Meet the Team

Jenna joined the team as a receptionist/assistant and quickly became an integral part of the team thanks to her calm, positive presence. In 2018, she stepped into the role of Hospital Manager, where her caring, thorough leadership and deep knowledge of the clinic continue to guide the team. Her animal family includes Smush, a stray Persian cat; Murphy, a rescue found in a school cafeteria; and Rocky, an adopted Boston Terrier. Outside of work, Jenna enjoys traveling, cycling, and exploring all things food-related. She says, “I love being part of the Park family—everyone here has so much love for the animals we help each day. I couldn’t ask for a better team."

Dr Gitte graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph in 2000 (yay Dragons!). She joined Park Animal Hospital in 2005 after spending the first five years of her career at a practice in rural Ontario. In 2010 she bought Park Animal Hospital from its founder, Dr Mirek Hainish, upon his retirement. Dr Gitte REALLY enjoys being a general practitioner and is especially passionate about behavioural problems, nutrition, eyes, skin and breed-specific predispositions -and she loves the opportunity to mentor students. Dr Gitte’s passion for the humane treatment of animals continues outside the clinic. In 2014 she helped to convince the Bowmanville Zoo to stop declawing their lion and tiger cubs, a practice they had undertaken for the previous many decades, and the following year she became the Ontario Director for The Paw Project with whom she is working towards ending declawing in North America. She was involved in supporting Bill S-203 (ending the captivity of cetaceans in Canada in 2019) and provides veterinary care for dogs in remote Ontario Indigenous communities as well as pets belonging to Toronto's vulnerably housed community. She is an associate producer for the film 'Corky' (https://vimeo.com/ondemand/corky) and 'American Cats: The Good, The Bad, and The Cuddly' (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3...). When not championing for animals and eating vegan food (thank you Savor Living), Dr Gitte enjoys yoga, horseback riding, hiking, traveling, and relaxing with her family and close friends. She and the love of her life, Mads, share their home with 3 cats, 2 dogs, and a rabbit.

Dr Barb graduated from the University of Guelph in 2008 - with 2 kids under 4 years of age oh my! She has a deep passion for caring for animals and hopes at least one of her (now 4) children will one day follow in her footsteps. When not at work, she is busy chauffeuring her kids to their various sports activities and, when she does get a minute to herself, she enjoys reading and yoga. In addition to her 4 human kids, Dr Barb has a very snuggly cat named JasPurr and also looks after her parents' pets Molly and Dougie (a rescued shepherd cross who is near and dear to her heart and is her phone screen saver ...shhh don’t tell her kids!).

Dr Mel joined Park Animal Hospital like a missing coffee-guzzling puzzle piece in October of 2021. She loves surgery and deep-diving into complicated medical cases. When not at work, she thoroughly enjoys chasing (and being chased by) her adorable twins and dogs. Oh, and she moonlights as a professional snuggler (at least that's what we think, she hasn't given us her real bio yet, lol!).

Courtney, originally from Bermuda, came to Canada to pursue her studies, earning a B.Sc. from the University of Guelph in 2018 and completing Sheridan College’s Veterinary Technician program in 2020. She joined Park in October 2019 and has remained a valued member of our team. When not working, Courtney enjoys scenic walks (when it’s not too cold) and cozy tea-filled winter days. She shares her life with two cats, Bug and Mouse, and two dogs, Louie and Geddy.

Gee joined our team after meeting Dr. Christensen at a First Nations spay/neuter clinic, and her bubbly, positive personality made her an instant fit at Park. She works with us part-time, assisting with surgical procedures and ensuring our patients receive exceptional care before and after their operations.

Maddi is a very proud veterinary technician! She graduated from Georgian College in 2007, and joined Park in 2013 after a dreamy 3 month working trip to Bermuda. Maddi loves to learn and share her experiences to teach clients. Her passion is helping cats and dogs maintain a healthy mouth through all of their years and she has the biggest heart when it comes to the old, the injured, and the mamaless. Since taking in Leo (a Frenchie) she has been even more focused on IVDD and brachycephalic awareness and education. 'I love being a veterinary nurse, and it makes it even more amazing being a part of our team at Park Animal Hospital!!' - Maddi

Coming to Park Animal Hospital is a family tradition older than Wes - his parents started bringing their Labrador retrievers to Dr Hainish in March of 1995, 30 years ago! Growing up loving all creatures great and small, and volunteering with us during high school, it was no surprise to us that Wes would choose a career allowing him a lifetime of caring for animals. He soon enrolled in the veterinary technician program at Georgian College and we jumped at the chance to hire him as soon as he finished the program! Wes has 4 pets (a happy beagle named Squish, a polydactyl cat named Kirby, a leopard gecko named Nemo, and a corn snake named Max). When he's not working, you can catch Wes at the gym or hiking with Squish.

