Our Team

Dr. Richardson was born and raised in downtown Toronto. He began working at The Animal Clinic as a high school Kennel Attendant in 1989. After high school, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Princeton University, studying Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, with a minor in Photography and Art History. Somewhere along the way he became convinced that he wanted to become a biology professor, and completed a PhD in Zoology at the University of Washington (Seattle), studying the reproductive and stress physiology of birds breeding above the treeline in arctic and alpine environments. Despite loving the field work and teaching, he realized the life of an academic was not for him, and he returned to Ontario where he earned a DVM degree at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph. Upon completion of his DVM degree, he returned to The Animal Clinic, and joined his longtime friend and mentor, Dr. John Reeve-Newson, as part owner of the clinic. When Dr. Reeve-Newson retired at the end of 2021, Dr. Richardson vowed to continue his legacy of providing exceptional care to Toronto's pets and pet owners, and has built and mentored a terrific team of associates who share those values.

Dr. Richardson is a board member and past President of the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association. He is also the co-founder and chair of the OVMA Environmental Sustainability committee and sits on the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association Green Practices Initiative. He is a board member and past-president of The Farley Foundation, the charity arm of the OVMA that helps provide veterinary care to the pets of those in most need. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Veterinary Emergency Clinic in downtown Toronto.

Dr. Richardson lives in midtown Toronto with his wife, three children and 2 flat-coated retrievers. He is a passionate photographer (the photographs on the walls of the clinic are all his), avid environmentalist and year round cyclist. He also loves good strong coffee, ice cream and has been known to enjoy the occasional bubble tea.

After completing her undergraduate degree in biomedical sciences at the University of Guelph, Dr. Emma Lawrence graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College with Distinction and the Summit Pharmaceutical Prize for Clinical Pharmacology. Having grown up working on a farm full of horses, cats, and dogs, she developed an early appreciation of the importance of human-animal bonds, and knew that she wanted to work with animals every day!

Today, Dr. Lawrence puts her skills to use with a range of small animal patients at The Animal Clinic! She particularly enjoys educating pet owners and practicing preventative medicine, dentistry, and providing pain management care. When not in the clinic, she can be found horseback riding, spending time with family and friends, and exploring downtown Toronto after having recently moved to the city!

After completing her Bachelor of Science degree from Queen's University, Dr. Filippini pursued her dream of becoming a veterinarian at the University College Dublin School of Veterinary Medicine. She worked as a companion animal vet in Dublin for two years before returning to her roots in Toronto, and joining us here at The Animal Clinic. Dr. Filippini was inspired to pursue veterinary medicine as a way to combine her deep love for animals with her passion for science and medicine. She finds great fulfillment in helping both pets and their owners strengthen the unique bond they share. She has a keen interest in dermatology, surgery and ultrasound! She recently completed an advanced course in ultrasound. She is passionate about using her skills to provide comprehensive care for her patients, helping to improve their quality of life every day. Outside of the clinic, she enjoys traveling, exploring new restaurants around Toronto, and spending quality time with her beloved golden retriever, Tonks, who provides her with unconditional love, loyalty, and tail wags. As a proud Torontonian, Rachele cherishes the vibrant culture and community of her hometown.

Dr. Haley Forgione’s journey to veterinary medicine began with her early love for animals and was solidified during her volunteer work at the SPCA, where she found her true calling. She earned her Bachelor of Science with honors from the State University of New York at Geneseo, followed by a Master of Science in Immunology from the University of Buffalo. Dr. Forgione then completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with honors at the University of Guelph. With special interests in dermatology, neurology, and infectious diseases, Dr. Forgione enjoys the ever-evolving nature of veterinary medicine. She is passionate about fostering strong relationships with her patients and their families, finding fulfillment in watching them grow and thrive. The variety of new cases each day keeps her dedicated to advancing her skills and providing the best care possible. Outside of the clinic, Dr. Forgione loves exploring Toronto with her family and her beloved Cavapoo, Bernadette!

