Meet The Team

When away from work Iain has dedicated his life time to wild bird conservation. As a recognised bird ringer, at Trainer level, with the British Trust for Ornithology (since 1980). His particular interest is in bird migration and studies a wide variety of species locally, from migrant warblers to all species of Gull. The newest project is looking at the species of seabirds which use the Forth/Clyde “flyway” crossing Scotland over the central belt and into the Clyde estuary avoiding the huge distance going round!

Known as the practice geek Madonna graduated from Glasgow University in 2002 and found her home at  Ark Vets in 2004. Madonna enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine but has a special interest in all exotic species.  She also enjoys soft tissue surgery and animal behaviour. Madonna is a member of the Rabbit Welfare and Association Fund (RWAF), the Tortoise Trust, Clyde Bird Ringing Group, the Scottish Ferret Club, British Veterinary Zoological Society, and the Veterinary Invertebrate Society.

She is also a committee member of the Scottish branch of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) and has recently completed her three year position as Chair of the committee having previously been the PetSavers Charity Rep. Together with her committee, Madonna as grown Scottish Congress to become the largest veterinary conference in Scotland. Madonna is an affiliated vet of Glasgow University Veterinary School where she is the nominated vet for their exotic animals. She teaches clinical skills in small exotic mammals and lectures on exotic animal medicine and surgery. She also does consultancy work for an external laboratory and speaks widely throughout U.K. on exotic animal medicine and surgery.

Madonna is also the Clinical Lead for the Selective Exotics Rotation for the Final year vet students from Glasgow Vet School. Final year students who are particularly interested in Exotics work in the clinic with our team for a three week rotation. The practice is really proud of being a key component of training the next generation of exotic vets to care for our furry, feathery, and scaley members of our family!

Madonna has been awarded a distinction in her Parrot Studies and Behaviour Diploma and is studying towards her diploma in feline behaviour. Madonna was also awarded the UK Rabbit Vet of the Year Award 2022 by Burgess and RWAF, and the External Lecturer of the Year award 2022, by the students of Glasgow Vet School.

In her spare time Madonna enjoys training her German Shepherd Dog: Vita and Hungarian Vizsla: Rheia  in obedience and hopefully agility. She also enjoys helping with wild bird conservation and researching exotic animal diseases. Currently she is owned by two dogs, ten ferrets, 34 chickens, two cockatiels and five dwarf puffer fish! 

Krissy Joined Ark in late 2019 when the Practice expanded its busy exotics department. After
completing an intercalated Honours in Zoology in 2002 Krissy graduated from R(D)SVS in 2005. She
then spent 3 years between Wildlife and Zoo practice before returning to Edinburgh in 2008 to
undertake an MSc in Reproduction specialising in Reproduction of Endangered Species in Zoos.
Krissy subsequently spent a year in small animal emergency medicine before working for nine years
in Exotics referral and Small animal 1 st Opinion practice. Here Krissy completed her RCVS certificate
in Zoological Medicine in 2014.
Krissy is an active member of the British Veterinary Zoological Society, the British Association of
Veterinary Herbalists, the British Herpetological Society and the Parrot Society. Her veterinary
Interests have been quite diverse over her career. She loves both small animal first opinion practice
and exotics referral work. Krissy believes in a holistic approach to veterinary medicine and is
particularly passionate about veterinary ethics, animal welfare, exotics pet husbandry and
therapeutic nutrition for exotics pets. Krissy has lectured both nationally and internationally on
exotic medicine.

In her ‘Other life’ Krissy is a wife and a mother to two small children and cohabits with a cat, various
lizards and pet woodlice. She enjoys running, knitting and spending time with her family.

Michael graduated from Glasgow Vet School in 2023 and joined us as a new graduate. He’s been loving his time here finding his feet, and has been enjoying all aspects of his job. He hopes to begin to broaden his horizons as his time at the practice goes on and perhaps find a niche to specialize in. 

Away from the practice he enjoys the outdoors, and volunteers with the Scout Association. He has two cats (usually much happier than in the picture opposite) that he dotes on and occasionally finds time to run Dungeons and Dragons games for his friends. 

Hi, I’m Katherine Gumal. I’m a Malaysian from the exotic sunny island of Borneo and I love Asian food. My favourite restaurant in Glasgow is Loon Fung which has amazing dim sum! I graduated from Glasgow Vet School in 2021 amidst the crazy pandemic and am enjoying practicing all aspects of medicine in my favourite rainy, cold city in the UK. In my spare time, I love dancing, music, kickboxing and houseplants. The dogs in the photo are my Rottweiler-mixed-Dalmatians and I also have two German Shepherd-mixed-Labs.

