Our People
Veterinarians
Dr Kathy Sargent BSc BVMS
I was one of the founding partners of Dunsborough Veterinary Hospital along with my husband Peter Rosher.
I was born and raised in Dunsborough where Empire Retreat presently lies and attended Murdoch University Veterinary School graduating as a veterinarian in 1985. I also met Peter at Murdoch as he was teaching students and practicing at Murdoch during my last two years as a student. Following graduation, I worked at the Busselton Veterinary Hospital for 2 years before marrying Peter in 1987 and heading to California for 2 years.
Whilst in the US I worked for a drug company for six months before completing research and clinical work at the University of California Veterinary School (Davis) until leaving the US at the end of 1989.
On returning to Australia, I worked as a locum before opening the Dunsborough Veterinary Hospital in September 1990. I have 3 children with my husband Peter – Corey, Anais and Declan. Our household is a menagerie of animals with 2 dogs "Coco" and "Bundty", 3 hand raised kangaroos with their offspring and ring tailed possums that have also been hand raised and released. In addition I still breed and race Standardbred racehorses with my brothers and mother.
I love cooking, walking with my dogs (often accompanied by one of two of my kangaroos), helping handle and work the horses and having family and friends over for a catch up. I consider myself very lucky that after 30 years I still love what I do.
Dr Merri James BSc BVMS
After qualifying as a veterinarian from Murdoch University in 1994 and spending a couple of years in mixed animal proactive in rural Victoria, I moved to Dunsborough to start work at Dunsborough Veterinary Hospital in 1997 and have never left!
Married to Steve and with 3 sons: Luke, Mathew and Joel, we share our home in Quindalup with our Rhodesian Ridgeback Ruby and pug Jemima.
I love all that this region has to offer, particularly wining and dining, spending time at the beach with the dogs and the strong sense of community that I am lucky to share in, particularly with friends made through the schools and sporting clubs and the many clients I am proud to call friends. I feel grateful every day to come to work in such a happy, friendly clinic with such professional and caring colleagues and such wonderful clients.
Dr Shamus Henry BSc(Hons) BVSc(Hons)
I grew up in Perth and on completing an honours degree in Biochemistry (UWA), I packed up and moved to Queensland where I completed my veterinary qualification at the University of Queensland. Following a working summer in Dunsborough I moved to the US in 2002 and completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Kansas State University before returning to Dunsborough to finally settle down after many years of education. I love all aspects of being a veterinarian and have broad special interests including small animal medicine and oncology and equine reproduction.
I live in Dunsborough with my wife Kendall and our two sons and along with dogs Blaise and Harvey, Ted (galah), Shella(fish) and numerous chickens we enjoy all aspects of a rural life but only a short stroll from the beach. When I'm not working I love to enjoy the outdoors especially when they involve the game of cricket which I love to play and watch. Despite never being selected, I continue to train hard and make myself available for the Australian test cricket team.
Dr Leah King BSc BVMS
I was born and raised in Busselton and on graduating in 2003 I began working mixed practice in Donnybrook before moving back home in 2005 when I started at the Dunsborough Veterinary Hospital.
I love all aspects of small animal and equine practice and have a special interest in acupuncture on small animals and horses. I live in Vasse with my husband Jeremy and 4 children Will, Indi, Rosa and Josh along with our menagerie of animals.
Dr Di Bogaers
I graduated from Melbourne University in 2004. After meeting my husband, Matt, who was raised in Dunsborough, we moved back to the South West in 2008 and have raised our own family here. As well as our human offspring, we live with our three cavoodles, Bobby, Lacey and Sooty who keep us entertained with their antics, snuggles and gorgeous fluffy offspring.
I have completed post graduate courses in small animal surgery, small animal medicine and have a special interest in dog reproduction. When not at work you can find me hiking with the dogs, tending to the edible garden, taking the kids to trampolining/circus training/hockey/basketball, playing cards, playing pickleball or indulging in wine and cheese with friends.
