Meet The Team

Our compassionate and dedicated veterinary care team!

Just like Cheers, where everyone knows your name, we’re proud to be Niagara’s first specialty referral animal hospital, creating a lasting legacy in our community with our compassionate and dedicated veterinary care team.

Meet The Owner- Dr. Kirsten Ness

Dr. Ness is a veterinarian, visionary, humanitarian, and constant student of life. She graduated in 1991 from the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph in the honours program. The plan was always to practice large animal medicine. However, after graduation, Dr. Ness started working at a small animal clinic in the Kingston area and has never looked back!

Upon moving to St. Catharines in 1993, Dr. Ness practiced at local small animal clinics, and at a local emergency clinic, before purchasing Glenridge Animal Hospital (GAH) in 2010. Since owning GAH, Dr. Ness has acted as a referral surgeon for other clinics, as her passion lies in the surgery room. She also regularly takes continuing education classes to keep up to date with all the changes in the veterinary field. When she is not at the clinic, she is either curled up with her kitties or traveling the globe, as her second passion is traveling.

Dr. Ness’s philanthropy work includes funding students in the 1-year wildlife protection college program in Tanzania as well as a future goal of building a safari camp in Serengeti. When Dr. Ness travels to Africa, she’s reminded of the big picture that everyone and everything matters from the insects, to the rodents, to the large animals. She believes that if we can save the wildlife, we can save the planet.

Meet the Glenridge Veterinary Team

Dr. Lisa Van Lammers

Dr. Lisa Van Lammers graduated alongside Dr. Ness in 1991 from the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph in the Honours program. She started practising small animal medicine in Toronto until she married and moved to the Niagara Region in 1995.

Dr. Rachel Manjos

Dr. Rachel Manjos was born in Hamilton, ON and raised in the town of Lincoln. Her love of nature, wildlife and pets led to her decision to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. Prior to veterinary school, she spent summers at The Owl Foundation in Vineland learning the care and treatment of various owl species.

Dr. Landri Drury

Dr. Landri Drury developed a profound love for animals early on. This passion led her to pursue an undergraduate degree in Animal Biology at the University of Guelph, where she laid the foundation for her future career. Driven by her dream of becoming a veterinarian, she continued her education at the Ontario Veterinary College, graduating with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2024.

Amanda - Vice President

Amanda started her career in the veterinary field in Grade 9 as a co-op student and has continued in the field ever since. While working, she completed the Paralegal program at TriOS College with honours, but her love for animals kept her from pursuing a career in the legal field.

Andrea - Medical Services Director/ Registered Veterinary Technician

Andrea graduated from St Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology in 2008 from their Registered Veterinary Technician program.

Alison - Veterinary Technician

Alison graduated from the University of Guelph as a Registered Veterinary Technician in 2001. Over the years, she has worked in various small animal clinics in the Hamilton and Niagara regions, including our local emergency clinic for 6 years.

Amy - Registered Veterinary Technician, ISFM, DipFN

Amy graduated from Georgian College in 2008 and has been a practicing Registered Veterinary Technician ever since. Amy also completed a Feline Nursing Specialty course through ISFM (International Society of Feline Medicine) in 2019.

Matt - Registered Veterinary Technician

After finishing high school, Matt attended the University of Western Ontario where he graduated with a 3-year BA before heading off to work for Disney! After Disney, he moved around and tried out some different jobs before his love of animals sent him to St Lawrence College.

Rachel - Registered Veterinary Technician

Rachel is a 2021 Veterinary Technician graduate from Sheridan College. She passed her Veterinary Technician National Exam in September 2021 and is proud to be a  Registered Veterinary Technician! Before pursuing her career and landing a spot in the Glenridge family, Rachel worked at other local clinics and various other jobs.

Kierstyn - Veterinary Technician

Kierstyn is a 2024 Veterinary Technician graduate with honours from Northern College. She has been in the veterinary industry for 3 years now. Kiersytn chose a career in veterinary medicine because she has always had all different kinds of animals growing up and wanted to learn how to care for them in the best way possible.

