Our Veterinary Assistants
Sonny (she/her) joins our team as one of our superb veterinary assistants. Hailing from Vietnam, Sonny made the bold decision right after high school to move to Vancouver by herself to embrace the opportunity to continue her education on a new continent, in a new language and culture. Starting in the hospitality industry, Sonny found herself needing to reevaluate her career options when the pandemic hit. It was then that she decided to enroll in and complete her Veterinary Technician Assistant diploma. Working with animals and knowing that what she does positively impacts a pet’s care and welfare, Sonny has found her passion.
Sonny first started working with Drs Yuen and Kong when all 3 were at another veterinary clinic. There she got to see first hand their outstanding knowledge in veterinary medicine and surgery, and their dedication to patient care. When the opportunity arose to join their team at Paws on Fraser, Sonny took the offer without hesitation. Sonny has proven herself invaluable to the team. Her ability to anticipate what the technicians and veterinarians may need, her gentle and expert handling of the patients and her quiet sense of humour are all what make Sonny an amazing veterinary assistant.
Although Sonny currently does not have a pet of her own she gets her fix of cuddles with the multitude of cats and dogs that she pet sits for. Outside of work, Sonny enjoys hiking, paddle boarding and trying out new cuisines with her partner. Her current favourite is Ethiopian cuisine. Sonny is a self proclaimed supertaster and can even taste subtle differences in her coffee even if it’s the same coffee from the same place but a different batch. Bring her a coffee and see if it’s true!
Sonny - Veterinary Assistant
Siobhan (she/her) first moved to Vancouver to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Mathematics at UBC. She fell immediately in love with the city, met a beau, adopted a perfect former street dog and is now firmly established as an East Van resident.
Prior to starting at Paws on Fraser Veterinary Hospital, Siobhan had previously worked with both Dr. Yuen and Dr. Kong. She already knew she admired their medical knowledge, gentleness with their patients and support for their coworkers, so when the opportunity arose, she did not hesitate to join the team. She is thrilled to be working with them again!
A life long learner, Siobhan not only has a BSc, she also has a diploma as a Veterinary Technician Assistant and is currently working on becoming a Registered Veterinary Technologist. This intense 3 year program requires Siobhan to work and train under the mentorship of veterinarians and RVT’s at an accredited veterinary hospital while doing her coursework through Thompson River’s University. We are honoured to mentor and support Siobhan throughout her program.
During Siobhan’s limited free time she loves exploring remote and quiet spots in nature with her dog Raven (aka Rae Rae) and doing anything arts and crafts related.
Siobhan’s natural empathy, wonderful communication skills and attention to detail make her the perfect addition to the Paws on Fraser family.
Siobhan - Veterinary Assistant
Jay - Veterinary Assistant / Client Care Representative
Having been born and raised in the Kensington-Cedar Cottage neighbourhood and attending schools nearby, Jay (she/her) is as local as you can get.
Straight out of high school Jay started nursing school but quickly decided she would much rather work with animals. She switched gears and received her certificate in Veterinary Office and Animal Care through Douglas College. To complete her program Jay needed to do a 3 week practicum at a veterinary hospital. Drawn by Paws on Fraser’s work culture and Fear Free approach, she reached out. Life is all about timing and when Jay reached out we were in a position to give back to the veterinary community through mentoring practicum students. It was clear from the start that Jay was sharp, willing to learn, great with the pet patients and fit in perfectly with the team. For one thing, Jay likes to bring snacks to share and the team loves snacks! We know a good one when we spot them, so opening or not, at the end of her practicum, we offered Jay a job!
Jay is cross trained as a client care representative and a veterinary assistant so you will see her both at the front desk and she will also be the one making sure your pet is cozy and safe when in the back for a procedure. Eventually she plans to return to school to become a registered veterinary technologist and is soaking up the expertise offered by our 4 other registered veterinary technologists.
When not at work you may find Jay video gaming, crocheting, painting or jewelry making. Besides becoming an RVT, Jay’s future goals include visiting every Disneyland in the world. So far she has been to 4 of the 12.
Crista (she/her) comes to us with a wealth of experience having spent the last 5 years at a large, fast paced hospital as the assistant that trained all the other assistants. Here at Paws on Fraser, Crista is the person behind the scenes that does it all: she ensures that the veterinarians and technicians have everything they need for their exams and surgeries; she helps to keep the pets restrained, safe and monitored during procedures such as blood draws and x-rays; and she makes sure every hospitalized pet is set up comfortably.
Crista’s inspiration for entering the veterinary field is her rescued cat, Ming. Ming became diabetic shortly after Crista adopted him and required a lot of veterinary care. It was through Ming that Crista saw first hand the care, knowledge and dedication that goes into caring for our 4-legged family members. She wanted to learn more and become an integral part of that care team for other pets. Thus began her career as a veterinary assistant.
In her spare time you will find Crista reading and learning everything she can about feline diabetes. As well she is a part of a recreational dragonboat team and enjoys knitting, gardening, and spending time in nature. Having come to us from a large veterinary hospital, Crista is looking forward to the opportunity to form more personal relationships with the pets and owners here at Paws on Fraser. We are so happy to have her part of our animal care team.