Dr Kathryn Mepham
Originally from Canada, I attended vet school in Queensland. My partner and I fell in love with Australia and decided to stay.
Upon graduating, I completed a rotating internship. I then worked in referral emergency and critical care and completed my ECC memberships. I have a special interest in transfusion medicine, toxicities and envenomations.
My partner and I moved to Dunsborough with our "teacup" Great Dane, River, for all the wonderful outdoor activities. We love hiking and climbing, while River prefers relaxing on the couch.
Nursing & Support Staff
Carolyn - Veterinary Nurse
I returned to my home of Busselton in 1998 after 6 years living in Fremantle working in the harness racing industry. I love living in Vasse on our 5 acre property with my husband Justin, our dog Wilbur, Toby the overweight paddock pony and our menagerie of feathered poultry.
I am a fully qualified Veterinary Nurse and work now mainly in reception and have loved worked here at the Dunsborough Veterinary Hospital since 2000.
I am very lucky to come to work every day and work with some people who I call my best friends. The friendships also made through some our wonderful clients and their beloved pets makes me so appreciative to work in such a beautiful place called Dunsborough.
Kirsten – Veterinary Nurse
I started at the Dunsborough Veterinary Hospital in 2009 as a trainee nurse after travelling the world with my partner Paul. We are both from Ireland and have now settled in Dunsborough with the local community close to our hearts. In my spare time I love to exercise and can often be found walking our dogs Trigger and Juno along the beach.
Paul and I were pleased to bring our beautiful daughter Charlie into the world in 2015 and son Ben in 2019 and feel very settled with our lives in Dunsborough
Tessa - Behavioural Dog Trainer
My life before vet nursing included training and working as a Cordon Bleu chef in London, becoming an Antique porcelain restorer, and setting-up and running a successful exclusive dog boarding kennel in France, as well as training and breeding Weimaraners.
I grew up in Rhodesia and have been lucky enough to live and work in many countries around the world. Animals have always been my passion and vet nursing in so many different countries has been fascinating. My husband and I, 2 children and 2 dogs came to Dunsborough from France in 1997.
I joined the Dunsborough Veterinary Hospital in 2004 and during my time here I have returned to studying and have became an accredited Delta behavioural dog trainer, as well and studying Canine and Feline behaviour, in depth and achieving 3 Companion Animal Science Institute Diplomas in these subjects.
My special interest is, of course animal behaviours! So it is natural for me to run our Puppy Pre-school courses – which I enjoy tremendously. Here at Dunsborough Veterinary Hospital I have found a talented, dedicated empathetic team that work together to provide an all encompassing care to their patients, and I am proud to be part of it.
Debbie - Veterinary Nurse
I have lived in Dunsborough for 17 years and have worked at the Dunsborough Veterinary Hospital since 2010. I started at Dunsborough Vets as an assistant to the groomer and was offered my nursing traineeship 3 months later which I completed in 2012. Working as a veterinary nurse can be challenging but also rewarding. We have a very happy work environment which enables us to nurture our clients and patients.
In 2020 I accomplished a life long dream to build my own home which I share with my two children, my cat George and my Groodle puppy Bertie.
Tamara - Veterinary Nurse
I have been a veterinary nurse since 2004 and a qualified small animal Bowen Therapist since 2012. I live in Cowaramup with my husband and 2 children. We have a French Bulldog called “Pebbles” who we hope to breed from eventually. I also have a horse called “Xena” who I compete in showjumping and a miniature pony called Tara.
I joined the team at Dunsborough Vets in 2015 and love the new experiences and challenges that it brings, especially working with horses.
Carly - Veterinary Nurse
Growing up in Dongara, dreaming of riding emus to school and avoiding kangaroos on the walk home, I have always had a passion for all native fauna and small animals.
I travelled to most corners of Australia with my husband Dale and finally settled back in Perth in 2008, pursuing my passion of working within the animal industry. Volunteering with the Animal Protection Society and studying Wildlife Care and Rehabilitation through (then) CALM started my journey.