Erin - Veterinary Assistant

Erin graduated from Brock University in 2022 with a Double Major with Honours in History and Canadian Studies. Erin came to the clinic one day with her kitty and we knew instantly that we wanted her as part of the team!

Jessica - Veterinary Assistant

Jessica started out in the service industry prior to making the leap into the veterinary world where she has worked since 2000, she became a part of the Glenridge family in 2022.

Haley - Veterinary Assistant/Social Media Liaison

Haley has worked in the veterinary industry since 2016. Growing up she always knew she wanted to work in an animal hospital and ended up starting her career at 16 years old during her highschool co-operative courses.

Morgan - Animal Care Attendant

Morgan became a part of the Glenridge family in May of 2020 after graduating from the University of Guelph with a certificate in Veterinarian Office of Administration and Assistance.

Mel - Animal Care Attendant

Mel has had a love for animals since a very young age and has always wanted to work with them. She became a part of the Glenridge family in 2023, starting in Reception but quickly moving her way closer to the animals with an ACA position.

Sheri - Office Administration/Client Concierge

Sheri started her career in the veterinary field as a co-op student in grade 12. Minus some brief hiatus’ here and there, her love for animals has kept her coming back! She has been a member of the Glenridge family since 2017.

Aleasha - Client Services and Concierge

Aleasha started her career at Glenridge in May of 2024. She may have just started in the industry, but she has had a passion for veterinary medicine her whole life. Her love for animals and desire to help animals and people in need is what lead her to her role as a Client Concierge and Call Room Receptionist.

Briar - Client Services and Concierge

Briar became a part of the Glenridge team in the beginning of 2024. Her love for animals and desire to help members of the community lead her to her role here as a Client Concierge and Call Room Receptionist.

Gertrude aka Gerty - Our Resident Dog

Many of you have seen Gerty behind the front desk or running around the clinic. Gerty is a  purebred Old English Sheepdog and was born in 2022. Gerty has been a part of the Glenridge Family since she was 8wks old! True to the nature of an OES, Gerty is a clown through and through!

In the News

New animal hospital a ‘legacy’ for Niagara veterinarian

Dr. Kirsten Ness’s expanded Glenridge Animal Hospital in St. Catharines offers specialists, CT scanner, and ultrasound. Physicians and nurses aren’t…

Glenridge Animal Hospital expanding to include referrals, exotics

Dr. Kirsten Ness hopes renovations will be done by the fall. One business that did not suffer during the pandemic…

‘Chewy’ the dog recovering after being found in ‘deplorable condition’

A dog named Chewy was found wandering in a park in Thorold last Friday in what the Humane Society of…

Dr. Lisa Van Lammers

Dr. Lisa Van Lammers graduated alongside Dr. Ness in 1991 from the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph in the Honours program. She started practising small animal medicine in Toronto until she married and moved to the Niagara Region in 1995. After working for a few years at small animal clinics in the Niagara region, Dr. Van Lammers made the decision to open the NOTL Veterinary House Call Service which she operated while working at GAH. Although the house call business is no longer operating, Dr. Van Lammers is still a beloved member of the Glenridge team.

When she is not working, Dr. Van Lammers enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 sons along with their large herd of dogs. She also takes several continuing education classes to keep up-to-date on all the changes in the veterinary field, and in her rare off hours, she enjoys reading and gardening.

Dr. Rachel Manjos

Dr. Rachel Manjos was born in Hamilton, ON and raised in the town of Lincoln. Her love of nature, wildlife and pets led to her decision to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. Prior to veterinary school, she spent summers at The Owl Foundation in Vineland learning the care and treatment of various owl species.

After completing a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences at the University of Guelph, she graduated with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2017. Since graduation, Dr. Rachel has developed special interests in the fields of ophthalmology, soft tissue surgery and the treatment of exotic animal species. She enjoys providing quality care to pets and forming lasting bonds with their owners. Recently, she completed a program to be able to responsibly give antimicrobials to bee colonies as she knows how important bees are to our ecosystem. 

