Our Team Members
Angie Barca
Veterinary Surgeon
Angie qualified as a vet in 2002 and has worked in various small animal practices since, widening her experience, before joining our Spalding branch in 2018. She is particularly interested in internal medicine, surgery and alternative medicine. She has two pets, Pedro the chihuahua and Leon the friendly cat. She enjoys walking in nature, practicing yoga and painting.
Giuseppe Palatucci
Veterinary Surgeon
Giuseppe graduated in veterinary medicine in his hometown, Perugia in Italy, and gained experience in small animal practices before moving to the UK and joining Best Friends in 2014. He has a particular interest in soft tissue surgery and internal medicine. His cat Emma lives in Italy with his family, and he likes to return home for mountain biking and cross country skiing in the Italian Alps.
Paula Dean
Veterinary Surgeon
Paula joined Best Friends in 2017, and has seen a wide variety of interesting veterinary cases across her career, including treating animals from horses and farm animals to monkeys, reptiles, pine martens, coati and capybara. At home she has three cats, two rabbits and a border collie – all rescues – and enjoys spending time with family, reading and crafting, as well as being an active member of her local Methodist church.
Sarah Stonton
Veterinary Surgeon
Since qualifying from Edinburgh in 1991, Sarah worked continuously in small animal practice, where she enjoys a variety of disciplines. Much of her private time is spent with her two Norwegian Buhund's training for, and competing in various canine activities, as well as enjoying long walks with them and time relaxing at home.
Claire Billingham
Veterinary Surgeon
Claire qualified from the University of Glasgow in 2020, and joined Best Friends later that year. She is particularly interested in protecting animal welfare. At home she has something of a menagerie, including dogs, cats, horses, chickens, degus, rabbits, fish, and a tortoise, although she has a special soft spot for Patch, her Jack Russell. Her hobbies include horse riding, jigsaw puzzles, knitting, and true crime documentaries.
Lucy Craddock
Head Receptionist
I started working at Best friends as a receptionist in 2006. I enjoy my role on reception as I can interact with clients and their pets.
I have grown up around animals such as dogs and horses. I now have two dogs and one guinea pig.
Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my two children and husband
Max Welch
Head Veterinary Surgeon
Eleanor Pavely
Senior RVN
Kayleigh Bennifer
Head RVN
Kayleigh qualified as a veterinary nurse in January 2017 and joined Best Friends in August 2022. Kayleigh has a particular interest in surgery and anaesthesia. In her spare time, she enjoys going for walks, listening to music and growing vegetables.
Sara Rolfe
Head RVN
Sara knew from an early age that she wanted to work with animals, and after spending three years studying animal care she has spent her whole career with Best Friends, progressing from a veterinary nursing assistant. She enjoys nursing clinics, dentistry and behaviour, in which she has won a national competition by Royal Canin! Out of work she enjoys travelling, reading thrillers and spending time with her adorable little crossbreed dog.
Katie Knight
RVN
Katie qualified in 2015 and spent time in small animal practice as well as volunteering with street dogs in Sri Lanka, before joining Best Friends in 2020. She is particularly interested in anaesthesia and is pursuing further qualifications in the area. At home she has Bella the schnauzer and Buster, a mixed breed, and enjoys training with both. She enjoys baking, sewing and running.
Tracey Bridgement
Receptionist
I started working for Best Friends Group as a receptionist in 2014. I worked with horses for 8 years prior to that and also worked as a kennel maid in a quarantine kennels when I left school.
I love the customer service aspect of my role and I am now working towards the BVRA silver award.
Vasiliki Vlachonikolou
Veterinary Surgeon
Vasiliki graduated from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in Greece, in 2019 and worked in a newly established vet clinic in her home country before moving to the UK and joining Best Friends in 2021. Shee is particularly interested in ultrasound scanning and cytology.
Tamsyn Schofield
RVN
Zoe Hill
RVN
Zoe qualified as a registered veterinary nurse in March 2021 and joined Best Friends September 2021. Zoe has always wanted to work with animals and has a keen interest in anaesthesia and dentistry. At home Zoe has a black pug and 5 rescue cats and in her spare time, enjoys spending time her family.
Tanya de Mare
Head RVN
Tanya joined Best Friends in 2020, and qualified as a veterinary nurse in South Africa in 2013, with over five years experience working with surgery and medicine specialists. She has a keen interest in patient care and anaesthetics. She likes cats, dogs and house plants.
Chloe Richardson
RVN
Chloe qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in November 2020, she enjoys all aspects of nursing but has a keep interest in nurse consults and small furries such as rabbits and rodents. Outside of work Chloe enjoys baking and spending time with her Tibetan terrier, Chief.
Demi Tzierkezou
SVN
Demi joined the time in 2020, having previously gained experience volunteering at several different practices. She is particularly interested in lab work. In her spare time she enjoys baking cakes, going to the gym, gaming, and spending time with her three dogs and two cats.
Kerrie Lambert
Veterinary Care Assistant
Kerrie joined the team in 2021 and is particularly interested in theatre and lab work. She shares her home with Frank the Frenchie and Jack the Westie, her two rescue dogs. In her spare time she enjoys camping her dogs in her VW camper, as well as music, upholstery and anything vintage.
Nikkita Needham
Veterinary Care Assistant
Nikkita is a Veterinary Care Assistant, hoping to eventually get qualifications to reach her goal of becoming a Registered Veterinary Nurse, which would be her dream. Nikkita has a real passion and love for animals of all kinds, shapes, and sizes; and has some of her own Including a mixed breed dog Titan, a cat called Jet, 11 fancy mice and 5 budgies 😊 all of whom she loves dearly and spoils. In her spare time Nikkita likes to spend it with Family & Friends.
Sue Thompson
Veterinary Care Assistant
Sue has been with us since early 2021 and is really enjoying her role and learning new things daily. She previously worked in an RSPCA centre as an animal care assistant. She lives with her bulldog, Daisy, and enjoys gardening, keeping fit and crystal healing.
Rosa Wilson
Receptionist
Rosa has over 20 years of working in customer services, friendly, approachable and like to help people.
Emma Bull
Receptionist
Megan Foreman
Receptionist
Danielle Webb
Receptionist
Danielle loves working on reception, meeting customers and their pets. Danielle has worked with animals for many years including working as an RVN and a dog groomer but now very much enjoys reception work at Best Friends March. Danielle has an adorable Pug x Jack Russell called Margo who is very cheeky.
In her spare time, she enjoys holidays, days out and looking after her young family.Angela Lister
Receptionist
Dani Ryan
Receptionist
Dani joined the team in 2020, and is looking to achieve further qualifications as a receptionist during her time here. She lives with her husband and daughter as well as Saracen the German shepherd and Roger the rabbit. In her spare time she enjoys family time and taking Saracen for long walks.
