About

Our Dedicated Veterinary Team

Dr. Alana Flim, DVM

A 2018 graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph, Dr. Alana brings valuable experience from both emergency medicine and general practice. Her passion for compassionate veterinary hospice care began during her studies and continues to guide her work with our team.

Dr. Alana believes strongly in providing comfort to our senior pets in their later years. With a deep appreciation for the human-animal bond, she considers it an honor to walk alongside clients during challenging decision-making times.

Outside of practice, she enjoys quality time with her husband, friends and family, as well as outdoor activities like hiking, camping, horseback riding and sailing. She shares her home with her rescue cat Beep Beep and mixed-breed dog Walter.

Dr. Laura Kenzie, DVM

Dr. Laura’s veterinary journey took her around the world, graduating from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts in 2019, with her final clinical year completed in Dublin, Ireland.

Her interest in pain management led her to pursue acupuncture certification, which naturally evolved into a passion for palliative care and helping families navigate end-of-life decisions. Dr. Laura joined our hospice team in May 2022, drawn by the meaningful nature of this specialized care.

When not practicing, Laura enjoys reading, hiking, listening to live music, and riding her retired racehorse, Spaghetti. She currently resides in rural Milton with her two cats, Johnny and Clementine.

Dr. Kate Zimmerman, DVM

After growing up in Montreal, Dr. Kate completed her honors degree in biology and mathematics at Queen’s University in Kingston before graduating from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2010. She has called Toronto home ever since.

Throughout her small animal practice career, Dr. Kate discovered her calling to help pets requiring palliative and end-of-life care. She firmly believes this challenging time should be made as peaceful and pain-free as possible, with home visits representing the gold standard for elderly and ill pets.

Dr. Kate is fluent in both French and English and is happy to communicate with you in either language. At home, she shares her life with her husband, two daughters, and senior dogs Rigley and Bee. Her personal interests include cooking, scrapbooking, hiking, and swimming.

Dr. Amari Patel, DVM

Growing up in Etobicoke before spending eight years in Guelph, Dr. Amari graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2022. A rotation with a mobile veterinarian during her final year revealed the remarkable comfort that pets experience during home visits, inspiring her career path.

After providing full-service house calls for approximately two years, Dr. Amari developed a special interest in palliative and end-of-life care for all species. She finds it profoundly rewarding to witness the deep love between people and their pets, from the smallest parakeets to the tallest Great Danes, even after their passing.

Dr. Amari shares her home with her husband and nine birds, including chickens and parrots. Her free time is spent enjoying Ontario’s natural beauty through camping, hiking, foraging for wild plants and mushrooms, and birdwatching. Her current life goals include becoming a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian and traveling to her birthplace, Australia.

Dr. Brad Henderson, DVM

Raised on a hobby farm north of Toronto, Dr. Brad developed a profound love for animals from an early age. After graduating from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2021, he moved to rural Cape Breton, Nova Scotia to work as a mixed animal veterinarian, where he discovered his passion for mobile veterinary practice providing humane and compassionate end-of-life care.

Dr. Brad is excited to continue this important work with our team, offering compassion and empathy to help you cope with the loss of your pet.

When not working, he enjoys outdoor activities, exercise, playing guitar, reading, watching films, and snowboarding in winter. Dr. Brad shares his Guelph home with his wife and son, his spirited Cairn Terrier named Badger, and two cats, Ari and Zilla.

Dr. Shannon Shum, DVM, CHPV

Dr. Shannon discovered her passion for animal hospice care while working with our founder, Dr. Faith Banks, during her veterinary studies. After graduating from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2019, she became a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian (CHPV).

Having experienced the loss of her own senior Golden Retriever, Money, and orange tabby, Mia, Dr. Shannon truly understands the heartbreak and grief pet owners face and is honored to help you through this emotionally challenging time in your pet’s life.

Outside of work, Dr. Shannon enjoys exploring the city for coffee shops, bakeries, and restaurants. She also enjoys yoga, kickboxing, arts and crafts, board games, and spending time with her husband and three cats: Micah, Coconut, and Cinnamon.

Dr. Sarah Pechmann, DVM, CHPV

Raised in the Greater Toronto Area, Dr. Sarah has always been fascinated by the unique and fulfilling bond between people and animals. Throughout her life, she has shared her home with numerous animal companions including chickens, rabbits, hamsters, a turtle, and of course, dogs and cats.

A graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph, Dr. Sarah worked full-time at a busy local veterinary emergency hospital before joining our team in 2017, where she found her true calling in animal hospice and palliative care.

Dr. Sarah is a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian (CHPV) through the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care. She is also certified as a Pet Loss Grief Counselor through the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement.

In her leisure time, Dr. Sarah enjoys gardening, reading, trying new recipes, and exploring the community with family and friends. She shares her home with two mischievous cats, Tumbleweed and Max, and a Mioritic Shepherd named Fred.