Outside of practice, Dr. Rachel enjoys going to the gym, watching movies and taking care of many plants. She shares her home with two cats and two rabbits, who weigh around 2 pounds each!

Dr. Landri Drury

Dr. Landri Drury developed a profound love for animals early on. This passion led her to pursue an undergraduate degree in Animal Biology at the University of Guelph, where she laid the foundation for her future career. Driven by her dream of becoming a veterinarian, she continued her education at the Ontario Veterinary College, graduating with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2024.

Dr. Landri initially joined the Glenridge team in 2021, working as a veterinary assistant throughout her time in veterinary school. She is excited to be back where her roots are in the Niagara region, building relationships with all of our amazing clients and patients. Dr. Landri enjoys the variety of general practice and has a special interest in surgery. She is also Fear Free certified and ensures that her approach prioritizes the comfort and well-being of all animals.

In her personal life, Dr. Landri values spending time with family and friends while leading an active lifestyle. She loves hiking in summer, skiing and snowboarding in winter, and travelling whenever she can. She also constantly seeks out new creative challenges, whether it’s picking up crocheting, painting or learning to play the guitar.

Amanda - Vice President

Amanda started her career in the veterinary field in Grade 9 as a co-op student and has continued in the field ever since. While working, she completed the Paralegal program at TriOS College with honours, but her love for animals kept her from pursuing a career in the legal field. Amanda worked at the Fort Erie Racetrack as a hot-walker and groomer, and for many years at our local emergency clinic before finding her place at GAH in 2011. As the Glenridge family has grown and the clinic expanded, Amanda has taken on the role of Vice President. Although spending most of her time behind the scenes, she is always ready to jump into the action, whether it be to apply her technician skills, grab a ringing phone or anything in between! Amanda and her spouse share their home with several animals: their dogs- Marshall, Peggy, and Gertrude, their rabbit- Roy Douglas, their Maine Coon Vladimir and Richard the British Shorthair. They also have an aquarium full of fish! Amanda spends most of her evenings caring for several horses at a boarding facility, including her own horse, Tex. In her spare time, Amanda enjoys reading, walking Gerty, camping and spending time with her family. 

Andrea - Medical Services Director/ Registered Veterinary Technician

Andrea graduated from St Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology in 2008 from their Registered Veterinary Technician program. She met Dr. Ness in 2009 at a mixed animal clinic, she was asked to make the leap and come to Glenridge Animal Hospital when Dr. Ness purchased it in 2010. Andrea quickly became a valued member of the family. After taking a brief detour to explore other options, Andrea has returned home where she belongs!

Andrea has a great interest in Canine Behaviour and Communication and has taken courses to further her knowledge in this field. As the Glenridge family grew, Andrea took on the role of Medical Services Director. While you still might find her sneaking into helping out with an appointment or two, she spends most of her time behind the scenes working on ways to make the best experience for the pets and people that we care for.

Yoga, meditation, and hiking fill a lot of Andrea’s spare time. She shares her home with a handful of dogs and one very patient spouse (who frankly knew what he was getting into).

Alison - Veterinary Technician

Alison graduated from the University of Guelph as a Registered Veterinary Technician in 2001. Over the years, she has worked in various small animal clinics in the Hamilton and Niagara regions, including our local emergency clinic for 6 years. She became part of the Glenridge family in 2019.

Travelling the world to help animals in need is something that is very dear to Alison. She has been part of several Street Dog Spay and Neuter Projects in places like Squamish BC, Sri Lanka and Guatemala. During her stint in Guatemala, she fell in love with a street dog they named Skittles. So much so that she brought him home and they spent 16 wonderful years together. Her passion for animals carries into nature and the proper care and rehabilitation of wildlife here and afar, including time volunteering at the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Conservation in Costa Rica.

