Central Nova
Animal
Hospital Ltd.
At Central Nova Animal Hospital, our staff knows that your family pet is a member of your family.
Our clinic currently employs 19 – 21 full time staff members, including six permanent veterinarians, three Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs), one trained Veterinary Nurse and two full time receptionists.
Our staff is rounded out with students and part time employees, most of whom are Pre-Veterinary students at the nearby Nova Scotia Agricultural College (NSAC).
Penny Richards, DVM
Dr. Richards is known to most of her clients as Penny. Her family is from rural Hants County, where she grew up on a hobby farm with four brothers. Her love of animals started early, as she was raised surrounded by cows, horses, dogs, cats, goats, chickens, etc. From high school, Penny set off for Dalhousie University intent on pursuing a career in medicine. When her goal changed to veterinary medicine, she transferred to the Nova Scotia Agricultural College for a year, and then was accepted at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph. She spent five years there completing her DVM degree.
Penny graduated from OVC in 1989, returned to Truro and has been at Central Nova Animal Hospital ever since. Penny enjoys the problem solving aspects of veterinary medicine and has recently trained in acupuncture. She is a past president of the Nova Scotia Veterinary Association and with four boys of her own has been spent much of the last few years active in their schools and supporting their interests. She has hopes that with two in university, one day there will be time for hobbies of her own!
As with most in the veterinary field, her own pets have been beset by odd medical problems. Other past pets have included a cat with fibrotic cardiomyopathy, a dog born with a rare heart condition known as Tetralogy of Fallot, and her most recent dog passed away from an uncommon liver cancer. Currently she shares her house with three cats, Max, Cinnamon and Tubby.
Jennifer McKay, DVM
Jennifer grew up in Truro but after high school headed for Acadia University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science. She returned to Truro in 1998 to attend the Agricultural College where she did her research in Animal Science. While there she volunteered with us and this gradually turned into a part time job.
In 1999 Jennifer headed to PEI to attend the Veterinary College and graduated in May 2003 and joined our team as a Veterinarian in September of the same year. She continues to love dealing with animals and the public and her enthusiasm is contagious to the rest of our team.
Jennifer lives with her husband Tom and three young boys, Ty, Jay and Coen. She has two Golden Retrievers, Olivia and Levi who are littermates, and a cat named Easton. Jennifer's interests include playing and coaching soccer, playing ball and spending time with her family.
Dr. Alana Mason
Alana grew up in Barney's River (a small rural community in Pictou County, NS) with her two sisters and three brothers. Alana has always loved animals and enjoyed riding and showing horses throughout her teenage and university years. She began her university education at Acadia University where she completed the first two years of her science degree. When she decided she wanted to become a veterinarian she transferred to the Nova Scotia Agriculture Collage to complete her degree in Animal Science. Alana then went on to the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island and graduated in 2004.
After graduation, Alana and her husband Steven moved to Ontario where she worked as a small and large animal vet in the Ottawa Valley area. A year later they returned to NS where Alana's career continued in New Glasgow. In March 2008, she made the move to Central Nova Animal Hospital and her focus changed to small animal practice. Alana enjoys the challenges of both small animal medicine and surgery.
Alana and Steven are kept busy with their two young children John and Lydia. The Mason family lives on a hobby farm where her horse Patti is enjoying retirement. Alana’s animal family also includes a young Golden Retriever named Minni and three cats; Reggie, Annibelle and Spider.
Tonya Lutz-Cameron, Registered Veterinary Technician
Tonya is a registered veterinary technician. She was born and raised in St. John's NL where her father instilled in her the love of nature and animals. She moved to Truro in 1991 to attend the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in hopes of finding a career that would involve animals. This is where she met her husband Brad. Tonya graduated with High Honors from the Animal Health Technology Program in 1998 and has a particular interest in dentistry for small animals.