In 2010, I became a fully fledged qualified Veterinary Nurse and joined a large mixed practice emergency hospital in Perth, quickly progressing within my career as Head Nurse in 2012.
Seeing the light, I headed south late 2016 to hop from Bunbury, to Busselton, and settling in Vasse, where I live with our 2 beautiful boys, Patrick and Thomas, my flat coat retriever Peppa, and Shorty-Pants the odd combo of corgi x kelpie. In my not-so-much-spare-time, I work closely with FAWNA, playing an active part in the rehabilitation of critically endangered Western Ringtail Possums and enjoy spending time with my family.
Being welcomed into the Dunsborough Vet team in 2019, I had the opportunity to complete my Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (GP) and found myself surrounded by a supportive and caring new veterinary family.
Ashley - Veterinary Nurse
I have worked in the Veterinary industry since 2011.
After working in many busy veterinary practices in Perth and the Margaret River region, I started working at the Dunsborough Veterinary hospital after moving back to the south west with my partner Jackson and our cat Rhani in 2022. We are also delighted to welcome Benjamin the Groodle puppy into our house in 2022, and are so excited to set up our lives here in the South West.
Even after over a decade in the industry, I can say no day is the same and I thoroughly enjoy coming to work each day and working alongside the other Vets and Nurses at Dunsborough Vets.
Jess - Veterinary Nurse
I was born and raised in Taiwan which is a small sea island that has good food and beautiful natural landscape. In 2019, I decided to start my new journey in Western Australia. Then I finished my veterinary nurse course at TAFE in 2022. After that, I saw the Dunsborough Vet Hospital was hiring and here I am! Love the people, the vibe, and the amazing scenes in Dunsborough.
Mel - Veterinary Nurse
I was born in Northern Ireland on a beautiful beef farm with lots of animals. My passion from the age of 4 was always to be a veterinary nurse. I worked in a mixed veterinary hospital for 7 years 1996-2003 as a veterinary assistant. I then met my husband and travelled to Australia in 2004, we both loved it, so we stayed! I was given an amazing opportunity to work at Dunsborough Veterinary Hospital gaining my veterinary nurse qualification. I have a great interest in the beautiful wildlife especially birds. In my free time, I love mountain Biking, Photography, art and bush walking. The team is amazing and I love working with them all!
Maggie- Trainee Veterinary Nurse
I’ve grown up in Dunsborough and have always loved working with animals. I have two dog, Sweep & Sooty who keep me busy when I’m not studying. I am currently completely my veterinary nurse training and in my spare time I like to go to the beach, play netball and hang out with family and friends.
Pernille - Animal Attendant
I am originally from Denmark in Europe. I came to Australia in 2008 on a working holiday visa. My trip was only meant to be for a year but I fell in love with an Aussie so here I am more than a decade later, married with two beautiful children. Together we have travelled around Australia working throughout Northern WA and Queensland. In 2019 we decided it was time to move closer to my husband’s family and have been in Busselton ever since.
I am so excited to be part of this amazing team here at the Dunsborough Veterinary Hospital to help care for animals which has always been a huge passion of mine. Growing up I always had a huge variety of small pets ranging from cats, rabbits, turtles, hamsters and fish. These days I have narrowed it down to two cats, two dogs and a large Carpet python at our family home in Busselton.
Lauren - Veterinary Nurse
I started in the Veterinary Industry in 2004, after qualifying and working in small animal practices within the Southern Suburbs of Perth. After spending a lot of time in the South West we made the decision to move in 2022 with my husband Dale, two beautiful children Mila & Remy, three dogs Bessie, Django & Lottie and lastly our cat Squid.
I love all aspects of veterinary nursing, however I have always had a special interest in front of house, nurse consulting, and long term patient care. I joined the team at Dunsborough Vets in July 2024 and feel so grateful to have been given the opportunity to be part of such a passionate, professional, loyal team.