About Us
Meet The TeamAbout Presqu'ile Animal Hospital
Located in the heart of downtown Brighton, Presqu’ile Animal Hospital is a family owned, small animal practice, providing personalized and high-quality care to the cats and dogs of our community.
Dr. Andrea Wernham
Veterinarian
Dr. Andrea is the owner of Presqu’ile Animal Hospital. She graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2005, and has spent her career practicing in Northumberland County and Quinte West. Her professional interests include dentistry, pain
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management and preventive care and she participates in frequent continuing education in these areas to provide the best care for her patients. Outside of work Dr. Wernham is known for baking delicious treats, coaching her children’s soccer teams and hiking with her Golden Retriever.
Dr. Natacha Bessay-Torfs
Veterinarian
Dr. Natacha graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2015 and found her way to the Brighton area. She loves reading, exploring the local trails with her Border Collies, cuddling her cats, and dancing to the beat of silly songs. She met Dr. Andrea early
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in her career, and has happily joined in on as many of her adventures as possible. Dr. Natacha has a special interest in client communication, surgery, and snuggling as many pets as possible.
Dr. Tammy Hunter
Veterinarian
Dr. Hunter graduated in 2000 from the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph. Following graduation, she worked as an associate veterinarian in Trenton, Pickering and Milton, before owning her own clinic in Guelph for 14 years.
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Dr. Hunter has a passion for feline medicine, surgery and behaviour. Owning a grey tabby named Annie who has always been very anxious during hospital visits has inspired Dr. Hunter to nurture a “cat friendly” environment for her feline patients. Dr. Hunter is a member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners which is committed to help practitioners improve the health and welfare of cats.
When she is not caring for her patients, Dr. Hunter enjoys an active lifestyle which includes triathlons, travelling, scuba diving, and enjoying the outdoors. Dr. Hunter shares her home with her Australian Cattle Dog cross named Benita, two kitties named Pollywog and Emmy Lu, and a bunny named Mr. Boo.
Dr. Katie Phinnemore
Veterinarian
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Dr. Keenan Taylor
Chiropractor
Dr. Taylor is a Certified Animal Chiropractor who completed the Canadian Animal Chiropractic Certification Program with the Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Centre in Brantford Ontario, This course is approved by the American Veterinary Chiropractic
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Association (AVCA).
Dr. Taylor has always had a passion for working with animals. She grew up on a pig and horse farm in Southwestern Ontario. Their family bred and showed Australian Cattle Dogs for many years as well. Dr. Taylor started riding at the age of five, beginning in both English and Western disciplines. She showed Western Pleasure, but made her way into the speed events, such as Barrel Racing. After spending many years in Toronto pursuing her Kinesiology Degree and Chiropractic Degree, she is excited to get back into the animal industry!
Dr. Taylor also works as a Chiropractor and Registered Kinesiologist at Trenton Integrative Health Centre utilizing techniques such as spinal manipulative therapy, soft tissue release, acupuncture and exercise therapy.
Stephanie Bedard
Practice Manager
I started working in my first veterinary hospital when I was 12 years old. I was very lucky to work in a mixed animal practice where I could see cows in the morning, lizards before lunch and dogs and cats all afternoon. This introduction to veterinary medicine
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cemented my love and my passion for this field. I have spent the majority of my life in clinics and believe that this is where I belong. My special interests include complex nursing care, chronic disease management and nutrition.
I have been working in hospital management for the past 12 years and am honoured to have started a position with Presqu’ile Animal Hospital in May 2021. I am looking forward to meeting our clients, welcoming new families to our practice and providing a high level of service and care.
When I am not at work, I am spending time with my 2 human babies and my 4 pets!
Sarah Hermann - RVT
Registered Veterinary Technician
Originally from Thornhill, Ontario, I have always had a passion for animals. I started volunteering at my local animal hospital when I was 16 years old and got hired as a part-time employee a few months later.
