Ipswich Martlesham Vets for Pets

Johann, better known as Joe by his colleagues and clients, graduated from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, in 2004. He and his wife, Bonni, moved to the UK in 2006 after working in Cape Town for two years. Joe, Bonni and their two kids live with their extended pet family in Suffolk. Joe worked for a number of years in a practice in Suffolk before doing some veterinary locum work in Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire for a year. Joe took up partnership in 2012 in the Colchester Companion Care surgery and in 2013 opened up the Companion Care surgery in Martlesham, Ipswich, now Vets for Pets. Joe has a great interest in Orthopaedics and Oncology. He can perform some highly skilled and advanced orthopaedic procedures. Joe is a sport fanatic and loves to both watch and play sport as often as time allows which unfortunately is not as often as he would like to!

Bonni graduated from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, in 2004. After 7 years at university, she returned to her home turf in the Cape to work for a couple of years before making a permanent move to the UK in 2006 with her husband, Joe. Fast forward a few years and a couple of kids and pets later (including a three-legged rescue cat) and Bonni and her family have settled in the beautiful Suffolk countryside. After years of gaining experience as an assistant Veterinary Surgeon, Bonni took up partnership in the Colchester Companion Care surgery in 2012. More recently she has taken on partnership in the Ipswich Companion Care surgery alongside her husband, fellow Vet Surgeon. In her spare time, she loves to fulfill her other passion in life, art. She also enjoys the outdoors as long as the weather co-operates!

I graduated from the University of Bristol in 2001. I spent several years working at the PDSA, where there was a very large and varied case load. I gained skills in a wide range of soft tissue and orthopaedic surgery. I later spent a year at Dick White Referral Centre doing a rotating internship; shadowing specialists in disciplines such as surgery, medicine, anaesthesia, diagnostic imaging, clinical pathology and neurology. After this I enjoyed a few years working as a night vet in an out-of-hours hospital in London; focusing on emergency medicine and surgery, and the care of critically ill patients.

Outside of work, I love traveling around Eastern Europe with my husband. Over the last 26 years I have developed strong ties to Serbia, which has become a second home to me. We like to travel there by car and very much enjoy exploring other countries on the way.

At home, I enjoy my two cats Barney and Poppy, who couldn’t be more different! Barney is a gentle ginger giant, who mostly snoozes in the sun; Poppy is a very naughty tortoiseshell who is full of energy, always looking for new games to play and getting herself in trouble!

The newest addition to the household is a three legged hamster called Alan, who I acquired during my first week working here at Vets for Pets. Unfortunately he didn’t have anywhere else to go, so how I could I possibly say no??!!

Growing up, my family always had a menagerie of animals, so I have been surrounded by animals for as long as I can remember. I completed studies in Animal Husbandry and Zoology in Australia before moving back to the UK and working for the RSPCA for ten years. Following this, I worked in a Spanish veterinary hospital for eight years. I have been with the Vets for Pets team since we opened as Companion Care and I am now a qualified Veterinary Nurse. At home I have a live-wire little Maltese cross Luna, who I enjoy taking for walks along the river. I also love to cook and read interesting articles to keep me up to date with all the latest vet nurse topics.

Hi my name is Steph. 

Hi my name is Steph. I have wanted to work with animals from a young age, so the apprenticeship I am undertaking at Vets for Pets alongside my vet nurse studies is really rewarding! At home, I have three rabbits called Rupert, Ronnie and Lola, as well as two cats called Muffin and Indie. When I am not studying, I enjoy spending time with my partner and socialising with friends.

Hello, I’m Millie. Following an apprenticeship here at Vets for Pets Martlesham, I have recently qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse. Being a veterinary nurse has been a dream of mine since my Labrador Dudley became seriously ill, and the team here at Martlesham gave him a second life. I will forever be thankful for the opportunity to be a nurse alongside these wonderful people. I enjoy every second I spend here at the practice. As well as my Labrador Dudley, I also have a Bichon Frise cross Miniature Poodle, and a Miniature Dachshund, who are always up for group cuddles when I have a free moment!

Hello I’m Bryony! I have recently started an apprenticeship with Vets4Pets Martlesham as a student veterinary nurse. I really enjoy my time at Vets4Pets as every day is different. I feel very lucky to have this opportunity, as it’s been something I’ve always wanted to do. Meeting and helping care for all the furries who come into the practice, alongside the lovely team here is always a pleasure and very rewarding. In my spare time I enjoy photography, visiting new places and spending time with my dog, Hudson.

I have worked in retail for many years (too many to mention!) and decided I wanted a change of direction. I jumped at the chance when the opportunity arose to work with the Vets for Pets team. I have had and array of animals over the years, but none at the moment . I would love a dog one day though. I enjoy the cuddles I get from our furry clients, which feeds my craving for now.

My time outside work is spent making memories, with my family and friends. 

Before coming to Vets for Pets I worked in Hospitality for many years as well as carrying out some voluntary work for both the RSPCA and Suffolk Animal Rescue; fostering cats and carrying out home checks.

When I was given the amazing opportunity to work alongside the lovely team here, I jumped at the chance.

I have two daughters who adore animals as much as I do. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family which now includes a cat, a dog & two rabbits!

Before coming to Vets for Pets, I worked as a Business Administrator and Team Leader for a Healthcare Agency. I have always had a passion for animals, I have volunteered at various veterinary surgeries and also volunteered at a Greyhound Rescue Centre. When the opportunity arose for me to join the team here at Martlesham I jumped at the chance to do my dream job. I have a Jack Russell X Patterdale Terrier that I have had since a Puppy and if you've met me, you know I am a huge terrier fanatic.

 In my spare time I like watching movies, listening to music, spending time with my dog and most importantly currently doing a full house renovation with my partner.

Before working at Vets for Pets, I gained my degree and I trained to become a Primary School teacher. Upon deciding that a school was not right for me and jumped at the chance to become a Veterinary Receptionist. I have always worked in customer facing roles and have had a lifelong love for animals so combining the two was an ideal option for me. In my spare time, I enjoy volunteering with the Riding for the Disabled Association as their Social Media Coordinator and visiting the yard and spending time with the horses, both little and large! I love to immerse myself in a good book and spend time with my two lovely young cats.

Before starting at Vets for Pets, I was a receptionist in a hotel. I have grown up always being around animals so when I was able to join the lovely team here I was very excited at the opportunity. In my spare time I like to spend it with my husband and two children most of our time is taking up by football but when we are not there we are out walking our dog which is a nearly 2 year old black Labrador called Reggie.