I was born in Scotland and later immigrated to South Africa where I completed my education and qualified from Onderstepoort, University of Pretoria. I spent many years working in small animal practice and completing my post graduate honours degree, before joining the Johannesburg SPCA in 1990 as Assistant Chief Veterinarian. As a team of five vets we also gave veterinary care to the African township of Soweto. Here I spent two fascinating years and gained a huge amount of experience covering a range of medical and surgical problems, many not frequently seen in normal private practice. I then decided to open my own clinic in Sandton, north of Johannesburg, where I spent the next ten years running a smaller, very personal practice, getting to know the clients well, their pets and often their extended families - two and four legged. While awaiting our Canadian immigration application approval, I spent a glorious year working in private practice in Aberdeen, Scotland. Despite the beautiful countryside, wonderfully friendly people and colleagues, as I was unable to find a Scottish castle to fit my budget, I continued on to Canada as originally planned more... See more text