Alison is also a part time photographer. She takes amazing photos of nature, pets and their families. When not at the clinic or out on a shoot, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son.

Amy - Registered Veterinary Technician, ISFM, DipFN

Amy graduated from Georgian College in 2008 and has been a practicing Registered Veterinary Technician ever since. Amy also completed a Feline Nursing Specialty course through ISFM (International Society of Feline Medicine) in 2019. Over the years, Amy has worked in Internal Medicine, ICU, ER, Ophthalmology, Surgery and Shelter Medicine. Amy brought her plethora of knowledge and joined the Glenridge family in 2023. Her passions lie in feline medicine, Ophthalmology and Stress/Fear Free Medicine. 

Amy and her husband are the proud parents of a beautiful little girl and they share their home with a “clowder of cats” and a Red-Footed Tortoise named Ed! In her spare time, Amy enjoys swimming, gardening, music and time with her family. 

Matt - Registered Veterinary Technician

After finishing high school, Matt attended the University of Western Ontario where he graduated with a 3-year BA before heading off to work for Disney! After Disney, he moved around and tried out some different jobs before his love of animals sent him to St Lawrence College. Here, he graduated from the Veterinary Technician course in 2014 and then landed back in St. Catharines. After graduation, he spent 5 years working at the Bird Kingdom in Niagara Falls, as well as some time at other local clinics before landing a spot in the Glenridge family. In his spare time, Matt enjoys outdoor life. Spending time with his wife and their dog, Cricket, you can find them camping and fishing.

Rachel - Registered Veterinary Technician

Rachel is a 2021 Veterinary Technician graduate from Sheridan College. She passed her Veterinary Technician National Exam in September 2021 and is proud to be a  Registered Veterinary Technician! Before pursuing her career and landing a spot in the Glenridge family, Rachel worked at other local clinics and various other jobs. In her spare time, Rachel enjoys listening to music, gardening, exercising, and spending time with her friends and family and her fur kids, which include multiple cats, rats and some fish!

Kierstyn - Veterinary Technician

Kierstyn is a 2024 Veterinary Technician graduate with honours from Northern College. She has been in the veterinary industry for 3 years now. Kiersytn chose a career in veterinary medicine because she has always had all different kinds of animals growing up and wanted to learn how to care for them in the best way possible. At home, Kierstyn has quite a few different pets. They include, an American Bulldog x named Jughead, who she had adopted from college, Gunner, a potcake rescue, Munchkin and Meow Meows, both barn cats that were brought inside for the winter then never left. She also has a paint horse named Jack, and a mule named Fiona-both are great for trail rides. During her free time she enjoys riding her horses or teaching new tricks to her dogs. She also always enjoys building new things for her pets and learning something new about veterinary medicine.

Erin - Veterinary Assistant

Erin graduated from Brock University in 2022 with a Double Major with Honours in History and Canadian Studies. Erin came to the clinic one day with her kitty and we knew instantly that we wanted her as part of the team!

Erin’s house is filled with a boatload of critters! Everything from her ‘soul’cat Kirby who is a 15yr old kitten; the dynamic kitty duo Matilda and Minerva; the adorable dwarf bunny Hugh and we cannot forget Howard the blind Winter White Russian Dwarf hamster!

Erin loves all animals but her passion lies with the exotic animal species, especially rabbits and hamsters but number one on the list for her will always be cats! She loves the science and educational portion of pet care, but also has the biggest heart that she shares unconditionally with every animal that comes through our door. When not at work Erin enjoys crocheting, reading, yoga and spending time with her pets and her family.

Jessica - Veterinary Assistant

Jessica started out in the service industry prior to making the leap into the veterinary world where she has worked since 2000, she became a part of the Glenridge family in 2022. Jessica completed the Veterinary Office Management Diploma Program through Mohawk College and is also Fear Free Certified, but her schooling is not going to end there. Jessica’s end game is to become a Registered Veterinary Technician and plans on enrolling in school soon.

