Vets4Pets Bristol Emersons Green

Carla Puime Costoya

Veterinary Surgeon & Partner

I qualified and graduated in Spain, in Santiago de Compostela University in 2000 and then spent time in America volunteering in several hospitals; subsequently I moved to England where I have been practising veterinary medicine since 2002.

Firstly I worked for a large veterinary group in Yorkshire, eventually taking on a senior position at the main hospital; here I developed one of my two passions: diagnostic imaging, mainly ultrasound and endoscopy. My other passion is challenging cases of internal medicine: I love complicated cases that need lots of investigation, especially when it involves imaging. I also worked as a locum before taking a permanent position as Clinical Director at the Vale Veterinary Group in Devon; here I attended several courses on Western Acupuncture and I'm now able to treat pets with traditional manual acupuncture as well as electro-acupuncture. I stayed at the Vale until I recently decided to take on the path of Joint Venture Partner at Vets4Pets Bristol Emersons Green.

Due to my love for cats we have qualified and obtained the status of a Gold Cat friendly practice with a special focus on them. We have special designed cat kennels (cat condos) that help cats to cope better with stress and recovery while away from their owners. We have also managed to become a silver accredited practice on the rabbit friendly vet list at RWAF. I have a great passion for pugs but sadly lost my pug Winston, howver at home I have a French bulldog called Darwin. It is thanks to my dad's love for dogs that I became a vet; I grew up surrounded by 30 dogs, cats, fish and budgerigars.

My other interest, together with my husband, is the great outdoors, we love canoeing, cycling, climbing and our son Theo and daughter Alma love it too.

Joe

Veterinary Surgeon

I graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in London in 2011 and stayed in London for 3 and a half years working at a practice in Middlesex followed by a move into central London, working in Notting Hill.

My clinical interests include all kinds of surgery, emergency medicine and neurology. I particularly enjoy working with clients throughout the whole lifespan of their pet’s illness so that I can oversee and explain every step in the process.

I am originally from Stoke Gifford and have recently moved back to Bristol with my wife following a year of travel and volunteering. When not working I enjoy sailing, making good food and drinking fine wine.

Phil

Veterinary Surgeon

I graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2011 which the observant of you will note is the same year as Joe and yes we have been friends since then. Since graduating I have worked exclusively in small animal practices but have bounced around a bit, working in Lincolnshire, Devon and Cornwall prior to ending up in Bristol.

I really enjoy the variety of cases that come in on a day to day basis but suppose if you had to pin me down I have a soft spot for dermatology..some cardiology..a bit of opthalamology..as I say a bit of everything. I have a dog called Sasha who is an Alaskan Malamute so I guess you could say I am a dog person but I do enjoy seeing most animals and have even once operated on a snake.

Outside of work I am equally at home outdoors, walking the dog, paddleboarding or playing softball; or indoors watching films, trying to beat Joe at cards or discussing rugby down the pub.

Nad

Head Veterinary Nurse

I moved from Devon for university purposes, qualifying from Hartpury College in 2012 and worked in a small animal practice in Cheltenham.

One of my interests lie in exotic and wild species and I have been volunteering at Bristol Zoo since graduating. I am further pursing this by studying for my certificate in veterinary nursing of exotic species. I really love nursing and am very excited to be part of the team at Vets4Pets Emersons Green and meeting all the lovely owners and amazing pets.

Outside of work I enjoy visiting museums and cathedrals and am trying to get back into amateur dramatics.

Denise

Veterinary Nurse

I had always wanted to work with animals and was really lucky to be offered a job in a veterinary practice in Newcastle upon Tyne as soon as I left school, qualifying as a Veterinary Nurse in 1981. I moved down to the South West in 1982 and have worked in vets around the Bath and Bristol area ever since.

I really enjoy my job, every day is different and over the years I have met some lovely people and their pets.

