Dr Shannon West
Veterinary Surgeon, Director

Dr Shannon completed his Bachelor of Science (Vet Biol) and Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery at Murdoch University in 2004. After working in Perth initially, Shannon worked as a locum, both in his home town of Adelaide and thereafter at a range of vet clinics across Canberra. In 2010-11, Shannon traveled through SE Asia and the Middle East before alternating between working in the UK and exploring Europe in a reasonably questionable campervan. On his return to Canberra, Dr Shannon worked as the Clinical Director at the Animal Referral Hospital Canberra before taking the plunge and buying Belconnen Animal Hospital in August 2015. 

Dr Shannon's main area of interest is surgery, and he takes responsibility for the major orthopedic and soft tissue surgeries at Belconnen Animal Hospital. He also has a keen interest in the care and medicine of rescue Greyhounds, and management of arthritis and age related joint issues. 

Outside of work, Shannon makes time to go bike riding with Halifax (the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever), relax on the couch with Jojo (our clinic cat); play social soccer and ultimate frisbee with friends; or frequent one of the local pub trivia nights. 

Dr Eloise Bright
Veterinary Surgeon

Dr Eloise grew up in Canberra, and after many years travelling and working overseas decided to pursue her dream of studying Veterinary Science. She graduated in 2006 from Sydney University and moved back to Canberra to be closer to family in 2016.

Eloise lives locally with her two lively young boys, a 3 legged cat, a one-eyed cat and 3 very special dogs. Her husband has banned her from bringing home any more animals.

Eloise has pursued additional post graduate study in behaviour, acupuncture and emergency medicine and is particularly passionate about ensuring your pet has a stress-free and fear-free visit at the clinic. As well as working with us, Eloise also works for the RSPCA and runs the ACT Pet Crisis Fund.

Dr Karina Harding
Veterinary Surgeon

Dr Karina completed her Bachelor of Science in 2004 and went on to finish her Bachelor of Veterinary Science in 2007. She is our go to vet on clinical pathology and ultrasonography having completed further study in both. Prior to starting at BAH, Karina has worked in other local small animal clinics as well as at the Animal Referral Hospital's emergency department. You might also recognise her from the closing ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games where she danced on stage dressed as Dame Edna Everage...

Karina shares a love of travel with her husband Darren, having visited the Galapagos Islands, Iceland, Sweden and Russia, as well as a range of other countries all over the world. Whilst on work experience at Tokyo Zoo, Karina found that she had to hold the hand of a Gorilla before it would take it's daily medicine. At home, Karina and Darren enjoy the company of their two beagles (Pippi and Minnie) and their son Rhys, daughter Aurora, and a 3rd on the way. 

Dr Sarah Abramowski
​Veterinary Surgeon

Sarah completed degrees in Veterinary Biology and Veterinary Science in 2016 at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga. After graduation she worked at a clinic in Wagga for a year before recently joining the team at Belconnen Animal Hospital. Sarah has an interest in behavioural medicine, and surgery. She also has a red merle Australian Shepherd named Atlas who currently lives on the central coast (who she will gush about at length if given the opportunity!) 

She is a self confessed mega-geek, with obsessions including Harry Potter, Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings amongst many others. Sarah is a crazy gamer with 10 different gaming consoles, an extensive board game collection and a love of role playing games. She also manages to fit in time for craft and baking. Early in her career at Belconnen Animal Hospital she brought in perfectly baked macaroons, so we have decided she is worth keeping around!

Dr Kabir Dulichan 
​Veterinary Surgeon

Dr Kabir (or Kabs as he's known) completed his Bachelor of Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney in 2017. Having grown up in Sydney, Kabs has always loved animals and even went to high school with a fully functioning farm on it!
Wanting a change in scenery, Kabs was thrilled to be moving to Canberra to start working as a veterinarian at Belconnen Animal Hospital. Kabs has a keen interest in medicine and surgery and is passionate about community education regarding animal health and welfare.

Kabs has a Shih-tzu cross Maltese named Jadoo (who is very cheeky and loves his cuddles). In his spare time Kabs likes to explore Canberra by hiking and bush walking. He also enjoys ink drawing and painting with watercolours.

Lana
Head of Reception

​We were lucky to have Lana join our team in August 2018, after having worked for the Animal Referral Hospital specialist centre for many years. Hers will be the cheery smile you will generally see when you first enter the clinic. 