Tonya and Brad have two boys, Mason and Jesse. Tonya has a Labrador Retriever named Avalon and two Siamese cats, Hot Wheels and The Sweetest Thing (Sweety). In her spare time Tonya enjoys camping, running with Avalon, hiking, mountain biking and travelling home to NL to visit with her family.
Tracy Spence, Manager
Tracy moved to Nova Scotia from Toronto and started working at Central Nova Animal Hospital in 1991. She is the longest serving employee here at C.N.A.H. She started as a Vet. Assist and in recent years, she has been promoted to hospital manager. Her duties include overseeing the running of the animal hospital on a day to day basis, payroll, accounting, scheduling and general trouble shooting when and where she is needed. At times she is referred to as the glue that helps hold the clinic together.
Tracy, her partner Bruce and her daughter MacKenzie live in Onslow Mountain and have a Silver Tabby cat called Sarah. Tracy has owned 3 Bull Terriers; her most recent is named Diesel They also have a Miniature Dachshund named Peanut Butter Dawn who they brought home to give foster care to as a puppy and Peanut has never left.
In her spare time Tracy has taken up water color painting, snowshoeing and downhill skiing. She also enjoys reading, going to the movies, listening to music and volunteering with her daughter’s school and 4H club.
Shelley Whidden, Veterinary Nurse
Shelley works at Central Nova Animal Hospital as our Veterinary Nurse and has been part of our team since 1996. Her technical skills are utilized in all areas of our clinic, ranging from surgery and patient care, to laboratory and reception.
Shelley has years of experience working with animals. She has worked at veterinary clinics in the Halifax area and also volunteered with the Halifax animal shelters. She has received many awards for her dedication and volunteer work to help stray, abandoned and abused animals.
Shelley was born and raised in Truro and now lives on a farm in Bayhead, Tatamagouche. In April of 2003, Shelley had a little boy named Delaney. Her hobbies include biking, hiking, yoga, walking her dogs and riding her 3 horses, Maddie, Reggie and Chance. Her other critters include four cats, seven dogs, three pet goats, seven barn cats, plus sheep and chickens. She has a Rottie mix Berlin, whom she rescued and also breeds and shows gorgeous registered Golden Retrievers and currently has six of her own: Dorey, Stella, Joey, Connor, Keepher and Lyrical.
Melanie Ross, Receptionist
Melanie is from Truro. She is a graduate of the Medical Administrative Assistant program at Success Business College and loves working as one of our receptionists. She is excellent at multitasking, which is an asset when checking in patients, answering phones and keeping the vets on schedule! She is also very knowledgeable on all of our products and is eager to help clients with any questions they may have.
Melanie has a love for all types of animals. At present, she has two cats, Tranzi and Buttercup, a German Shepherd named Choice and an Appaloosa cross named Rebel. Melanie is kept busy with her three beautiful children Hannah, Hayden and Taylor.
Courtney Hughes, Veterinary Assistant
Courtney was born and raised in East Hants. Courtney grew up with dogs and horses, and after high school attended the Nova Scotia Agricultural College for her Animal Science degree. While at the AC she was involved in the theater society and numerous other school activities. There she also discovered a love of genetics & medicine and graduated in 2010 with a Major in Animal Science and Minor in Molecular Genetics. She decided to combine these interests and pursue veterinary medicine after graduation.
Courtney is learning more and more about veterinary medicine everyday and gaining tons of experience as a veterinary assistant. She currently lives with her boyfriend Fred, cat Darwin, golden doodle Newton, and horse Chelsea. In her free time Courtney enjoys trail rides, grooming her pets, reading, dance and theater.
Jennifer Fraser, Registered Veterinary Technician
Jennifer grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan and after spending several summers in Nova Scotia, she decided that she would make the province her forever home. In 2007, she started working at Central Nova Animal Hospital as a Veterinary Assistant. She knew that she wanted to dedicate her career to helping animals and decided to pursue her love by becoming a Veterinary Technician. She attended the Nova Scotia Agricultural College and graduated with Honours in 2010 and became a Registered Veterinary Technician that same year.
