Our Caring & Compassionate Veterinary Team

Meet the Vets, Nurses and Receptionists dedicated to providing exceptional care for your pet at Greenbay Vets. Our team spend time at both our Torquay and Paignton sites.  We have a small, loyal team which means we can get to know our regular clients and patients well.

We are proud to employ qualified Registered Veterinary Nurses and Student Veterinary Nurses enrolled in approved training programmes.  The title veterinary nurse is not currently protected, but we believe it should be.  Our nurses have vital roles including administering treatments (under direction of our vets), monitoring your pets whilst undergoing anaesthesia/surgery, and performing nurse clinics. We don’t believe it is appropriate for these tasks to be performed by people who are not qualified or in approved training programmes.

It goes without saying that our team have lots of pets of their own, check out the album of team pets on our Facebook page!

Dr. John Mather

MA VetMB PGCertSAS MRCVS

Growing up with at least one German Shepherd in the house, and enjoyment of science at school led me to Cambridge University vet school, where I qualified from in 2008. I have worked exclusively with pet animals since and prior to working at Greenbay, I held the role of lead surgeon at a hospital practice in Plymouth. My passion is surgery and I love being able to ‘fix’ animals. I am a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery and am able to perform a number of advanced surgical operations, minimising the need for referral outside Torbay. I like to keep at the forefront of new developments in pet health care and bring this to our patients. Outside of work I enjoy walking with dogs Burdock and Henry and cycling.

Dr. Laura Mather

MA VetMB PgC Small Animal Cardiology Studies MRCVS

I qualified from Cambridge University in 2009, realising a childhood ambition to become a vet. Taking on Greenbay Vets has enabled John and I to bring our vision of providing high quality veterinary care locally into being. I have particular interests in medical problems, imaging (ultrasound scans and x-rays) and heart disease, and recently completed a postgraduate certificate in Cardiology (all things heart).

Dr. Jemma Zazzera

BVSc MRCVS

I qualified from the University of Bristol and joined Greenbay in 2019. I love that Greenbay is such a friendly practice with a great team and I have really enjoyed getting to know all the clients and their animals.

I am passionate about dedicating the time to every individual and providing a high standard of care. Working here allows me to deliver this and gives me the opportunities to continue to develop my skills and pursue further interests in the veterinary field.

In my free time I enjoy playing sport, going to Pilates and yoga classes and playing my musical instruments.

Dr. Michelle Richards

MVDr BSc MRCVS

I was brought up with Jack Russells and loved reading James Herriot’s adventures so had always dreamed of joining the veterinary profession. I graduated from the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Kosice in Slovakia in 2016 and started my career in a mixed practice in Totnes before moving into small animal practice in November 2017. I enjoy all aspects of small animal medicine and surgery and love being a part of the wonderful, dynamic Greenbay team. In my spare time I enjoy dancing (bachata, ceroc and tango), sailing and Rapid Arnis, a Philippino martial art.

Dr. Katie McCaig

BVetmed MRCVS

Katie is currently on maternity leave.

My inspiration to become a vet came from my granddad. He was a gamekeeper. Growing up I spent many happy times collecting chicken eggs, feeding game birds and walking his many dogs. He gave me my first dog and guinea pigs. I studied at the Royal Veterinary College in London. I spent two years in Jersey working in mixed practice before joining Greenbay in 2012. I love working for a small friendly practice where we have time to get to know our clients and their pets and form a real bond with them. It is very rewarding to treat an animal and make a real difference to their life and the owner’s life. I have interests in feline medicine, ultrasonography and dentistry. I have recently undergone further training in dentistry and am pleased we can now offer dental x-ray – this means we can now see what is going on below the gum line and detect any problems with the roots.

In my spare time I enjoy running and run for Torbay Athletic Club. At home I have Bow, my crazy Springer Spaniel. Recently I have bought a kayak so I can explore the local bays.

Dr. Harriet Valentine

BA VetMB MRCVS

Becoming a vet has been a long held ambition since I was very young, having been lucky enough to grow up surrounded by collies, cats and the odd small furry along the way. This dream was finally realised in 2021 when I graduated from Cambridge University, and I then spent an amazing year at the PDSA in London. I followed my husband Rob down to Devon along with our cat Gideon and we are all loving getting to know Torbay. As a vet I love being able to help pets and their owners in ways big and small, while I have a strong interest in both surgery and neurology – I look forward to undertaking a surgical certificate over the next few years. Outside of work I can often be found running and cycling around the countryside, and have recently taken on a Spaniel, Richard Todd, to join me.

