Our mission is to provide clients and their pets with high quality, fair and compassionate services in a supportive work environment
Core values of Sooke Veterinary Hospital
Animal Welfare, Compassion, Community, Charity, Integrity
Core values of Sooke Veterinary Hospital
Animal Welfare, Compassion, Community, Charity, Integrity
Veterinarians
Dr. Deborah Lambert
Dr. Deborah Lambert started down the path to veterinarian with her love of biology. After completing her BSc. at Uvic, she set her sights on Veterinary Medicine and studied at the University of Edinburgh. In 2011, she joined the team at SVH and fast became a part of the family. Her emphasis is on honest, complete communication with clients, and she has a quiet love for dermatology cases because of the challenge they represent. She lives in Sooke with her husband and three cats, Levi, Corsair and the new kitten Wolfgang, as well as her young son, Myles.
Dr. Deborah Lambert started down the path to veterinarian with her love of biology. After completing her BSc. at Uvic, she set her sights on Veterinary Medicine and studied at the University of Edinburgh. In 2011, she joined the team at SVH and fast became a part of the family. Her emphasis is on honest, complete communication with clients, and she has a quiet love for dermatology cases because of the challenge they represent. She lives in Sooke with her husband and three cats, Levi, Corsair and the new kitten Wolfgang, as well as her young son, Myles.
Dr. Michelle Levesque
Dr. Michelle Levesque graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1993 and was on a plane to BC within 4 hours of her last Board exam. Her love for animals and desire to be a veterinarian began when she was 3 years old and has never wavered. Her desire to live in British Columbia also began in her childhood, even though she had never visited the province. The lure of the mountains, ocean and wilderness brought her to the west coast, and she is so fortunate to live in such a beautiful place. She has a passion for the outdoors that includes hiking, camping, horseback riding, skiing and gardening. She shares a home with her husband Kevin, her panther-like-cat Muffin and her 2 horses, Jag and Tia. She is very excited to be a part of the team here at the Sooke Veterinary Hospital.
Dr. Michelle Levesque graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1993 and was on a plane to BC within 4 hours of her last Board exam. Her love for animals and desire to be a veterinarian began when she was 3 years old and has never wavered. Her desire to live in British Columbia also began in her childhood, even though she had never visited the province. The lure of the mountains, ocean and wilderness brought her to the west coast, and she is so fortunate to live in such a beautiful place. She has a passion for the outdoors that includes hiking, camping, horseback riding, skiing and gardening. She shares a home with her husband Kevin, her panther-like-cat Muffin and her 2 horses, Jag and Tia. She is very excited to be a part of the team here at the Sooke Veterinary Hospital.
Dr. Lauren DiPonio
Dr. Lauren Di Ponio has imagined being a veterinarian from as far back as she can remember. In 2008, after completing a BSc and MSc at UBC, she finally took the leap across the Pacific Ocean, relocating to New Zealand to commence her studies in veterinary medicine. She graduated in 2012 and returned home to British Columbia to start practising as a small animal veterinarian. She lives in Colwood with her husband, Dante, a fellow Canadian she met while in New Zealand, their two young sons Tyrus and Maddox, and their Jack Russell cross, Luna.
Dr. Lauren Di Ponio has imagined being a veterinarian from as far back as she can remember. In 2008, after completing a BSc and MSc at UBC, she finally took the leap across the Pacific Ocean, relocating to New Zealand to commence her studies in veterinary medicine. She graduated in 2012 and returned home to British Columbia to start practising as a small animal veterinarian. She lives in Colwood with her husband, Dante, a fellow Canadian she met while in New Zealand, their two young sons Tyrus and Maddox, and their Jack Russell cross, Luna.
Veterinary Assistants
Kelly M
Kelly M has been with Sooke Veterinary Hospital for over 15 years. Being a Veterinary Assistant is in her blood. Always knowing she wanted to work with animals, she began her career straight out of high school. Kelly, along with her husband Matt and her three young children, lives on a hobby farm in Metchosin. She finds each day at work exciting and loves speaking with, educating and helping our clients and plans to do it for another 15 years!
Kelly M has been with Sooke Veterinary Hospital for over 15 years. Being a Veterinary Assistant is in her blood. Always knowing she wanted to work with animals, she began her career straight out of high school. Kelly, along with her husband Matt and her three young children, lives on a hobby farm in Metchosin. She finds each day at work exciting and loves speaking with, educating and helping our clients and plans to do it for another 15 years!
Shelly
Shelly has been a Veterinary Assistant since June 2005. She has a Bachelor's degree from the University of Alberta and her first career was as a youth and family counselor. At Sooke Veterinary Hospital, she has been able to combine her loves of working with people and animals. Shelly belongs to her dog, Frankie, cat, Bruce and her horse, Twitch. Although the majority of her free time is spent enjoying and taking care of her pets, she also loves to travel, read mystery novels and wishing she was a better gardener.
While Shelly pops in regularly, she is semi-retired now so we don't get to see her as often as we'd like!