Lana is currently spending her time outside of work renovating her newly purchased house, or relaxing with a wine or gin after a long day renovating said house! Lana has a son, Joel, a newly adopted whippet named Ziggy and a terror of a cat, Hector, who all keep her very busy.   ​

Tamara
Veterinary Nurse

Tamara is a familiar face at Belconnen Animal Hospital having worked in the clinic since 2004. She completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in 2003. Since BAH's change in ownership, Tamara's knowledge of practice procedures, passwords and (most importantly!) our valued clients and patients has been an indispensable asset to the new BAH team. She's our self-acclaimed 'cat lady', and is also a pro at multitasking after her many years flying solo as the nurse/receptionist/kennel hand for the clinic. 

Tamara loves the beach and is very family orientated. At home she has two cats (Bruce and Mischief), and an increasingly boisterous duck named Poopy. Tamara describes a perfect day at work as one where she gets out on time! 

Oscar
Veterinary Nurse

Oscar recently completed his certificate IV in veterinary nursing after having joined the industry for a career change. Prior to entering the veterinary nursing field, Oscar worked in IT, and as a result is generally our go-to man when it is the computers rather than the patients that need fixing. 

Originally from Indonesia, Oscar often finds time to go back home to visit family, with his wife Vany (also a vet that you may occasionally meet working casually at Belconnen Animal Hospital). 

Ouside of work, Oscar likes playing soccer, and Shannon recently recruited him into his team to provide some goal scoring firepower up front. 

Kara
Veterinary Nurse

Kara joined our nursing team in early 2020, and quickly had to learn the ropes when she was thrown into the deep end due to changing practice procedures during the emerging COVID-19 pandemic. She has a passion for animal welfare, fear free handling practices and wildlife. When she is not with us, Kara also works part time at the RSPCA. She also volunteers helping homeless people with there beloved animals through Pets in the Park, and she has also travelled to Thailand and Ecuador to assist animal welfare groups.  

At home she spends her time with her black cat Loki, but they always have a foster kitten or 2 keeping them company. When she gets a chance outside of her numerous charitable commitments, she like hiking, camping and playing computer games.  

Paiton
Veterinary Nurse

Paiton moved to Canberra in early 2015 with plans to start her primary school teaching degree at ACU, but has since decided that vet nursing is where she'd rather be. At BAH, Paiton plays the role of class clown - keeping her days interesting by making people laugh, wearing a washing basket on her head, and often finding herself at the wrong end of pranks.

Paiton has a clear love of animals, and at home is smitten with her crazy ARF pup Kronk, the Staffy cross, who has just celebrated his seventh birthday but still greets his besties by weeing excitedly on their shoes...

Dani
​Veterinary Nurse

Dani joined our team while studying in early 2018, and has become a permanent fixture since completing her Certificate IV in 2019. After working as a volunteer at the National Zoo and Aquarium, Dani knew her career had to involve looking after our local community's animals.

Dani has a rule in the practice that no one is allowed to bring a Labrador in without her getting some pats. She has her own crazy Lab at home, Tikani, who's favourite hobby is playing in the water. 

Dani is the quietest team member and outside of work she likes capturing the beauty of nature in wildlife photography. Surprisingly though, despite her quiet exterior, she is also a massive hardcore and metal music fan! 

Beth
Trainee Nurse

Beth joined our practice in 2019, all the way from Tasmania. She has a Bachelor of Animal Science from the University of Adelaide, and will soon be starting her Certificate IV of Veterinary Nursing at CIT. She comes with over 10 years of retail experience working for Big W. 
​
Beth has a soft spot for black cats and dachshunds. At home she has her own black cat mischief maker, named Salem, who keeps her on her toes and snuggles with her on the frosty Canberra mornings.  

Jojo and Halifax
Managing Co-Directors of Client Relations

Jojo begun his career as a clinic cat at the Animal Emergency Centre Canberra where he graced the reception desk with his presence for over seven years. As an avid blood donor, Jojo was responsible for saving many lives during this period of his younger adult life. When the Animal Referral Hospital introduced a range of new specialist equipment at the Fyshwick clinic, it was decided that having a cat sleeping wherever he pleased was no longer appropriate and so Jojo came home with Dr Shannon to live with him in his Queanbeyan apartment. Since then he has thoroughly enjoyed his move to Belconnen Animal Hospital where he now enjoys a 'work from home' lifestyle - sleeping upstairs on the couch until there's a dog to tease or fur-parent to comfort in the waiting room. 

Halifax came to Belconnen Animal Hospital as an 8 week old puppy in April 2016. Her main role in the clinic has been boosting morale, meeting new puppies for play dates and taking part in various fundraising events! Outside of work, Halifax has a busy social life, having completed gold level obedience at Belconnen Dog Obedience Club, and is now learning dog frisbee and agility.  Hali also loves to swim, go for bike rides, chase the garden hose, and bark at both real and non-existent intruders... 

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