For our love of animals and our compassion for people, we strive to provide caring, collaborative and customized care for all.
Dr. Rachel Thomas, DVM, Owner
Pets: Albus, Beans, Nelson, Winchester and Faith
Dr. Rachel Thomas is a graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College. She has a keen interest in both medicine and surgery. She considers it a great privilege to provide care and support for her four-legged patients and their wonderful owners. She is also privileged to work with the amazing team of compassionate and dedicated animal lovers at Western Animal Clinic. Dr. Thomas shares her life with two dogs, one cat, two horses, two fantastic daughters, and just one equally fantastic (and long-suffering) husband.
Dr. Izabela MacDougall, DVM, Owner
Pets: Martin and Mysterion
Dr. Izabela MacDougall has always shared a special connection with animals and knew that she wanted to be a veterinarian as soon as she knew that was what you call an animal doctor. She grew up in Calgary and attended vet school at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon. She graduated in 2002. She currently lives in London with her husband and two children.
Western Animal Clinic has been an integral part of her career, first as an associate veterinarian and now as an owner. The time in between was spent working as a vet while following her husband to other parts of Canada and Australia while he completed his training.
Her passions are preventive medicine and complicated medical cases. Dr. MacDougall values that clients trust her with the health care of their special family members. She looks forward to coming to work to see her patients and their humans.
In her spare time, Dr. MacDougall enjoys horseback riding, downhill skiing, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.
Dr. MacDougall considers herself very lucky to have the opportunity to be one of the owners and a part of this truly awesome family team.
Dr. Cheryl Austin, DVM
Pets: Sudz and Geoffrey
Dr. Austin is a London native, leaving only long enough to attend the University of Guelph, graduating in 1991. Western Animal Clinic has been her home for virtually her entire career. She began at Western shortly after graduation as an associate veterinarian and then purchased the clinic in 1997. After building a lifetime of wonderful friendships with her colleagues and clients, Dr. Austin passed the ownership torch to Drs. MacDougall and Thomas in 2016. Dr. Austin is beyond grateful to have worked with these two special ladies for many years prior to their purchase of the clinic. Because of their talent and unwavering dedication to their patients she has been able to step away from a full time role at Western and enjoy retirement with the added bonus of seeing many of her friends and their pets as an occasional practitioner.
Dr. Vera Pugh, DVM
Pets: Zip, and Kodiak
Born in London, Ontario and graduating from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1983, Dr. Pugh has divided her career between traditional veterinary practice in Canada and England; and humanitarian work with NGO’s, the UN and private enterprise in Thailand, Cambodia, the Ukraine and Latvia; and the International Committee of the Red Cross in Ethiopia, Pakistan, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Libya, and Nigeria.
She has worked with dogs and cats, horses, cattle, water buffalo, and camels. She is a member of the Canadian Veterinary Reserve and also a director of Docs4GreatApes, a not-for-profit charitable organization supporting projects that improve the health of the endangered great ape populations around the world along with the human communities that surround them.
Dr. Pugh continues to volunteer for the Red Cross in London and for the Fanshawe Yacht Club Sailing School while working part-time at the Western Animal Clinic. She lives on a small farm with 2 horses, Zip and Kodiak, and her husband, Jeff. Together they still find time to enjoy competitive orienteering and sailing.
Dr. Laura Somerville, DVM
Dr. Laura Somerville had the pleasure of attending veterinary school in Scotland and graduated from the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine in 2017. After having her fill of haggis, bagpipes, and rugby, she decided to return home to Ontario to start her career in veterinary medicine.
Dr. Somerville has always wanted to pursue a career involving her love of animals and decided to focus on small animal veterinary practice because of the unique human and animal bond that people share with their pets. She loves that being a veterinarian provides an opportunity to help your four-legged family member from puppy or kittenhood to senior challenges and every hurdle in between.
Outside of work, she most enjoys spending time outdoors with her troublesome duo (Doc, a golden retriever, and Winston, a “perfectly mixed” mixed breed) on the local hiking trails. She also enjoys downhill and cross-country skiing, and when the weather is less permitting, she likes to spend time baking and sewing.
Dr. Julie Langeman, DVM
Pets: Heidi, Autumn, Ele
Julie was born and raised in the Forest City and is a graduate of both Western University and, in 2013, the Ontario Veterinary College. She has always had a love for animals and nature and knew she wanted to become a veterinarian at a very young age and spent her youth working toward that goal. She has spent time working and volunteering locally and abroad with a variety of species in various settings including clinics, farms, and animal shelters. Julie has developed a passion for feline medicine, preventative care, and managing complex medical cases. She enjoys collaborating with clients and deeply values the relationships that are formed while working toward providing the best possible care for our four-legged family members.
Outside of work, Julie enjoys the company of family (including one precocious child, spouse Jon and three cats), friends, and the great outdoors. She enjoys travelling and getting creative in the kitchen!
Angela Hodgins, Hospital Administrator
Pets: Mackenzie, Percy, and Zack
With a love of animals since birth, Angela graduated from the Veterinary Technology program at Centralia College in 1993 and joined the Western Animal Clinic team as a Registered Veterinary Technician in 1994.