I love helping owners to slim down overweight pets, giving advice about cat, dog and rabbit care and have great fun when hosting puppy parties. My husband and I are ''owned'' by Muttley the mischievous mongrel.

In my spare time I love cooking, gardening and singing with a local group. In the winter months North Devon is my favourite spot to enjoy beach walks but in the spring and summer month’s holidays are spent canal boating around the UK and France.

Sophie

Student Veterinary Nurse

I have always had a passion for learning about animals and grew up watching anything by Steve Irwin and David Attenborough.

I have been with the practice now for just over three years and I am lucky to have recently begun studying to become a registered veterinary nurse, which I am thoroughly enjoying.

I live with my husband and our two springer spaniels Charlie and Lola, two snakes Bindi and Irwin, and six guinea pigs – Harry, Ted, Nelson, Audrey, Frida and Grace. I also have a passion for gardening and keep an allotment, and enjoy sailing with my husband on our holidays.

Hayley

Student Veterinary Nurse

I’ve always known I’ve wanted to work with animals as a young child and in my early 20s I completed several animal care courses. Which led me to last year finally taking the plunge and secured a placement to start my training as a student veterinary nurse.

I have a very energetic 2-year springer spaniel called Copper, she was previously a working dog but unfortunately failed so I rescued her and is now a loving, loyal family pet who loves belly rubs and cuddles. In my spare days you’ll see me walking in the countryside with a spot of gardening where Copper is always keen to help me dig some holes!

I’ve always loved to travel and have been lucky enough to travel the world from, Australia, Fiji, Hawaii, New York and my most favourite of all, Kenya. Where I fulfilled a dream of mine, seeing all my favourite safari animals and where I flew over the Masai Mara in a hot air balloon.

Stacy

Veterinary Care Assistant

Since the age of 15 I have been working with animals both wild and domesticated species through Noah’s ark zoo farm where I gained experience with a wide range of species from rabbits and guinea pigs to giraffes and zebras! I then started my training as a veterinary care assistant in 2017 qualifying in June 2018.

I was based at Vets4Pets in Kingswood originally and joined the team here at Emersons green in August 2018. I thoroughly enjoy all aspects of the job due to its diversity - no two days are ever the same and there’s such a variety of animals we get to see.

I eventually aim to become a qualified veterinary nurse but at the moment I’m gaining significant experience within the practice from client care to looking after the animals.

In my spare time I enjoy various activities such as camping, rock climbing, and baking, I am also a girl guiding leader in my spare time and enjoy relaxing weekends away. I also own a lovely adventurous domestic short-haired cat called Sanka.

Emily

Assistant Practice Manager

I have been with the team here at Vets4Pets Emersons Green since the practice opened in June 2014. I feel very lucky to be working in a practice that has such a fantastic team and lovely clients. If you meet me on reception you’ll see I’m a bit of a chatter as I enjoy getting to know you and your pets.

The job has offered so many great experiences and opportunities, one of which was to help me achieve a personal goal of learning Sign Language. I’m currently qualified in Level 1 and hope to achieve level 2 in the future. I live in Wales with my family and in my spare time I like to teach my Collie X dog called Loki new tricks, we’re up to 17 so far! Also exploring the beautiful countryside with him is a favourite.

Jade

Customer Service

I joined the Pets at Home team in 2014 whilst doing an animal care course at Norton Radstock College. I volunteered in the vets while doing my course, and I’ve always wanted to join the vet’s team and work alongside them. I love working within an animal environment, having the variety of customer service and puppy cuddles.

I feel I am very lucky to be given this opportunity to be part of such a fantastic team, and look forward to my future career working alongside such a lovely team.

Since I can remember I’ve always loved animals, I currently live with my partner and his 2 kids alongside 2 giant rabbits, 2 guinea pigs and a bearded dragon.

In my spare time besides looking after all my animals, I love going on long walks in the countryside, swimming and travelling down south to my favourite place Cornwall and camping.