Mr. Richard Maloney

BVetMed PgC Small Animal Medicine MRCVS
I qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 2000 and spent the next 7 years in mixed practice in South Wales, Cheshire and Dorset. My wife and I moved to Devon in 2007 and I have been a small animal vet ever since.  I completed a general practitioner’s certificate in small animal surgery in 2010 and a certificate in small animal medicine in 2022.  Outside of work I like exploring the South Devon coast and Dartmoor with my family.

Dr Ian Sayers

BVSc CertZooMed MRCVS

Ian is our visiting expert in exotic animal medicine, now offering an exotic pet consultancy service within Greenbay Vets. He is an RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine.  Ian graduated from Liverpool University in 1992 and has had an exciting and varied career since…

  • After a period seeing exotics in mixed practice in North Devon, he went to Tanzania to research cheetah in the Serengeti National Park.
  • On returning to England he worked as a locum for several years, including a period at an RSPCA Wildlife Hospital, before settling in Paignton in 2000.
  • Subsequently he taught (dog, cats and exotic medicine and surgery) at the University of Bristol Veterinary School for nine years, and was an integral part of the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund Rabbit Referral Clinic, the UK’s first Rabbit Only Referral Service. He was also a guest lecturer at the Royal Veterinary College in rabbit medicine and surgery until 2018.
  • He has lectured nationally and internationally, on both exotic and small animal topics and has contributed to various publications, on all aspects of ‘exotic’ medicine and surgery.
  • He has worked with several Zoological collections including Chester Zoo, Bristol Zoo, Paignton Zoo & Living Coasts, Marwell Zoo and Shaldon Wildlife Trust. He is now the Veterinary Consultant for Shaldon Wildlife Trust.
  • He also acts as a Veterinary Advisor for a number of Councils in the UK.
  • When not seeing exotics for us at Greenbay Vets, Ian works as an Exotic Clinical Consultant with one of the UK’s leading veterinary pathology laboratories Veterinary Pathology Group.
  • Since 2019 Ian has been involved with some fantastic animal welfare and conservation work in Lebanon – check out our articles here (Beirut explosion) and here (hyena rescue). To see why he helps the Animals Lebanon charity, click the logo link below (There are shocking scenes, but watch closely and you may glimpse him!):

 

Outside of work Ian enjoys tinkering with cars and motorbikes, kayaking and walking.

Ian is also a very experienced dog and cat vet, and occasionally locums for us to cover absences of our other veterinary team members.

Cazandra Toms

Head Veterinary Nurse
BSc DipAVN (small animal) RVN

I started working at Greenbay in 2008, completed my nurse training in 2012 and have never looked back. I love my job! There is a huge satisfaction in caring for patients (and owners) from admit right through to discharge, from their earliest visit to the surgery right through to their golden years. It is great to be able to offer such a high standard of patient care within Greenbay and all the team back this standard. My main interest is surgical nursing and anaesthesia. I completed my RCVS Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing in 2019, and topped this up to a BSc in 2020. My dog, Xeva, was found in a bin when she was less than a day old. I hand-reared her and against the odds she survived, and thrived! I also took on an English Springer Spaniel, Brody, in 2017, and an elderly Yorkshire Terrier, Lily, in 2023.

I am currently studying for my nursing certificate in physiotherapy and rehabilitation.

Ellen Higgins

BSc(Hons) RVN

I qualified in 2020 and completed my BSc(Hons) at the Royal Veterinary College in 2021. I am particularly interested in Emergency and Critical Care, so this is an area of nursing I will be focussing on and am starting my certificate in 2022. I started working in small animal practice when I was 15 years old and I am really excited to begin my career as a Registered Veterinary Nurse. At home I have a teenage cat called Charlie, who loves to run on his cat wheel!

Laura Sproul

RVN

I started working at Greenbay in 2010 as a nursing assistant, before training to become a qualified veterinary nurse. I love my job, it is great to see the positive responses from pet owners and know you are making a difference. I really enjoy interacting with our clients and their pets. At home I have 2 beautiful cats, Dinah and Oliver, who spend most of their time sunning themselves on the windowsills.

Since qualifying as a Registered Veterinary Nurse, I have pursued my interest in nutrition and am the practice Nutrition Advocate. I started my nutrition certificate in 2022.