Jessica’s home is shared with her two cats – Tikki and Nikki – and her dog Odin. In her spare time she enjoys watching movies and playing video games but you can also catch her enjoying the outdoors either camping or paddle boarding.

Haley - Veterinary Assistant/Social Media Liaison

Haley has worked in the veterinary industry since 2016. Growing up she always knew she wanted to work in an animal hospital and ended up starting her career at 16 years old during her highschool co-operative courses. Over the years, Haley has found herself falling in love with animal nutrition. This led her to achieve her nutrition advisor status in 2023-so she is always happy to chat about your pets nutritional needs! Haley is also our Social Media Liaison which means she takes cute photos, and creates fun, educational videos for you to watch! 

In her spare time, Haley enjoys hiking, camping and fishing. She also loves photography and pyrography (wood burning art). Haley shares her home with her dogs, Lux and Gulliver, her cat, Frankie and her 3 chickens, Ducky, Hei Hei and Eggroll.

Morgan- Animal Care Attendant

Morgan became a part of the Glenridge family in May of 2020 after graduating from the University of Guelph with a certificate in Veterinarian Office of Administration and Assistance. Morgan worked as a nanny, in bakeries and other retail services but it wasn’t long before her passion for animals took over and she embarked on her journey in the veterinary world.

At home, Morgan is the proud owner of two cats – Dexter and Morty – whom she adores very much. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, travelling, beach days, hiking and cooking/baking. 

Mel - Animal Care Attendant

Mel has had a love for animals since a very young age and has always wanted to work with them. She became a part of the Glenridge family in 2023, starting in Reception but quickly moving her way closer to the animals with an ACA position. Mel’s end goal is to continue her education and become an RVT!

In her spare time, Mel enjoys spending time with her family and friends and her two cats – Demi and Poot. She is also a part of the Scorpions Niagara Cheerleading Navy Seals, and has competed at the Cheerleading Worlds three times.

Sheri - Office Administration/Client Concierge

Sheri started her career in the veterinary field as a co-op student in grade 12. Minus some brief hiatus’ here and there, her love for animals has kept her coming back! She has been a member of the Glenridge family since 2017. Sheri shares her home with her three wonderful children and her equally wonderful cats! In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and working out.

Aleasha - Client Services and Concierge

Aleasha started her career at Glenridge in May of 2024. She may have just started in the industry, but she has had a passion for veterinary medicine her whole life. Her love for animals and desire to help animals and people in need is what lead her to her role as a Client Concierge and Call Room Receptionist. When Aleasha isn’t at work she enjoys spending time with her friends and family. She also enjoys camping, snowboarding, hockey and working out! At home, Aleasha has 2 Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldogs named Nova and Lincoln, a sweet cat named Angel and a whole bunch of chickens! Aleasha’s goal is to live on a farm one day as she has always had a love for farm animals.

Briar - Client Services and Concierge

Briar became a part of the Glenridge team in the beginning of 2024. Her love for animals and desire to help members of the community lead her to her role here as a Client Concierge and Call Room Receptionist. Briar enjoys spending her free time with her friends, family and her kitty named Jack (..better known as Jackie or Jack Jack). She is also an avid lover of fitness, reading, and art!

Gertrude aka Gerty - Our Resident Dog

Many of you have seen Gerty behind the front desk or running around the clinic. Gerty is a  purebred Old English Sheepdog and was born in 2022. Gerty has been a part of the Glenridge Family since she was 8wks old! True to the nature of an OES, Gerty is a clown through and through! She lives to bring a smile to everyone’s face and is available for a cuddle whenever needed. Gerty also helps save lives through donating blood with the Canadian Animal Blood Bank (CABB) or donating blood at the clinic to help our patients.

When Gerty isn’t at the clinic, she loves to be outside! Running around the yard or just laying while the breeze blows through her hair! She loves going for long walks, camping, swimming and is a superstar in agility classes. When inside, she can be found curled up for a good nap or playing with her best buddy Vlad the kitty.