Alicia’s passion for animals led her to complete a high school co-op program at a veterinary referral clinic. From there she went to work in a pet store until we recruited her in November of 2000, one of the best decisions we ever made! Alicia has worked here longer than anyone else - even her boss! Alicia (pictured here with our beloved Captain Peeps) shares her life with her daughters Erilynn and Abriel, 2 cats (Fluffy, a handsome but badly injured stray cat Alicia rescued in the winter; and Lucky, Fluffy’s mother who Alicia also rescued) and a varying number of rats. Always in her heart are Bunny (Alicia’s beloved Pekingese dog) and cats Molson, Mookie, Mr George, Owl, Kitty and Cat (her ‘soul-kitty’ who was rescued from the pet store where Alicia worked). Depending on the season, Alicia enjoys swimming or skating and can often be found with a book in hand. Her favourite author is Stephen King.

Growing up in Mississauga—just down the street from the clinic—Aby's always had a love for animals and science, inspired early on by her grandma’s passion for wildlife and nature. That passion only grew through her experience working at Pet Valu (where she met Courtney!) and through hands-on volunteer work with both large and small animals. Now heading into her fifth year in the Animal Science program at the University of Guelph, she’s working toward her goal of becoming a veterinarian. She’s gained experience volunteering with horses at local barns and at CARD, supporting children with disabilities, as well as working in a lab in Guelph studying algae—experiences that have shaped her appreciation for all forms of life. At home, she shares her life with her dog Pogi and chinchilla Chia, after growing up with a whole crew of pets including hamsters, a cat, fish, a hermit crab, a bearded dragon, and a dog named Winter. When she’s not at the clinic, you can find her dancing (she trained competitively for years), staying active at the gym, or getting creative with crafts and painting—she even makes handmade gifts and shares her art online. A big Disney fan, she’s on a mission to visit every Disneyland—so far she’s been to Florida, California, and Paris, with Tokyo or Shanghai hopefully next!

With a lifelong friendship with our very own Madeleine, Christine joined the team and seamlessly fit in from day one. Her primary focus is supporting our wonderful clients at the front desk, but you may also see her assisting with your pet’s appointments. Christine truly wears many hats at Park—you might even recognize her as the friendly voice on our answering machine 🙂 Outside of the clinic, Christine and her husband, Chris, stay busy with their son, Logan, and daughter, Astrid, along with their American Bulldog, Prince, and ginger tabby, Tormund. In her free time, she enjoys rollerblading with Prince and is always eager to learn something new.

Beth graduated from Humber College’s Film and Television Production program in 2017 with an end goal of working as a sound technician in film and television. She joined Park in early 2020, taking after her sister, Tori, who worked as a receptionist at Park from 2013 until 2018. In addition to having shared the front seat at Park, Beth and Tori also have kickboxing in common, a sport they get a kick out of together! Beth and her husband, Dom, hope to make their own furry family one day - perhaps a mix of dogs, cats, hedgehogs, and rats - but for now they enjoy occasionally babysitting for Tori.

Kaitlyn joined Park in October of 2019. Her passion for animals and the environment make her a perfect fit! Kaitlyn graduated from the Veterinary Technician program at Georgian College in 2013 and from the Law Clerk Advanced program at Durham College 4 years later. She has 3 cats (Autumn, Storm & Havok), 2 chihuahuas (Moose & Barlow) - and a car covered in tattoos!

Joanne’s journey began in Wawa, Ontario, where she grew up surrounded by animals through her father’s work as a game warden. She later spent her formative years in Peterborough before moving to Toronto in 1986. Married for 36 years to Shane (she likes to remind him they’ve been the best years of his life), Joanne is the proud mom of two amazing kids, Conor and Erin, and two fur babies, Troy and Moe. Joanne has an adventurous spirit and a zest for life! She’s always up for snorkeling, swimming, or planning her next big trip. When she’s not globetrotting, you’ll find her practicing Pilates or catching up with friends and family over laughter-filled get-togethers. Her lifelong love of animals eventually led her to the veterinary world, where she’s found her true calling. Joanne’s infectious laugh, quick wit, and knack for keeping things spick and span make her an indispensable part of the Park Animal team. Whether she’s tidying up the front or charming clients with her humor, Joanne brings joy and dedication to everything she does!

Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!

Mads is our go-to problem solver—whether it’s a door off its hinges or a computer on the fritz, he always manages to find a fix. Reliable, resourceful, and always ready to lend a hand, he keeps things running smoothly behind the scenes. He also happens to be Dr. Gitte’s husband…which might just explain why she’s always smiling!

Mercedes happily lazes in her cat tree found in the center of our clinic. If not in her tree, she is typically chasing a recently opened can of food or the sound of a treat bag. Food is the way to this girl's heart. She accepts the occasional petting session but will let you know when she's had enough. Mercedes unexpectedly fit perfectly into the clinic cat role and we are lucky to have her.

Buttons is our beloved senior clinic cat, who came to us from a wonderful client who could no longer care for him. With his quirky personality and endless charm, he quickly became part of our family! Despite his long list of medical issues, Buttons doesn’t let anything slow him down. He spends his days napping in the warmest spots he can find, making his rounds through the clinic, and announcing his presence with his signature meow (just in case anyone forgot he’s the boss). He’ll likely live out his golden years here with us—spoiled, adored, and surrounded by love every single day.