Dr. Diane Bilecki became a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College after graduating from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Science. She chose a career in veterinary medicine because of her love for animals and passion for medicine and problem-solving. Today, she most enjoys practicing preventative and internal medicine, and her favourite part of the job remains supporting pets and their owners.

Dr. Bilecki can be found cooking or gardening in her free time, or spending quality time with her husband Jason, who is also a veterinarian, and their two daughters Jillian and Violet!

Dr. Emily Chris has been part of the TAC since 2015. She was born and raised in Etobicoke.
Dr. Chris works with us part-time, sharing her skills with other clinics around the city. She values creating long-lasting and trusted relationships with clients and their furry family members.
She has a special interest in surgery, medical workups, and cuddles (which may be her favourite part!). When she isn’t at work, she loves to spend her time with her husband and two dogs, Lexi, and Jameson.
Her hobbies include cooking and outdoor activities like gardening and hiking. She is looking forward to meeting you and your pets!

Dr. John Reeve-Newson was the founding partner of The Animal Clinic and Yorkville Animal Hospital. Dr. John is a lover of all animals and, in partnership with his husband, Dr. Richard Meen, established Kishniga Kennels in 1971 and bred Dobermans, Old English Sheepdogs, Skye Terriers, French Bulldogs, Borzoi and Harriers. Dr. John became licensed to judge dog shows, and he had the honour of judging The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York on seven occasions.
Dr. John Reeve-Newson graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1964. In addition to his clinical work, he served as Councilor and President (1993-1994) of the College of Veterinarians of Ontario and was also a member of their complaints and discipline committee. He was a founding partner of the Veterinary Emergency and Referral Clinic in Toronto, the first of its kind in Canada.
John retired from The Animal Clinic in 2021 but his friendship and wisdom still guide us in our daily work.

Deanna joined The Animal Clinic in October 2022, and is responsible for running the day-to-day operations of the clinic. She joins us with a diverse background in operations and retail management, also bringing to the table a range of experience in the pet care industry. Deanna takes every detail into consideration, ensuring that we have the right people, services, equipment and supplies to treat your pet just like one of our own.

In addition to being our practice manager, Deanna is a Board Member of the Etobicoke Humane Society (EHS), a not-for-profit, all-volunteer, no-kill shelter in Etobicoke that provides shelter, care and medical treatment for cats and dogs that are waiting to find the perfect forever family.

Deanna’s favourite part of working at The Animal Clinic is getting to snuggle all of the wonderful pets that visit us every day. When not at the clinic, you can find Deanna spending time with her two dogs, Bella, a Bernese Mountain Dog and Sully, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi!

If you have any feedback about your experience at The Animal Clinic, please reach out to Deanna at deanna@theanimalclinic.ca

For as long as he can remember, Eric has always been fascinated with animals and always knew that he wanted to work with them. In his home country of the Philippines, Eric was a veterinarian working primarily with large animals and poultry. He joined The Animal Clinic in 2004 after completing the University of Guelph’s Veterinary Technician program. In 2019 Eric was voted RVT of the year by the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians. He loves the great sense of satisfaction achieved by making those on both ends of the leash happy. Naturally, anyone that has visited The Animal Clinic knows the lengths he goes to to make that happen! Eric’s time out of the clinic is spent perfecting his Badminton smash and with family, including his two dogs, Vienna, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, and Vinny, a Maltese/Shih Tzu cross.

Katie has been a member of the clinic’s technician team since 2019 following extensive work in the veterinary industry since graduating from Seneca College’s RVT program in 2013! Throughout her life, she has always had pets at home which inspired her to join the world of veterinary medicine. Now, Katie most enjoys senior medicine, and is always enthusiastic about ensuring that senior pets have the best quality of life possible!

Katie has one adorable cat at home named Ginny with whom she spends her days off reading and lounging. When not home, Katie can be found hiking the many beautiful trails and parks of the GTA.

Mia has been a dedicated member of The Animal Clinic’s team of Registered Veterinary Technicians after graduating from Seneca College’s RVT program in 2016! She has always been fascinated with veterinary medicine and loves having a career that supports her passion for animal welfare.