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This is where I discovered I wanted to become a Veterinarian Technician and went on to graduate from Georgian College in 2017. A few years later I moved to the Northumberland area and joined the Presqu’ile Animal Hospital team in 2020. When I’m not in scrubs you can find me on the couch cross stitching, playing with my dog Tucker or cuddled up with my cat Jim. I also enjoy spending time out on the water seadooing or on the trails ATVing. I also spend my time in the kitchen baking and decorating cookies.
Katie Abbott
Veterinary Technician
Katie graduated from Northern College’s Veterinary Technician program in 2004 and had been working as a technician in Northumberland ever since. Her areas of interests include anesthesia, phlebotomy
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and loves placing bandages. Out of work she loves running, fitness, hiking and reading. She has had many animals come through her life but currently has a chihuahua named Annie, a cat named Tipps and a four year old daughter named Jillian.
Rachel Hoftyzer
Veterinary Technician
Rachel has grown up with dogs and cats all through her life, and had a passion for helping animals. She graduated from St. Lawrence College’s Veterinary Technology program in 2024, and has been working at
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Presqu’ile Animal Hospital ever since graduation. Outside of work she enjoys being outside, running, walking, and fitness. She has a family black lab named Jack, and a 3 legged cat, named Leo.
Amanda Stewart
Client Care Representative/Veterinary Technician
Hi my name is Amanda.
Animal care is something I have gravitated to since I was a child. I started out volunteering in a veterinary clinic when I was 13 years old and my career
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has bloomed from there. I graduated from St. Lawrence College Veterinary Technology program in 2006 and returned back home to Northumberland to start my official career. I spent many years working in a companion animal practice as a technician during which time I received my certification in Canine rehabilitation therapy. I genuinely love the people and patients I have met along the way.
I have a passion for customer and patient care; I strongly believe every call should be answered with a smile. I know how precious these relationships are and want to be there to help you navigate the ups and downs of your pet’s health journey.
Apart from my beloved fur children (a Labrador Retriever named Rocketship and two kitties Cookie and Pizza) I am also a mom to two incredible little humans and it has been a great pleasure of mine to share my love of animal care with them. As a family we have fostered many animals and hand bottle raised dozens of orphan kittens. When I have some free time, you can usually find me exploring beautiful Northumberland with my family; we love to walk, bike and hike. I also love a good book, a cozy fire and some cranked up tunes!
Angela Misasi
Registered Veterinary Technician
Greetings! My name is Angela and after a weird couple of years it’s so lovely to get out from behind the pelxiglass and see your smiling faces! As a new hire with Presquile Animal Hospital you can often find me playing my favourite games
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“What was I doing” and “Where does this belong?” While I’m a new hire with this clinic, I started my journey in veterinary medicine over 18 years ago as a high school co-op student. I graduated from Ridgetown College in 2007, so long ago that they have since changed the name! Upon graduation I headed vaguely “West,” landing in Calgary. Calling it my home for the next 5 years working in several clinics and meeting my now husband Boyd. He’s my favourite souvenir. Fast forward a few years and an epic cross-country adventure in a 99 Astro van named Gertie. We’ve relocated to a lovely home in Wooler with our senior German Shepherd Ember and two cats Gilbert and Arnie. That brings us to now. Can I please pet your dog?!
Tori Ryan
Registered Veterinary Technician
My name is Tori and I grew up in the Quinte West area my whole life. From the moment I knew what a cat was, I knew I was in love. I was lucky to always have a feline friend by my side
growing up and have also owned
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hamsters, fish, dogs and rats. From a young age I knew I would go into a career relating to medicine or science. When I learned about the role of an RVT, I felt it was made for me. I have a special interest in ultrasonography as well as patient care. My goal at the end of every day is to ensure every patient is treated exactly how I would want my pet to be cared for. I also strive to ensure every pet parent has the most positive experience possible when they visit us. Outside of work you can find me relaxing with my one eyed cat
Franny, kayaking or doing yoga.
