Our Team

Dr Kay Pitkeathly

 
Dr Kay is our full time Vet. She started this Animal Care Hospital in 1989 when she was pregnant with her youngest daughter. All of her kids have grown up living in the house behind the vet hospital and Dr Kay is passionate about caring for pets. She has done a lot of post graduate study in surgery, eyes, orthopaedics, reproduction, dentistry as well as internal medicine.

She has 3 cats, 2 dogs, 3 chickens, 2 budgies and a Kakariki parrot and a turtle.

Dr Edmond Bechara

 
Dr Edmond Bechara, or ‘Ed’ has been a vet for 25 years, graduating from the University of Sydney. Ed has been with Menai Animal Hospital for over 6 years. He enjoys all aspects of small animal veterinary practice especially surgery, dermatology, ultrasound and medicine.

Ed owns a cheeky tortoiseshell cat named ‘Buttercup’ and especially likes looking after our feline patients.

Fiona

 
Fiona has been with Menai Animal Hospital for 3 years. She started nursing after having her 3 children, although she has worked with horses and large animals since she was a teenager. Fiona is passionate about providing pets and their owners with the best possible care. She has over 10 years of nursing experience and especially enjoys surgical nursing and anaesthesia.

Fiona has 2 rescue dogs – a Greyhound and a Jack Russell terrier and 2 cats that she hand raised from birth. When Fiona is not at work she enjoys camping and exploring our remote country and reading.

Narelle

 
Narelle has worked at Menai Animal Hospital since 1997 as a vet nurse. She has bred and owned British and French Bulldogs since 1986 and continues to have the mascot for The Bulldogs NRL team. Narelle started breeding cats in 1997 – both British Shorthair and Scottish folds.

She is an all breeds Cat Judge and loves travelling all over Australia and New Zealand judging. Narelle has held positions on the National British Bulldog Council and been President of The British Bulldog Club of NSW and The NSW Country Region Bulldog Club. She has held executive and committee positions for the French Bulldog club. Narelle is the current President of Cats Australia, a National cat club. She have sat on health and welfare forums for Brachycephalic breeds and has assisted in the Dogs Australia Brachycephalic healthy breeds campaigns. Narelle recently sat on the newly reformed Animal welfare strategy group for all matters animal.

She is passionate about her job and genuinely love the pets and people she meets. She is dedicated to the education of children with both dog safety and animal care. Narelle started the Junior Vet for a day program to give those children who love pets and want to learn more a chance to express this outlet. She hopes to continue working here till she can’t any longer.

Sue

Sue has been working with animals for 32 years. For 16 + of those years (she has lost count!) she has had the pleasure of working with the remarkable Dr Kay Pitkeathly and her veterinary colleagues and an amazing team of veterinary nurses. She believes our team is like a family dedicated to providing the best care possible to your beloved pets.

Her personal interests include showing and breeding Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, medical nursing and end of life pet care.

Tristan

Tristan has been working at Menai Animal Hospital for 2 years. He has recently completed his nursing qualification. Tristan enjoys assisting in surgery and is passionate about large breed dogs and their care as well as working with fearful dogs to gain their trust and make them more comfortable in the hospital setting.

He has 2 dogs – a German Shepherd named Tyson and a German Shepherd x Rottweiler named Lulu, as well as a rabbit named Pepper, and a Blue Tongue names Sapphire. Tristan loves playing Soccer and Golf.

Chloe

Chloe is our newest vet nurse. She is a Shire girl studying Animal and Veterinary Bioscience at the University of Sydney, dreaming of one day working with livestock – mainly horses and cattle. She is loving working with a large range of companion animals and wildlife.

With two pets of her own, Maizie and Graywacky, she grew up surrounded by animals, both in her household and down the south coast.

Chloe has an interest in the research field, preparing to undertake her Honours at university next year, all while cementing her knowledge in the veterinary profession.

When she’s not at work or university, you’ll find Chloe with her nose in a book or singing along to one of her favourite musicals.

Michelle

Michelle joined Menai Animal Hospital two years ago working part time, fulfilling a life long dream to work with animals. Growing up in the country Michelle rescued and looked after many different species, continuing this by joining WIRES 20 years ago. Michelle’s favourite two species to look after are Bats and Koalas.

Michelle features in a documentary currently showing in cinemas called “The Koalas” looking after a local shire celebrity koala named Wonnie. Michelle also has travelled up to Port Macquarie Koala Hospital twice to volunteer and learn. During this time Michelle completed numerous TAFE animal care courses. In 2023, Michelle raised her first foster kitten and a new love was born so far looking after 30 kittens and cats. Especially fond of the neonates and spicy ones.

At work Michelle has a particular interest in Avian and exotics focussing on nutrition and enrichment. Feline Medicine. As well as animal training and behaviour completing courses in dog and cat behaviour.

At home Michelle has feathered and furbabies (several bought home from the work) three birds, two rabbits, and two very spoilt ragdoll cats, who are very tolerant of all the houseguests and love to help mother the foster kittens.