Mia’s favourite part of her role as an RVT is medicine! She takes a special interest in nutrition and anaesthesia, and can often be found assisting with surgical procedures.

If she’s not spending her free time with friends, family, and her dog Halo, Mia is probably enjoying the outdoors by hiking or camping, or playing sports!

Tsering began her journey in animal medicine at Northern College in Timmins, Ontario. After graduating from their Veterinary Technician program in 2018, Tsering began her time at The Animal Clinic as a co-op student. She has been a dedicated member of our team of technicians ever since! She loves that no two days at the clinic are the same, and visits from adorable puppy patients always make her day.

On her days off, Tsering likes to read and lounge with her recently-adopted pug, Ares

Nikki is a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT), having graduated with high honours from Seneca College’s Veterinary Technician Program in 2024. Since joining The Animal Clinic in 2018 as a member of our Patient Care team, she has developed a particular passion for surgery and is dedicated to supporting the growth and well-being of our patients. Nikki was also drawn to the study of pharmaceuticals during her training, deepening her knowledge of medication management and treatment protocols. Her love for animals began at a young age, starting horseback riding at just five years old. After high school, she worked with equine professionals before transitioning to the small animal veterinary industry in 2017. Nikki’s favourite part of her work is watching her patients grow into happy, healthy adults. Outside of work, Nikki enjoys horseback riding, spending time with family and friends, and cuddling with her cat Molly, whom she adopted in 2020.

Jackson has been with The Animal Clinic since the spring of 2021 after working in client-facing positions for the better part of a decade. He enjoys being able to support the clinic and our patients by putting his expert client-care skills to use. Jackson is The Animal Clinic’s resident master of invoicing and insurance and makes every effort to make financial matters as simple and effortless as possible for owners.

If he's not dutifully processing invoices, he's likely in the gym, playing hockey or spending time with his French Bulldog, Olive, Russian Blue, Margot or Bearded Dragon, Woody!

Melissa joined The Animal Clinic team in January 2023 after working in the adoptions and intake departments of one of Toronto’s major animal shelters. She is currently working towards her Bachelor’s degree with honours in psychology and has enjoyed taking animal psychology and behaviour courses!

Melissa loves being able to support both pets and their people to make every experience possible a positive one. She takes great pride in making lasting connections with owners over the phone, helping them feel confident and comfortable putting their pet’s health in our hands.

When she’s not answering our phones in her signature cheery tone, Melissa usually spends lots of her time with her dog Sam! In the long term, she would like to pursue a career that fosters the human-animal bond, ideally in the world of therapy and emotional support animals.

Having grown up on a farm, Stanetta has always loved animals. She would often assist veterinarians on their visits, further growing her love for animal care. She graduated from Seneca College’s Veterinary Assistant program in 2016 and has worked in clinics in Toronto ever since!

Stanetta is both a pet mom and a plant mom, and says she has too many of both! She spends much of her free time caring for her fur babies and plants, many of which she exchanges with her plant-loving team members.

Bio coming soon!

Rachel had the privilege of owning a wide variety of animals all her life, which naturally attributed to her fascination with them! From hamsters to dogs, budgies, and her beloved beta fish, Rachel has always had a furry (or scaly) companion by her side. But, it was her late Boston Terrier, Willy, who inspired her to pursue a future in veterinary medicine. She applied to her first animal hospital in 2018, and has now worked in veterinary clinics
throughout London and Toronto.

Prior to her journey into veterinary medicine, Rachel's life was still immersed in everything to do with animals and their care; such as being a lead employee at a local pet retail store, and partaking in multiple OSPCA summer programs. Since joining the field, Rachel has taken a special interest to diagnostic imaging, dermatology, and clinical management of
senior pets!

Rachel joined The Animal Clinic's patient care team in September 2023, after spending nearly 4 years working in another high-volume animal hospital in the city. She's currently working towards her Associate of Science degree for veterinary technology, so she can further her education and skills to provide the best care possible for every pet, and pet parent, she meets!