Karen Wakefield DipAVN (Medical) RVN
Senior Nurse
Karen has worked at Ayres for almost 20 years and absolutely loves her job. She is a qualified and listed registered veterinary nurse (RVN) and holds an advanced diploma in medical nursing as well as an advanced diploma in analgesia and anaesthesia. Karen is passionate about all animals however she has a special interest in felines and has completed the feline advisory bureaus advanced nursing course. She is owned by a Devon Rex cat called Willow and shall hopefully be welcoming a pair of Sphynx kittens soon. In her spare time she enjoys stargazing at Kielder Observatory and visiting Stonehenge.
Melissa Edmondson RVN
Melissa joined Ayres Veterinary Hospital back in 2007 as a student veterinary nurse and in 2014 gained her level three diploma in veterinary nursing and became a registered veterinary nurse. She feels she is very lucky to be in a job she loves and especially enjoys caring for the many animals we see. Melissa shares her home with a fair few Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshunds; two German Shepherds and a French Lop. Her main hobbies include showing her dogs at open and championship dog shows and spending money on her many pets.
Jenifer Hind RVN
Jen has work at Ayres for 12 years and qualified as a RVN with merit in 2011. She is dedicated to the care of her patients. Jen has completed the healthy pet counsellor qualification and she runs our weekly pet weight clinics. Her home life is also busy with her husband and twin boys.
Stacey Oakley RVN
Stacey has worked at Ayers since 2013. She joined us as a trainee nurse and has now completed her first year at college. She is working hard to complete her training and cannot wait to be a qualified RVN. In her spare time she enjoys walking with her three dogs and curling up on the sofa with her cats. Previously she worked as a groom with event horses and has a HND in equine management. Stacey is very sporty and likes to cycle. She has just completed a cycling holiday around Majorca, France and Coast to Coast.
Hazel McPherson
Student Veterinary Nurse
Hazel has worked at Ayres Veterinary Hospital for five years, starting on reception and progressing to a SVN, which she has now worked as for three years. She absolutely loves working as a nurse and is enthusiastic in all aspects and roles that the job requires, but particularly enjoys being the hospital nurse and being fully involved in the caring of the animals all day or night. Apart from spending most of her free time with her chocolate Labrador named Lottie, she also enjoys seeing live music, visiting Scotland with her husband and Lottie, or travelling abroad to places such as Turkey.
Katie Thompson
Student Veterinary Nurse
Katie has been working at Ayres Veterinary Hospital since she left school in 2014 as she has always had a love for animals and enjoys her job. In 2015 she gained a level two diploma in veterinary nursing assistants and she has recently completed the healthy pet counsellor qualification which has enabled her to start running our weekly pet weight clinics. Katie is hoping to complete a level three diploma in veterinary nursing and become a qualified veterinary nurse. Her favourite thing about the job is watching a sick animal improve and reuniting them with their family. Katie has three cats called Charlie, Phoebe and Cali.
Kate Moss
Auxiliary Nurse
Kate has worked at Ayres since 2015, coming to us straight from sixth form. She has since completed a level two diploma in veterinary nursing assistants. Kate loves her job and is looking forward to going back to college to become a qualified veterinary nurse in the near future. In her spare time she looks after and rides her horse as well as being very into fitness and has completed the Great North Run. She also has a little black and white cat called Izzy.
Jackie Wallace
Auxiliary Nurse
Jackie has worked at Ayres Veterinary Hospital for 13 years, after completing her NVQ level two in animal care. She has owned many pets over the years, including cats, rats, tropical fish and, of course, dogs. As well as powerlifting and rugby, her passion is all aspects of dogs, with dog behaviour being a keen interest. She enjoys fundraising for dog rescue centres and volunteers at local and breed rescues - she has an active part in German Shepard and Border Collie rescue and now runs a National Scent Hound rescue. Jackie has been involved in display teams at Crufts with her Foxhounds, Border Collies and a Bloodhound and has been successful in training them to a high standard in pet obedience and scent work. Her Foxhounds have been trained in searching for missing pets and have also taken part in film work.
Katelyn Gurney
Kennel Assistant
Katelyn started at Ayres Veterinary Hospital in January 2018. In her spare time she enjoys karate – she is black belt statue and also qualified to teach others in the sport. Katelyn has her time cut out at home with her two ferrets, three dogs, two snakes and a leopard gecko called Loki.
Alexis Moore
Kennel Assistant
Alexis joined our team here at Ayres in November 2017 for a new start in her life. Outside work she spends time with her three horses called Baycherry, Danny Boy and Clyde. Alexis also has three kittens, two dogs and a turtle called Rodney.
