Meet the staff
If you’d like to learn a little more about the staff, please browse the sections below!
Vets
Christine Fife BVM&S MRCVS – Owner and Veterinary Surgeon
Born and raised abroad in Europe, Christine qualified from the “Dick Vet” at the University of Edinburgh and brings a wealth of experience and a truly caring heart to the practice. She has worked in mixed farm, small animal, and specialist equine practices both in the UK and abroad, and even set up and ran the veterinary unit of a rescue centre — a reflection of her lifelong dedication to animal welfare.
A lifelong horse lover, Christine has competed in many equestrian disciplines. At home, life is full and lively, shared with a young family, horses, dogs, cats, and a variety of farm animals.
Above all, Christine is passionate about caring for animals and the people who love them. She understands that pets are family, and she always takes the time to listen, support, and reassure both animals and their owners.
Doreen Maitland BVSc (Hons) GPCertEqp MRCVS – Veterinary Surgeon
Doreen was born and raised in Australia and qualified from the University of Queensland in 2001. She enjoys countryside walks, travelling, horse riding, and skiing.
Doreen is deeply passionate about animal welfare, with a particular focus on effective pain relief, and is always committed to providing the highest standard of care for her patients. After several years working in mixed, small animal, and equine practice in both Australia and the UK, she settled in the beautiful county of Dorset with her family.
Doreen has a special interest in dermatology and also dentistry, areas that are often overlooked as sources of hidden discomfort. She is frequently found in our dental suite performing dental procedures for dogs and cats.
Nursing Team
Sasha Watson - RVN Head Nurse
Sasha has been a valued member of the practice since 2016 and is a familiar, friendly face to many of our clients. After several years of dedication and hands-on experience within the team, she qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) in 2022. Since then, Sasha has continued to develop her skills and knowledge, taking on the role of Head Nurse where she plays a key part in supporting both patients and colleagues on a daily basis.
Outside of work, Sasha fulfilled a lifelong dream in 2024 and took a month-long trip to New Zealand, which she thoroughly enjoyed. She has a lovely Lurcher named Finch, who keeps her busy with agility training!
Fiona White - RVN
Fiona has been a well valued member of the practice for six years. Her career has taken her through the agricultural, equine, and veterinary sectors, qualifying as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2006. This broad experience brings a huge depth of knowledge and care to everything she does. Fiona has a special soft spot for Border Collies, and she is well known in the practice for having a heart that simply can’t resist a sad story, demonstrated by her cat Claude, who came to Fiona later in life needing a loving retirement home — and of course, she couldn’t say no.
Leah Gibbons
Leah has been working in the veterinary field for three years and joined our team in October 2025 as a Nursing Assistant. She has a real passion for caring for animals and has a particular interest in fear-free cat care, inspired by her time fostering with Cats Protection. Through this experience, she developed a strong understanding of feline behaviour and the importance of creating a calm, stress-free environment for them, she takes great pride in helping them feel safe, comfortable, and well looked after during their visits to the practice.
Reception Team
Katie Haime – Head Receptionist / ANA
Katie first joined the practice in 2007, bringing with her a genuine love for animals and a BTEC National Diploma in Animal Care. During her early years with the practice, she qualified as an Animal Nursing Assistant (ANA) and worked across all areas of the practice, gaining a strong understanding of both patient care and the needs of our clients.
After taking time away to have her son, Katie rejoined the team in 2018 and has since become a much-loved Head Receptionist! Katie is known for her kind, calm, and compassionate nature and truly enjoys helping people. She has previously owned Springer Spaniels and continues to have a real fondness for the breed.
Claire Benney
Claire joined the practice in December 2024 after spending many years working in the equine industry. Claire has always had a deep love for animals and as a receptionist she has lots of empathy for pet owners. Claire thrives on the variety that comes with the role and the many different jobs it involves each day, solving any problems that arise and ensuring the practice run smoothly behind the scene! Outside of work, Claire and her partner have recently bought their first home to share with their beloved Springer Spaniel Saffie and are currently in the process of renovating it.
Olivia Fell - receptionist
Olivia joined the practice in 2025 having gained a business administrative level 3 qualification which she had been working towards since 2023. She thrives in a fast paced, people facing business environment where teamwork, adaptability and high quality service are essential. She takes pride in being reliable and is always prepared to go the extra mile. When Olivia is not at work she can be found cooking and baking. Known as the cake maker of the team she regularly makes delicious cakes to go along side our morning coffees