HEATHER WEBSTER
Registered Veterinary Technician
Ever since I was a little girl, I always knew I wanted to work with animals. After completing the Veterinary Technologist program at St. Lawrence College in 2014, I moved to Ottawa and worked in the
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emergency department of one of the referral hospitals there. After moving back home to Northumberland County I wrote my registration exam in 2015 and have worked in multiple clinics in the area ever since. I enjoy monitoring anesthesia and the challenging and fast-paced atmosphere of emergency and critical care medicine. When I am not at work, you can find me at our family cottage, horseback riding or working around our property with the help of our boxer/husky mix named “Bauer” and our cat named “Merlin”.
Karin Usher
Registered Veterinary Technician
I grew up in Oshawa, and started to volunteer at a veterinary clinic when I was 14. It started out as a way to obtain my volunteer hours and it turned into a passion. I graduated the Veterinary
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Technician program at Georgian College in Orillia in 2013 and obtained my full registration status that same year. When I lived in Orillia I volunteered at Stonegate Farms, which is a therapeutic horse riding farm for disabled children, and I loved seeing the healing power of the human-animal bond. I did both of my placements at the Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic, in 2012, and 2013 and was hired shortly after in June 2013. I was living in Bowmanville and soon met my husband, I then moved out to Northumberland. After years of commuting to Bowmanville I opted to find a job closer to home and I found the team at Presquile Animal Hospital. The best part of being a Veterinary Technician is that you are constantly learning something new all of the time. Not only from peers, but also from the clients. In my free time I enjoy spending time hiking, fishing, hunting with my husband, son, and our dog Boone. As well as curling up on the couch with our three cats.
Sarah Savoy
Client Care Representative
As a child I have always loved animals. My parents adopted a dog when I was in Grade 1 and it was a day I’ve never forgotten. She was the best dog. I knew then that I could never be without an
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animal in the house. She passed away when I was in college and as soon as I had my own home I adopted two cats. From there on my Husband and I have had many animals including dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, bunnies and most recently goats. They bring so much joy to our lives and our children have grown up with a love for animals too.” I grew up in Trenton and now reside in Frankford with my husband, 3 teenage children and a small hobby farm of pets, including our rescue cat Dakota and dogs River and Bailey. I have worked in Customer Service for more than 20 years and I love that I can combine my passion for helping people with my love for our furry friends. On my off time you’ll find me at home with my kids, doing renovations around the house, watching horror movies, or outside playing with all the animals.
Pam Hraynyk
Veterinary Technician
Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to work in the veterinary field and I’ve been fortunate enough to call this industry my home for 20+ years. I honestly cannot see myself doing anything else, vet med is
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what fuels my soul!
The most fulfilling aspect of my job is being able to make a difference in the lives of the animals we help and the lives of their pet parents.
Every day is different and that’s what keeps it exciting. You may find me educating clients, taking blood, taking radiographs and along with many other things.
Presqu’ile Animal Hospital is filled with so many wonderful and supportive staff members and I’m thrilled to be part of such a caring, compassionate and cohesive team!
I live in Port Hope with my husband, Dave and two daughters, Gwynivere and Persephone and our three delicious cats, Bartleby, Moo and Sargent Tibbs
In my spare time I enjoy family adventures, camping, canoeing, crafting, gardening and connecting with friends and family.
Tianna Elson
Veterinary Assistant
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Assistant in 2016. Outside of work, you’ll find Tianna with her dog Darla exploring the wilderness, at the beach or enjoying her time with family. She also likes to paint, read and go skating.
Jenn Abbott
Client Care Representative
AFTER HOURS SUPPORT
Pet EmergenciesFor emergencies outside our clinic hours, please contact
Port Hope Veterinary Emergency Clinic & Services – 905.885.5321
The Kawartha Veterinary Emergency Hospital – 705.741.5832
Quinte Regional Pet Hospital – 613.968.9956