Get to know us!

Lisamarie has been working in the veterinary industry since 2002, after completing the Veterinary Assistant program at Maritime Business College. After graduating, Lisamarie worked with the Truro Veterinary Hospital as a Veterinary Assistant, where she stayed until joining Russell Lake Animal Hospital to become Hospital Manager in 2011.

The pets in Lisamarie’s world include two wonderful cats (Mickey and Stix), a Pionus parrot (Olive), two Cockatiels (Mellon and Nigel), one very goofy Cockatoo, and a flock of very interesting guinea fowl.

When not at work, Lisamarie can usually be found doing bird-related activities – anything from cleaning up after the messy bunch to making bird toys or enrichment items to just enjoying their crazy antics.

Originally from a small town in Newfoundland, Katherine has an innate love for nature, animals, and community. She attributes this to her rural roots and upbringing.

Before joining us in early 2020, Katherine received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Memorial University. She spent the next five years honing her customer relations skills in the technology sector.

Having always been creative, Katherine taps into her creativity by creating social media posts, signage and marketing content for us here at Russell Lake Animal Hospital.

On her days off, Katherine can be found hiking, reading a book, spending time with friends or family, relaxing at the beach or enjoying a good movie or show. She has 2 Havanese dogs, Skipper and Winnie, that are never too far from her side and a crested gecko named Stitch.

Upon moving to Canada from the UK, Jen decided it was also time for a career change. Wanting to stay rooted in science but be more beneficial for the society she decided to follow her love of animals and pursue a career in veterinary medicine.

Jen graduated from Algonquin College (Ottawa) in May 2019 and passed the VTNE to become a Registered Veterinary Technician later that same year.

Jen started her career in small animal practice in Ottawa and later moved to the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia. She joined Russell Lake in February 2022 and feels she has found a great fit here. Jen enjoys taking care of her patients, especially during surgery and anesthesia. She also really enjoys trying to make her patients’ visits as low-stress and enjoyable as possible for both them and their parents.

Jen has four adorable misfit cats that she’s picked up along the way; Wee-bey, Eddie, Dolly, and Snoop.

She is dedicated to creating a welcoming and comfortable experience for both pets and their owners throughout their veterinary visits. Julia values building meaningful relationships with clients and their furry companions, and she takes pride in being a friendly and supportive presence during every visit.

Jenna graduated from the Maritime Busines College Veterinary Assistant program in January 2020. She completed part of her work placement here at Russell Lake Animal Hospital, and she is thrilled to be back. Jenna’s areas of interest include exotics and emergency care. She is also passionate about preventive and dental care.

Jenna has several animals of her own, including a cat, a dog, two bunnies, and two frogs. She also has a fluctuating number of foster animals. In her spare time, she volunteers at Hope for Wildlife, where she most enjoys working with the turtles.

Melissa was born and raised in Tantallon, NS. Four years ago, she decided to make the switch from the hospitality industry to the veterinary industry. For over six years, she has actively volunteered with many cat rescues, including Healing Animal Scars, 9Lives, Spayday, & the SPCA. Melissa enjoys trapping feral kittens that were born outdoors and socializing them, so they can be adopted out. She has travelled pretty much all over the province to assist with kitties. Her pets are Midnight, Garfield, Sonny, Minnie, Pepsi, Rootbeer, Fancy, HissyPissyChrissy, Jack, Janet, Missy, Bagheera and Molly, a golden retriever who thinks she is a big cat. Yes, that is correct – 12 cats & one dog!

In 2022, awaiting her return to Canada, she worked in a Dublin cattery and veterinary practice, and in January 2025 came to Nova Scotia to further her veterinary career as a Veterinary Assistant and finish her studies in Wildlife Management with Sparsholt College.

In her free time, Laura volunteers at Hope for Wildlife and enjoys hiking and indoor bouldering.

Amanda brings a rich background in photography and visual arts, complemented by her experience running a busy café and art studio. During that time, she developed a strong ability to connect with people and thrive in dynamic environments.

Originally introduced to the hospital as a client, Amanda was excited to join the team when the opportunity arose. A devoted pet owner and lifelong animal lover, she finds it deeply rewarding to support both pets and their people in accessing the care they need.

In her role, Amanda contributes to many aspects of the hospital’s daily operations. She is continually inspired by the dedication of her colleagues and is committed to supporting patients, clients, and team members in any way she can. Fascinated by all areas of veterinary care, she especially enjoys welcoming pets and their owners into the hospital and takes pride in helping create a positive experience even in the smallest ways.

Outside of work, Amanda loves spending quality time with her two large dogs and three cats.

Beth grew up in New Brunswick. She has had a passion for all animals, large and small, since she was a child. In 2007 she graduated from Nova Scotia Agricultural College with a BSc in Animal Science. Since then she has spent time working in the pet retail industry and spent some time as a zookeeper in Ontario. In 2021 she returned to Nova Scotia and joined Russell Lake Animal Hospital in the spring of 2022.

Outside of work you can find Beth in the barn with her 3 horses or training with her Rottweiler, Winnie & Cinna. She also shares her home with several species of snakes and geckos, Merv the cat, and a hedgehog named Scuttle.

Bio coming soon!