Sarah Thorstensen Dipl. in Veterinary Nursing
Companion Animal Hospital Manager
After completing her Veterinary Nurse qualification in 2014, Sarah enjoyed many roles around North Canterbury and Hawke's Bay as a Veterinary Nurse. Sarah really enjoys her hospital management role, particularly being able to continue to utilise her veterinary nursing skills as well as manage and work alongside a highly skilled team.
Christine Moloney BVSc
Companion Animal Veterinarian
Christine is currently the head of the Companion Animal Department, having spent the last 30 years guiding it to where it is today. She especially enjoys the relationships she has with her many clients and her interest in surgery. Christine's spare time is spent with her partner on their sheep and beef farm, where they can be found mustering on horseback, or trekking through the bush when time allows.
Helen Sheard BVSc MVM
Companion Animal Veterinarian
Helen grew up in the South Island but moved north and graduated from Massey in 2003. She worked in mixed practice in Raetihi, Taihape and Levin before ending up in Feilding. Helen loves working dogs and has been involved in various working dog research projects, and is also a trustee for the Retired Working Dogs NZ charity. Aside from working dogs, Helen is also interested in orthopaedics and dermatology.
Joanne Nesdale BVSc
Companion Animal Veterinarian
Joanne was raised on a sheep and beef farm in the Hawke's Bay. She graduated from Massey in 1992 and after working in mixed practice in Taranaki came to the Manawatu. She began working for Manawatu Vet Services (now Totally Vets) in 1994. After a stint travelling and then working in Somerset England, and a break with family, Joanne returned to Totally Vets. She loves both cats and dogs and has a soft spot for those working dogs.
Julia Giles BVSc MVM (dist) PhD
Companion Animal Veterinarian
Julia graduated from Massey University in 2008 and worked in a private companion animal practice in New Zealand before undertaking a rotating internship at the University of Queensland. She has worked in the general practice and emergency/critical care departments of Massey University and worked as clinical lead at a local veterinary hospital. She then moved to Totally Vets to follow her special interest in internal medicine. Outside of work, Julia has two small children, a cat and free-range chickens. She also plays the piano and writes her own classical music.
Holly Smith BVSc
Companion Animal Veterinarian
Holly graduated from Massey in 2020 and has decided to stay in the Manawatu and start her career with us. She hails from Christchurch originally but now lives on a dairy farm with her partner just down the road from the clinic. Holly is an avid dog lover but loves working with all companion animal species. Holly is interested in both surgery and medicine and is excited to put her skills to use in the hospital.
Susan Ransom BVSc
Companion Animal Veterinarian
Susan emigrated from the UK in 2008. She worked as a small animal vet at Totally Vets, then in Christchurch and now back in Feilding. Susan enjoys the variety in companion animal work, especially surgery.
Tanya Dawson BVSc BCA
Companion Animal Veterinarian
Raised in Wellington, Tanya enjoyed a corporate career before returning to study to become a veterinarian. After graduating from Massey in 2021, she decided to put down permanent roots in the Manawatu and joined the Totally Vets team. She loves working with the variety of animals that visit the clinic but will happily confess to a soft spot for cats. Outside of work she's kept busy with two small children, and plans to have cats again in the near future.
Christina Williams
Veterinary Nurse
Christina has worked for the company since 1993. Originally working as a vet nurse, she moved into her current role of Consulting Nurse in 2018. Christina really enjoys seeing her own patients and helping their owners with all aspects of their pet’s health.
Debbie Asplin Cert. in Veterinary Nursing
Veterinary Nurse
Debbie started at Manawatu Vets about a year after finishing school and has been with the company through its change to Totally Vets. She feels very lucky to work with the animals she sees, along with her teammates, to make sure they receive the best care possible.
Helen Ryan BN Dipl. in Veterinary Nursing
Veterinary Nurse
Helen has worked for Totally Vets since 2003 after leaving her first career as a human nurse. She enjoys the variety and challenges of the job, especially regarding surgery and anaesthesia. She thinks working with animals is a privilege as there is a lot they can teach us. Her cat Hazel is a 2010 rescue and Millie the Huntaway (who she shares with family) is from Retired Working Dogs NZ.
Jess Robertson Dipl. in Veterinary Nursing
Veterinary Nurse
Jess has been working as a Veterinary Nurse since 2015 when she completed her Diploma in Veterinary Nursing. She was born and raised in Palmerston North. Jess has played football for Marist for over 12 years and played national level Futsal. She currently owns four cats - Margaret, Akela, Rocket and Loki, who were all rescues.

Lorna Sambrook Cert. in Veterinary Nursing
Veterinary Nurse
Lorna graduated in 2012 and started working for Totally Vets in 2018. She is especially interested in rehabilitation and physiotherapy and loves all animals, big and small.
Natasha Kirk Dipl. in Veterinary Nursing
Veterinary Nurse
Natasha has worked for Totally Vets since 2014 and helps to run puppy preschool. She is particularly passionate about pugs, chihuahuas and farm dogs.
Megan Crawford Dipl. in Veterinary Nursing
Veterinary Nurse
Megan has spent most of her career working in Emergency and Critical Care Hospitals in Australia. She returned to New Zealand and joined the team at Totally Vets in 2020.
Vanessa Knutson Cert. in Veterinary Nursing
Veterinary Nurse
Vanessa grew up on a dairy farm in the Manawatu, which meant she naturally progressed into a career in Veterinary Nursing, qualifying with Otago Polytechnic. Vanessa has gained a great deal of experience in the veterinary world over the last 15 years. Her passions outside of work are western riding, running a lifestyle block and most importantly being a Mum.
Chloe Simpson Dipl. in Vet Nursing
Veterinary Nurse
Chloe studied a Diploma of Veterinary Nursing and is also working towards completing a Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing. She has a strong interest in dog behaviour and has a collection of her own pets - a naughty staffy cross called Kya, two cats named Aerona and Yuuki, and a blue tongue lizard named Opei.
Kaylene Otterson Dipl. in Veterinary Nursing
I have been a vet nurse since 2015 and recently moved down to the Manawatu region. I am interested in surgery and rehabilitation and hope to have an animal of my own one day soon, to complete our household.
Christina Boonen Cert. in Veterinary Nursing
Michelle Maat Dipl. in Vet Nursing
Veterinary Nurse