Shelly has been a Veterinary Assistant since June 2005. She has a Bachelor's degree from the University of Alberta and her first career was as a youth and family counselor. At Sooke Veterinary Hospital, she has been able to combine her loves of working with people and animals. Shelly belongs to her dog, Frankie, cat, Bruce and her horse, Twitch. Although the majority of her free time is spent enjoying and taking care of her pets, she also loves to travel, read mystery novels and wishing she was a better gardener.
While Shelly pops in regularly, she is semi-retired now so we don't get to see her as often as we'd like!
Kelly S
Kelly S. has lived her life in Sooke and came to Sooke Veterinary Hospital at special request 10 years ago. Her wide smile is well known in the community, as is her sunny disposition and eagerness to assist. She lives on acreage in Sooke, with her partner and two children, where she cares for three dogs, two cats and two horses plus raises chickens for meat and eggs.
Kelly S. has lived her life in Sooke and came to Sooke Veterinary Hospital at special request 10 years ago. Her wide smile is well known in the community, as is her sunny disposition and eagerness to assist. She lives on acreage in Sooke, with her partner and two children, where she cares for three dogs, two cats and two horses plus raises chickens for meat and eggs.
Alex
Alex embraced the profession with contagious enthusiasm. Quick with a smile and a helping hand, he is devoted to great customer service has become our resident expert in computer and laboratory affairs. We are thrilled to have Alex learning the veterinary assistant job with us and must have made an impact as he now is following his growing interest in microscopy too!
Alex embraced the profession with contagious enthusiasm. Quick with a smile and a helping hand, he is devoted to great customer service has become our resident expert in computer and laboratory affairs. We are thrilled to have Alex learning the veterinary assistant job with us and must have made an impact as he now is following his growing interest in microscopy too!
Marsha
Marsha has been in the Veterinary field for 13 years. She is originally from a small town in Nova Scotia. Growing up with many animals, she knew she was going to spend her life trying to help them and live with them. Marsha has two husky mixed rescued dogs, Simon and Bobby, and her newest addition is Gary the Serval.
Marsha enjoys hiking, world traveling and bear watching.
Marsha has been in the Veterinary field for 13 years. She is originally from a small town in Nova Scotia. Growing up with many animals, she knew she was going to spend her life trying to help them and live with them. Marsha has two husky mixed rescued dogs, Simon and Bobby, and her newest addition is Gary the Serval.
Marsha enjoys hiking, world traveling and bear watching.
Kristen
Kristen settled into the family at Sooke Vet with ease and has become our master organizer! She is always looking to learn more, and that passion took her into an application for a Veterinary Technicians program. We are proud to announce she was accepted into the distance-ed program and will begin her studies in January 2019, while still working with us.
The love of her life is Cali, her rotti cross, but she has just taken on kitten named Tiny, who is keeping them all very busy!
Kristen settled into the family at Sooke Vet with ease and has become our master organizer! She is always looking to learn more, and that passion took her into an application for a Veterinary Technicians program. We are proud to announce she was accepted into the distance-ed program and will begin her studies in January 2019, while still working with us.
The love of her life is Cali, her rotti cross, but she has just taken on kitten named Tiny, who is keeping them all very busy!
Danica
Danica was hired in January 2018, but came with plenty of experience in the field stemming from work in a mainland clinic. After time off to raise her two young boys, she re-entered the profession and we snapped her up. She is an eager pair of hands and a sympathetic ear, ready to go the distance to help our clients.
Danica was hired in January 2018, but came with plenty of experience in the field stemming from work in a mainland clinic. After time off to raise her two young boys, she re-entered the profession and we snapped her up. She is an eager pair of hands and a sympathetic ear, ready to go the distance to help our clients.
Justine
Justine was keen to enter the veterinary field once her children were a bit more independent, but we didn't have a spot for her at first! Instead, she worked in an animal emergency hospital for several months. The moment an opening appeared, we took her on! She is a cheery addition to the practice with honed reception skills! Keen to keep learning and full of questions, she's a perfect fit into our family.
Justine was keen to enter the veterinary field once her children were a bit more independent, but we didn't have a spot for her at first! Instead, she worked in an animal emergency hospital for several months. The moment an opening appeared, we took her on! She is a cheery addition to the practice with honed reception skills! Keen to keep learning and full of questions, she's a perfect fit into our family.
Annie
Annie was born in Sooke but somehow ended up living in Australia for 18 years, earning her a great accent as she worked with Australian wildlife. She then relocated to Yellowknife, where she discovered her passion for veterinary medicine and the love of her life, her dog Jep. The pull from the Sooke ocean and mountains brought her home to Sooke, where she joined the team at Sooke Vet in 2018. When we ask how she's settling in, she replies "LOVE it!!!".
Out of work, her hobbies include horseback riding and anything to do with Jep.
Annie was born in Sooke but somehow ended up living in Australia for 18 years, earning her a great accent as she worked with Australian wildlife. She then relocated to Yellowknife, where she discovered her passion for veterinary medicine and the love of her life, her dog Jep. The pull from the Sooke ocean and mountains brought her home to Sooke, where she joined the team at Sooke Vet in 2018. When we ask how she's settling in, she replies "LOVE it!!!".
Out of work, her hobbies include horseback riding and anything to do with Jep.