Laura Holderness

RVN NCert (Behaviour)

I began my career in the veterinary world as a receptionist at Greenbay Vets in 2015. I then began to expand my role and assist the nurses before starting my nursing career in 2017. I qualified and became registered as a vet nurse in October 2020. I have recently passed my Nursing Certificate in Animal Behaviour and run puppy 1:1s, socialisation clinics and animal behaviour first aid clinics at the practice. I have always had a passion for animals and their welfare so am thrilled to be a part of their care on a daily basis. I have two gorgeous Cocker Spaniels called Willow and Gatsby and a lovely cat called Dumbo.

Nicola Lane

RVN

I started working at Greenbay in June 2022. I qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2002. I enjoy all aspects of nursing, particularly nursing medical cases. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my husband, two sons and my dog, Gary.

Libby Mitchell

RVN

I joined in September 2019 and completed by degree in veterinary nursing at Duchy college in 2022. I love all animals and I am looking forward to learning as much as I can from my Greenbay journey!

Claire French

ISFMDipFN RVN

I qualified in 2005 and have worked in small animal practice ever since. I have a huge love of cats and am fortunate to have found a practice who will support my passion – I completed my ISFM Diploma in Feline Nursing in 2020. I am the practice ‘cat advocate’, so my mission is to make the practice ‘feline-friendly’ and to be a point of contact for clients who have any queries about how we achieve this. I have two rescue kitties at home, Nash and Tennessee.

Lynzi Phillips

RVN

I have worked in veterinary practice for the past 12 years and been a qualified nurse for 6. I am extremely passionate about my job and love meeting all the patients when they come in. My biggest interest is in surgical nursing and also exotics. I am currently studying for a certificate in nursing exotic animals, so am very excited to be working at Greenbay Vets alongside Ian. I especially love bunnies! Myself, I currently own a dopey Cocker Spaniel called Frodo, and a Persian cat, named Bilbo (Lord of the Rings fan).

Heather Beastall

RVN

I left my previous career in the NHS in 2015 after realising that my true passion was actually working with animals. After qualifying as an RVN in 2018, I have worked in small animal practice while also having coaching or mentoring roles. I now work part time at Greenbay Vets and teach Veterinary Nursing at the Central College of Animal Studies on my other days. I enjoy all aspects of veterinary nursing and I love how varied our role can be. I do have a soft spot for cats, so I am looking forward to meeting your feline friends! At home, I have a very fluffy and naughty Finnish Lapphund called Loki.

Laurie Williams

Student Veterinary Nurse

I started working at Greenbay in September 2018 and love the work here.  At home I have two black Labradors called Paddy and Moose and two cats called Midge and Mojo.  I also have some chickens who live down the bottom of my garden.  My favourite animals are pigs, but unfortunately I do not have enough space to house any (yet!).

I have achieved my Animal Nursing Assistant qualification at Bicton and started my training to become a qualified Veterinary Nurse in 2021.

Lily Patterson

Student Veterinary Nurse

I started working at Greenbay in November 2022 and I’m in my first year at Central College of Animal Studies. At home I have two dogs and two cats. In my spare time I enjoy taking my dogs for a walk and playing my cello in a local orchestra.

Ella Hodgson

Student Veterinary Nurse

After achieving my Animal Nursing Assistant Certificate, I was lucky enough to start working at Greenbay in July 2023, which has enabled me to start my Veterinary Nursing Diploma. I have always wanted to work with animals and look forward to furthering my knowledge and ability in such a supportive practice. I am very interested in exotic animals, having a tortoise and two guinea pigs of my own. In my free time, I enjoy horse riding and also have a huge passion for performing and writing music.

Donna Wilkinson

Receptionist

I have worked with animals for most of my working life. I love watching films, swimming, listening to music. I am a wife to Mark, a mum to Bee and we have two dogs, a rescue Yorkshire terrier called Sparky, and a Dandie Dinmont terrier called Cleo. I am very lucky to own both my gorgeous dogs but especially so with Cleo as Dandie Dinmont terriers are a rare breed.

I have completed the bronze level of the accredited veterinary receptionists award and am currently working on my silver level.

I  feel passionate about supporting people dealing with pet bereavement and am available for bereavement help and support if required by contacting the surgery on either 01803 606059, 01803 843836 or via email info@greenbayvets.co.uk.

I completed the Blue Cross Pet Bereavement Support Course in 2019.

Sue Lott

Receptionist

Sue is an experienced veterinary receptionist who joined us in August 2020.