Bridgwater Vets4Pets

I am Johan van Sittert. I am the joint venture partner and veterinary surgeon in Vets4Pets. My main responsibility is the provision of high quality compassionate care to all my patients and their owners. My main goal is to improve the quality of life of my patients and also to guide their owners to be able to provide the best possible life for them. I believe that prevention is always better than cure and is always happy to discuss preventative measures like vaccinations and parasite control as this is the corner stone of a happy and hopefully long life of the pet. I have a special interest in surgery, both soft tissue and orthopaedic and obtained my Post graduate Certificate in small animal surgery in 2017. I am originally from South Africa and graduated from Onderstepoort (University of Pretoria). I started working in England in 2003 in Peterborough. I was there for four years in a companion animal hospital before returning to South Africa. While in South Africa for 2 years I was focusing mostly on production animals, mostly cattle and sheep farming. Returning to London in 2008, since then I have been working exclusively in companion animal practice. In my private time I like photography and walking. I am also a qualified scuba diver with a PADI Rescue diver qualification. I do like the fact that no two days in practice is ever the same. Also seeing the difference we make in some of our patient's lives is what gets me to get up and go to work every day.

Stacey qualified from the University of Bristol in 2015, and after an initial stint in South Wales, she returned home to practice in Somerset. Stacey has close ties with the local area, having grown up in Westonzoyland and her family live and work within the local community.

As a small animal practitioner, Stacey values the relationships she builds with our clients, particularly meeting and welcoming new clients and their pets. She looks forward to coming to work due to our lovely and supportive team environment as well. Her clinical interests are varied, but she enjoys focusing on internal medicine.

Outside of work, Stacey’s time is mainly taken up by her beautiful Cocker Spaniel, Luna and her herd of horses; Stan, Hazel and youngster Winston. Whether on foot with Luna, or on horseback with Stan, Stacey enjoys being out appreciating the local countryside.

I have been nursing since 2010 and qualified in 2013. I joined Vets4Pets Bridgwater in 2014. The best part of my job is nursing hospitalised patients and seeing them get better. I also enjoy giving advice to clients about their pets and hot to give them the correct nutrition and flea and worm treatments. I am interested in schedule 3 procedures e.g suturing wounds and small surgical procedures in which I have taken a course. I would like to continue to improve and use my skills in practice. I also have a particular interest in wound management and animal behaviour. I am also a qualified C-SQP so I can dispense certain medications. I currently own a Birman cat called Marley and a Whippet called Louis. I look forward to undertaking more CPD on the things that interest me and also continuing to educate clients on the correct way to care for their pets.

I joined Vets4Pets Bridgwater in 2016. The best part of my job is getting to be involved in not only helping clients by giving advice but using my knowledge and skills to help on busy days. I also enjoy helping to look after the animals staying here for their operations. I have a level 3 diploma in animal management and qualified as a Veterinary Care Assistant (VCA). I have a passion for traveling and enjoy visiting different countries. I currently own a Shih Tzu called Dookie, 2 rabbits called Luna and Loki (one I rehomed as a stray from the practice), 5 cats called Cashew, Tia, Harley, Mouse and Lily and to finish it off a Silkie chicken. I look forward to one day hopefully training as a veterinary nurse and continue to expand my knowledge. I also look forward to getting to know the clients and their pets.

Rachel has many years of experience and has been working as a nurse for over 30 years. She has worked in practices in the south and southwest of the UK, so some of you may have met her elsewhere. Rachel worked at the University of Bristol for 4 years, teaching trainee vets and nurses. She joined Vets4Pets in Street in March 2018 and then moved to Vets4Pets Bridgwater in October 2018. Rachel’s nursing interests are Nutrition and feline medicines and behaviors. Rachel has been privileged enough to have been asked to write a chapter on preventative health care for cats for a feline nursing text book.

Rachel has a black and white cat called Newt, a tabby called Frank who Rachel both rescued from a previous practice where they were involved in a road traffic accident. She also has a gorgeous black and white collie called Mila and she absolutely loves people and loves being “chief meet and greeter” at reception.

 

Rachel Garry has been a member of the nursing team here since 2021. She qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2018, though has been working in practice since 2011.

Rachel enjoys all aspects of nursing, though has a keen interest in Anaesthesia and Analgesia, gaining an additional City & Guilds Level 2 in this area, as well as currently being enrolled on a BVNA Learning Pathway in Anaesthesia. She has also undertaken training in laser therapy treatment.

In her spare time, she and her husband Dean enjoy exploring the Somerset countryside, accompanied by her Cockapoo Alfie and her Lurcher Ted. At home, Chester the 3-legged cat rules the roost.  ​

Ilse is the Bridgwater Practice Manager and of course Johan's Wife. Ilse was born in South Africa and qualified there as a Chartered Accountant. She moved to the UK in 2008 and despite it being very different, she loves it! Ilse enjoys helping Johan with the day to day activities of running the veterinary practice and in her spare time she enjoys reading anything crime-related or watching Netflix. Ilse is also a qualified C-SQP so she can dispense certain medications.