After seeing practice here as a student and thoroughly enjoying my time here with all the staff, clients and patients it became a goal of mine to work here as a qualified vet! I have a particular interest in surgery and exotic animals but love treating all species. When I am not in the clinic, I enjoy spending time with my partner, walking, and playing games with friends.

Paul graduated from Edinburgh Vet School in 2022, followed by a stint as a Vet in a Mixed Animal Practice in the south of Scotland. Quite the difference from the cattle and horses of his previous job- Paul is really enjoying treating the mix of wild and wonderful creatures we see here at Ark. He has a small menagerie of his own at home, living with an assortment of reptilian friends and his wee Border Terrier Molly, who you will undoubtedly see around the practice. When he isn’t vetting, you’ll find Paul in the sea, up a cliff or on a mountain top- looking for wildlife or doing one of the many outdoor sports he enjoys.

Hi there, I’m Holly and I love seeing the wide variety of pets we care for here at Ark. I especially love rabbits and parrots, having had these furry and feathered companions my whole life. I have enjoyed fostering around 150 rabbits of all ages, temperaments and with all manner of health conditions.

Outside of work I enjoy adventuring outdoors as well as going to gigs and spending time with family and friends.
I am pictured here with my two lovely girls Ziggy and Whitney (excuse their red pepper stained feathers, I am still working on their manners!).

I saw practice at the Ark between the ages of 18-26 yrs old and worked here on a Saturday during my time studying to become a qualified veterinary nurse. It was during this time I developed my passion for exotics and knew my ultimate aim was to work here full time. In December 2021 I was awarded my degree in Veterinary Nursing and since then I have worked in emergency medicine, first opinion, and referral clinics. I joined the ark full time in June 2024. My main interests lay in exotic species anaesthesia, physiotherapy, and acupuncture. Although I also enjoy consulting as I like to get to know my patients and their owners. Outside of work, my many aquariums (both tropical and marine) and my Blue fronted Amazon parrot (Quincy) keep me busy. I also enjoy walking and spending time with my partner.

I joined Ark Vets in July 2024 after working in shelter medicine for 7 years. I wanted to experience first opinion care and start working with pets and their owners. I gained my qualification as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2021 and although I enjoy all areas of veterinary nursing, I have a particular interest in anaesthesia and I am excited to learn more about exotics. When I am not at work I like to stay active by attending the gym and going running. I enjoy spending time with family and friends, and most importantly I do absolutely everything with my beagle Toby!

After being invited to an interview whilst working as a veterinary care assistant in another practice, I was offered the job. The chance to work with exotics and feeling like a fitted in with all the staff helped make my decision to accept! I hold a HND in Animal Care and was awarded my Degree in Zoology and Bioscience. My main interests are anaesthesia and x-rays. Outside of work I enjoy socialising, wild swimming, and bird watching (don’t judge!).

From a young age I have wanted to work with animals and become a veterinary nurse. In 2020 I completed my NC in Animal Care and completed my HND in Animal Care in 2022 then going on to be awarded my degree with honours in Bioscience and Zoology in 2024. My interests are varied (exotics, surgery, radiography, medicine, holistic view of medicine, and behaviour. Outside of work I love progressive learning, reading, and dancing!

After being a peer support worker for a mental health charity for nearly 10 years I decided on a change of career path and joined the Ark in 2022. I firmly believe in a holistic approach to pain management in all species. My main interests are exotics, physiotherapy, anaesthesia, and surgery. I was awarded my Degree with commendation in Biosciences and Biotechnology. Outside of work I enjoy reading, crafting, and spending time with (and medicating!) my own pets. 

I started with Ark vets in April 2024 after making the difficult decision to close my exotic animal pet store. I have always wanted to work with animals and had previously worked with in emergency veterinary care as an animal care assistant. I hold a HND in animal care and a degree (with hons) in Applied Bioscience with Zoology. I am passionate about all animals but in particular exotics and want to further my knowledge in all areas of their care. When I am not working I have diverse hobbies which include: reading, rambling, circus training, taxidermy, and the breeding of select reptiles and invertebrates.

Hi I’m Ellis! I’m apart of the Nursing Team here at Ark Vets. I first started in February 2024 on work experience and have been here ever since! You’ll be able to recognise me by my pink crocs and you’ll most likely find me talking about my Guinea Pig’s and my dog Percy, and If you see anything pink within practice.. it’s probably mine! 

Whether your pet has fangs, feathers or fur (I’ve had them all!) and I cannot wait to love, learn about and care for your wee one!

Pam joined the Ark family in 2017. Most of her spare time is spent with her two dogs, taking long walks and going on day trips. She relaxes by watching movies and going to the occasional care shows at the weekends.