In the short time that Jennifer has been working at our clinic, she has accumulated a large number of pets! She has adopted three dogs; Ranger, Salem and Bruno, and three cats; Winston, Kiwi and most recently, Pickles. Her pets have had their share of health issues…if you have any questions about knee surgeries or allergies, just ask Jen! Her pets keep her very busy but also very happy! Along with her pets, she lives with her boyfriend Joey who is also an animal lover. In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys outdoor activities with her dogs including camping and hiking
Judy Gamble, Receptionist
Judy is one of our receptionists and has been with us since April 2005. She graduated from CEC in 1989, then attended The Institute of Early Childhood Education.
She lives with her two children, Madison and Brody. They have a grey tabby named Midnight, who never leaves her side, and a wonderful German Shepherd named Roman. She has also provided a lovely forever home for Skye, a cat adopted from the SPCA.
Judy has spent most of her career working with children at local daycare centers. Her caring, outgoing personality contributes greatly to our friendly clinic atmosphere. She always greets each pet and client with a warm, welcoming smile!
Renee Garbes, Registered Veterinary Technician
Renee was born and grew up in Truro. She always had a strong love for animals and volunteered at Central Nova Animal Hospital throughout junior high and high school. After finishing high school, she decided to pursue her love of animals by attending the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. She graduated in 2005 with a Major in Animal Science and then worked in research for two years before deciding to return to school to become a Veterinary Technician. In 2009, she graduated from the NSAC Veterinary Technician program with High Honours, became a Registered Veterinary Technician and began working at Central Nova Animal Hospital.
Renee lives with her Boston Terrier Iggie, her cat Clover and two Morgan horses, Logan and Victor. In her spare time, she enjoys horseback riding, walking, biking and any other outdoor activity.
Kim Babineau, DVM
Kim grew up in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia on her parent's farm. Her career decision to become a veterinarian was made early so upon graduating from high school, she headed to Truro to attend the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. She was accepted into the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown, PEI after finishing her third year at the NSAC. She graduated from AVC in 1993. She worked briefly as an emergency veterinarian in Calgary, Alberta before she started working full time at Central Nova Animal Hospital in the summer of 1994.
Kim's special interests include ‘exotic’ pets. So, she's more than happy to see any reptiles, birds, ferrets and small furry creatures such as rodents and bunnies.
In her spare time Kim likes to cycle, run, read and work in her flower gardens. Kim's pets include cats Cinnamon & Rosie, a yellow Labrador Retriever named Gale as well as a tank of tropical fish.
Kim and Tim welcomed their first son, Ben, to the family in October 2003 and their daughter, Tasha, was born in December of 2005.
Central Nova Animal Hospital - 29 Main St, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada - 902 893-4331
Monday - Thursday: 8 am - 8 pm, Friday: 8 am - 5 pm, Saturday 9 am - 12 pm
Closed Sundays and all Major Holidays
Ed MacMillan, DVM
Dr. Ed started life in Moncton, NB, but soon was off to New Minas in the Annapolis Valley where he grew up with his two sisters and brother. During this time, he spent his summers working on his grandparents farm, and thereby cultured a keen interest in animals of all sorts. After high school, he began his formal education at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College where he completed a four year Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. He then ventured off to the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown.
After graduating in 1992, Ed went to Picton, Ontario where he worked in a large mixed animal practice. Working with both pets and farm animals gave Ed a broad base of experience to draw from and he moved back to Nova Scotia in 1994, where he began working at CNAH. He has a special interest in orthopedic diseases and surgery of dogs and cats. Hence, many of the broken bones and ruptured ligaments that come in end up in Ed's capable hands for repair.
Ed used to have spare time - currently he is kept very busy by his four small children, the youngest being twins born in the winter of 2002. Ed has a 2 year old male neutered Golden Retriever named "Barley". He fits in well with Ed's family, since he loves children.