After dedicating 11 years to the “hands-on” care of Western Animal Clinic’s patients, Angela took on the management role of Hospital Administrator in 2005. Though most of her days are spent managing the inner workings of the clinic, Angela still very much enjoys lending a “technical” hand whenever needed.
As a London native, she shares her home with her husband and two children, along with her crazy labrador Mackenzie, and her two rescue cats Percy and Zack.
Caitlin, Registered Veterinary Technician
Caity attended the University of Guelph – Ridgetown Campus and graduated from the veterinary technology program in 2011. She worked as an RVT since then and joined the team at Western Animal Clinic in 2015.
When Caity is not at work she spends most of her time with her two kids and husband (usually playing or watching some sort of sport), playing the guitar, or enjoying the outdoors.
Ashley, Registered Veterinary Technician
Pets: The Boston Tea Party: Marley, Gerdie & Ari, and Soren, Eglantine, & Scuttle
Ashley attended the University of Guelph – Ridgetown Campus and graduated in 2007. As a Registered Veterinary Technician, she joined the team at Western Animal Clinic in 2010. Ashley loves working with cats and dogs, and all things technical within her role as Technician at the clinic.
When Ashley is not at work, you might spot her hiking with her Boston Terriers or enjoy the bike trails throughout London. She also loves exploring her creative side by painting, drawing, gardening, and dabbling in photography. On her downtime, she enjoys relaxing with her friends, family and her cats.
Veronica, Registered Veterinary Technician
Pets: Felix
Veronica graduated from the University of Guelph – Ridgetown Campus in 2012 and went on to achieve her registered status in August later that year. In October of 2012, she joined Western Animal Clinic’s team of technicians and she continues to work here with us as well as at an emergency clinic in Brantford. Veronica currently lives in Woodstock and shares her home with her sister and her cat Felix. In her spare time, she enjoys playing sports and spending quality time with friends and family.
Carlea, Registered Veterinary Technician
Pets: The hobby farm! Which includes dogs, cats, exotics, ducks, chickens, sheep, and even a donkey!
Carlea graduated from Northern College in 2015, becoming a registered veterinary technician later that year. She then went back to school to complete a year of Wildlife Rehabilitation. Outside of work, Carlea keeps busy with her husband and all the pets on the hobby farm! When not with her furry family she loves to be outside in any weather but especially enjoys spending time fishing, taking scenery photos and being with friends/family.
Elizabeth, Registered Veterinary Technician
Pets: Wilson and Momo
Elizabeth has always known that a career involving animals was in her future. In high school, she did a co-op at her local Veterinary Clinic in Forest, Ontario, and after graduation attended the Veterinary Technician program at Georgian College – Orillia campus. After graduating from the program in 2016 She went on to write her registration exam in 2017 and became a Registered Veterinary Technician. The past 4 years of being an RVT have been extremely gratifying, each day is a different adventure with something new to learn. No two days are ever the same!
Outside of work you can find Elizabeth in the kitchen attempting to make a new recipe, making some sort of craft to keep her hands busy, or taking way too many pictures of her cats. She loves to spend time with her friends and family in the outdoors, whenever and wherever possible.
Leanne, Registered Veterinary Technician
Pets: Penny and Annabelle
Leanne graduated as a Veterinary Technician from Northern College in 2009 and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Program in 2001. She has been working as a Veterinary Technician for over ten years and joined the team at Western Animal clinic in the summer of 2022. Leanne has a passion for all animals and has experience working with cats, dogs, pocket pets, exotic reptiles, and birds. She loves keeping up with new education related to the veterinary field and wildlife rehabilitation.
She has been working in the industry since the age of 18, when she started working in various roles, including Kennel Duty, Veterinary Assistant, and Receptionist. She continued working in these roles during her summers off from school and was promoted to Veterinary Technician upon graduation.
Leanne loves the outdoors and spends her free time swimming, camping, hiking, and practicing yoga. She has had several pets over the years and currently has a Corgi X named Penny and a cat named Annabelle.
Tammy, Registered Veterinary Technician
Pets: cat crew directed by Oliver (the ginger that started it all)
Tammy attended the University of Calgary and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Primatology before graduating from Northern College from the veterinary technician program. She completed her registration in 2017 and has been working as an RVT in veterinary clinics since. It is her hope one day to use both her degree and diploma in a volunteer capacity.
When not helping others with their furry family members, Tammy enjoys spending time with her cat crew, as well as running, crafting, and reading.
Fiona, Registered Veterinary Technician
Bio coming soon!
Julie, Vet Assistant
Pets: Chloe, Megs, and Harriet
Julie has been working at Western Animal Clinic as a valued Vet Assistant, since January 2000.
After volunteering at the Humane Society, she knew that working with animals was the field she wanted to be in.
Julie helps out in many aspects of the clinic from helping our clients in reception and maintaining our inventory, to all over the clinic assisting the doctors and technicians with our patients.
With two children at home and three furry ones, Julie has plenty to keep her busy each day.
Callista, Vet Assistant
Pets: Tokyo
A recent graduate of the Veterinary Assistant program at Eastern College in Halifax Nova Scotia, Callista joined The Western Animal Clinic in April 2023. Callista discovered her love of animals and veterinary medicine during a high school co-op placement and never looked back. When she’s not working Callista enjoys playing guitar, supporting local bands and hanging out with her cat Tokyo.