Dr. Jason McLeod
Dr. McLeod was born and raised in London, Ontario. His love of all forms of life was apparent from childhood and his family all knew he would one day follow his passion and become a veterinarian. He attended both the University of Guelph and the University of British Columbia for both undergraduate and post-graduate studies in zoology, physiology and marine biology prior to graduating from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2001.
Dr. McLeod's research involved studies from the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and took him to fascinating places such as the East and West Coasts of Canada, the Caribbean Sea and Australia. During this time he was awarded the Geraldine Dodge Foundation Fellowship for studies advancing the ethical and humane treatment of animals.
Dr. McLeod acknowledges the importance of a team effort toward veterinary care and the importance of having an informed and educated staff that can deliver services in a compassionate and caring manner. He has been a guest speaker at multiple functions to discuss strategies for business success, including speaking to the graduating class of OVC 2006. He was extremely proud of his entire Muskoka team for being awarded the "Professional Business of the Year" by the Chambers of Commerce in 2006.
Dr. McLeod moved to Muskoka following graduation because of his love of the environment and the outdoors. He shares his love of Muskoka with his wife, Megan, their young son, Marshall, and a menagerie of pets including 4 cats and a Boxer/ Bull mastiff fanatically fixated on anything resembling a tennis ball, and who, despite being a geriatric dog, still manages to live up to the mighty name of Thor.
Dr. Trish Wendell
Dr. Wendell graduated from the Ontaro Veterinary College in 2003. Her previous studies included an honours degree in Ecology and several years in music (voice) from the University of Guelph.
While completing her veterinary training, Dr. Wendell helped to found the university's Pet Loss Support Hotline, earned a research grant from the Geraldine Dodge Foundation for animal welfare and won the top award for performance on the externship program for final year veterinary students.
Dr. Wendell moved to the Muskoka region in 2005 where she is busy raising her two children. She and her husband are the proud owners of two golden retrievers and, at present, one cat. In her few spare moments Dr. Wendell enjoys back country camping, knitting and stained glass art.
Dr. Melanie Sigetich
Dr. Melanie graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1998. After graduation, she and three classmates spent two months on safari in Eastern Africa. She then practiced for seven years at a busy small animal and exotics veterinary hospital in Oakville. Furthering her interest in exotic and wildlife medicine, she attended to "house calls" at Toronto's High Park Zoo. In 2001, she appeared as a guest speaker on CTV's Canada AM to discuss exotic animal pet care.
Dr. Melanie cottaged in the Muskoka region throughout her childhood and early career, and moved to the area in 2005 to join the teams at both Algonquin and Bracebridge Animal Hospitals. Dr. Melanie enjoys hiking with her Weimaraner, Gryphon and German Wire-haired Pointer, Nixon, kayaking, practicing yoga, and entertaining a constant stream of summer cottage guests. She was married in 2007 in a picture perfect outdoor Muskoka winter ceremony to husband Matt, who shares in her love of the Muskoka outdoors.
Dr. Julie Wallace
Dr. Wallace graduated
from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2008. Prior to this, she served six
years in the Naval Reserves, spending summers in Halifax and Victoria while completing
a Bachelor of Science at the University of Guelph. She then had a five-year
business career in Toronto with a rapidly growing environmental recycling
company, gaining valuable experience in software development, operations, and
project management. Julie was part of the management team that
took the company public through their Initial Public Offering.
However, her childhood
dream of being a veterinarian never went away, she made the decision to
resign and return to school. After gaining experience with small animals,
horses, exotics and emergency medicine, Dr. Julie is very excited to join the
wonderful team at Algonquin Animal Hospital and Bracebridge Animal Hospital.
Dr. Wallace has spent many wonderful times at friend's
cottages in Muskoka over the years, and feels fortunate to experience living
here full-time. She and her husband Niall are busy with their pets (two dogs,
two cats and a horse, plus various transient rescues), their love of travel,
outdoor sports, and hot tubing.
Dr. Janice Mitchell
Dr. Janice graduated from the Ontario
Veterinary College in 1997 and continued her “military brat" mobile
ways and moved to work in different locations including Port Hardy,
B.C., Owen Sound, and recently in London, Ontario.
She
decided to return to her permanent roots in the Muskoka area to spend
more time with her family and furry Havanese sister “Maggie Muffin”.
Dr.
Janice enjoys many activities such as hikes with her spouse and
dog-like cat “Miss Bee”, playing piano, knitting (although a beginner),
and drinking a good cup of tea while reading or listening to the CBC.
