and cat populations and educate people about animal health care. She even spent part of her honeymoon in the amazon jungle at a spay and neuter clinic.

Dr Bridget has been working with us at Essendon Vet Clinic since returning to Australia in 2008. She took time off to have a baby and is now back again working part time. She enjoys working with our team and meeting our wonderful clients and their lovely pets. Along with dogs and cats, Dr Bridget also has a special interest in the smaller furry animals like rabbits and guinea pigs.

Dr Bridget's pets include a Cocker Spaniel named Indy, a ginger cat called Harry and two chooks named Sophie and Dawn.

Denise Sankovich - Head Veterinary Nurse

Born in Canada, Denise is a long converted Aussie. She completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing and has been at one of our sister clinics for the past six years. She has joined us at Essendon Veterinary Clinic as Head Nurse while Nurse Simone is on maternity leave. Denise has special interests in pain management, weight management and renal patients.

At home Denise is kept busy with her two birds, her demanding Pomeranian cross, her Tortoiseshell cat and her two children.

Simone Horton ACVN - Veterinary Nurse (currently on maternity leave)

Simone grew up in Endeavour Hills before moving to Wonthaggi and completing her VCE in 1995. She then completed her Certificate in Animal Care a year later and finished her Advanced Certificate in Veterinary Nursing in 1999. She worked at the Bundoora Vet Clinic and Emergency Centre for 4 years before travelling around Australia for 8 months. While away, she worked at a practice in Darwin for two months where she got her first experience in working with wildlife and reptiles. Since returning, Simone worked at our sister practice in Carlton for one and a half years before joining our team here at Essendon Veterinary Clinic.

Simone's areas of special interest are surgical and wildlife nursing. She currently holds a shelter licence to care for sick and injured wildlife and attained her Certificate in Wildlife Care and Management in 2004. She has also recently completed her diploma in Veterinary Practice Management. Simone enjoys mentoring the nursing staff through their studies.

Simone and her husband Wade bought a house on 3¼ acres of land near Humevale a few years ago and love living there with their pets, which include a dog and three cats.

Rebecca Rolfe - Veterinary Nurse

Rebecca was born in Melbourne and studied at Northern Melbourne Institute Tafe where she completed her Certificate III in Animal Technology. Whilst studying and working at McDonalds for six years she found a job that she enjoyed and loved.

Rebecca's nursing career started 7 years ago at Mill Park Animal Hospital where she worked for two years before starting with us at Essendon Veterinary Clinic in 2002 and completed her Certificate II in Veterinary Nursing.

Apart from her son Riley, Rebecca is also a proud parent to numerous four legged children including dogs, cats, rabbits and a ferret. Her interests include tennis, football and photography and having a few drinks with friends and enjoying motherhood.

Marisa Debattista - Veterinary Nurse

Marisa started working with our wonderful team in June 2010. She is currently studying for her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing.

Marisa has a huge passion for animals and their welfare. She rescues stray animals that have been surrendered or dumped, nurtures them to good health, and rehomes them with loving families. She finds hand rearing young kittens and puppies very rewarding. Besides working at Essendon Veterinary Clinic, Marisa also volunteers at Pets Haven pro-life animal shelter in Woodend on a weekly basis and helps with adopting out homeless animals.

Marisa and her husband live with their seven pets, and they include Milo (Dingo x), Millie (Great Dane x Rottweiler), their cats Annabell, Pepper, Popcorn and Dexter, and an Eastern long-neck turtle named Franklin. 

Nicky Holt - Veterinary Nurse

Nicky has had a love for animals from a very young age. She lives with three dogs and three cats, one lorikeet and her 3 year old boy called Lucas who keeps her busy. Nicky is a qualified groomer and has groomed dogs of all shapes and sizes for a number of years now. She is currently studying to complete her Certificates II and IV in Veterinary Nursing.

Shelley the Clinic Cat - In Memoriam

Shelley, our wonderful friend of 18 years, kept us company at the clinic and enjoyed lots of hugs from both our team and our clients. Shelley lived quite a peaceful life and rarely asked for anything (except when any of us had a really nice lunch). Shelley sadly passed away in April 2008 and she will be greatly missed.