Get to Know Our Veterinarians and Care Team

Established in 1998, Maritime Animal Hospital has a team of dedicated and well-trained professionals who have been offering trustworthy veterinary services in the Moncton, Riverview, and Dieppe area. Initially, the hospital was started by Dr. Gordon Vessey and his wife Tammy. They worked together for the first 6 months before hiring their first animal technician. Now, they are a proud team of 17 who are passionately working towards providing animals with superior health care services.

Dr. Gordon Vessey

Owner

Dr. Gordon Vessey is the owner and senior veterinary care professional at the Maritime Animal Hospital. His desire to become an animal caregiver began when he was very young living on a farm in PEI. By the time he was a teenager, he was working every day after school and on weekends for a neighboring farmer. This work experience shaped and influenced his decision to enter the veterinary field.

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In 1992, he graduated from The Atlantic Veterinary College in PEI. From there he was given his first veterinary position at the Valley Veterinary Hospital in Fredericton, NB. The experience he received early in his career had two major influences on him. The first one was to work in a challenging and diverse environment that made him more efficient and knowledgeable. He learned how to work with various types of pets and their owners. The second and more important influence was Tammy, with whom he worked with at this first job. Tammy’s dedication towards work and passion for animals has helped in shaping Gordon’s life and career. In 1998, they decided it was time to go on their own and start their own veterinary practice. The Maritime Animal Hospital opened for business in April 1998 and has been going strong since then with an amazing team of dedicated people most of who have worked with them since almost the beginning. Gordon is very proud to have three beautiful children, two daughters named Jessica and Katie and one son named Bradley. He also has three cats and two dogs to fill his house.

Dr. Rianne Gaunce

Dr. Rianne Gaunce grew up on a dairy farm in Havelock, NB, where she developed her love of animals. Her dream to become a veterinarian started at a very young age.

Dr. Gaunce received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the Atlantic Veterinary College in 2015. Since graduation she has worked in NB doing general practice as well as emergency medicine.

Dr. Gaunce and her husband Scott live on a dairy farm in Scoudouc, NB. There they share their home with their two Golden Retrievers, Penny and Simba, who were both adopted as senior dogs. Their farm is also filled with many Holstein cows, including one extra special one named "Mischief".

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Dr. Gaunce enjoys performing surgeries, internal medicine and preventative medicine. She especially loves working with geriatric patients.
In her spare time she enjoys showing their cattle at local Maritime shows. She also enjoys swimming and getting out to ski.
Dr. Gaunce believes that pets truly are an important part of the family, and they deserve the best when it comes to medical care, and preventive health.

DR. CHANTAL HOULE

Dr. Chantal Houle graduated from Atlantic Veterinary College in 2010 and went on to complete a rigorous internship in emergency and critical care in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her internship helped her obtain invaluable experience in the specialities of critical care, internal medicine, surgery, oncology and radiology. This gave her the confidence to handle the most complex of critically ill patients under the supervision of world-renowned critical care specialists. After her internship, she worked as an emergency veterinarian in Florida at a 24-hour veterinary emergency hospital, with a significant caseload of cardiology patients. In 2012, she returned home to New Brunswick to work general practice and emergency.

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Dr. Houle specializes in ultrasounds (abdominal, thoracic, soft tissue), as well as an emergency procedure. She also carries an avid interest in cardiology and oncology. In order to perform echocardiograms and manage cardiac patients, she has completed the Advanced Echocardiography Certification. Dr. Houle has vast knowledge in the field of chemotherapy and follows protocols established by board-certified oncologists. She enjoys hiking and camping with her husband and her miniature schnauzer Eddie during her time off.

Dr. Genevieve Machum

Dr. Machum grew up on a small hobby farm outside of Saint John, NB. Animal care started early with Dr. Machum - for her fourth birthday her present was her very own calf. She has always had a special bond with the animals she cared for on the farm. She attained a Bachelor of Arts for St. Thomas University and then a Bachelor of Science from UNB before attending the Atlantic Veterinary College in PEI. Dr. Machum enjoys discussing behaviour, nutrition, senior care, dermatology and other topics with her clients. Most of her free time is spent entertaining her four crazy dogs, hiking, and travelling.

Dr. hannah papic

Dr. Papic knew from a young age that she wanted to provide care to animals. Her love for veterinary medicine was strengthened after she attended the Dr. Tim Ogilvie Vet Camp not once, but three times.

Not straying far from her home in Moncton, NB, Dr. Papic completed her Bachelor of Science through UPEI, and later graduated from AVC in 2021. She has moved back home with her two cats, Ella & Briar, as well as her cornsnake, Maple.

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Dr. Papic will provide care, love, & pets to all animals, & has a special interest in exotics medicine. Additionally, she is in the process of completing her certification in veterinary acupuncture. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking, camping, & doing yoga.
Fun fact: Dr. Papic completed her high school CO-OP at the Maritime Animal Hospital during twelfth grade. She is very excited to rejoin the team.

Our Care Team

It is not possible to run a veterinary hospital efficiently without the help of dedicated support staff. While the veterinarians handle the surgeries and treatments, our care team is always present to help and support you with all the other needs. Get to know our care team who will never fail to treat your pets with care and compassion.

Tammy Vessey

Owner and Practice Administrator

Tammy started to work in the veterinary industry at the age of 15. She worked as a receptionist and a veterinary assistant at a hospital in Fredericton, NB. After working for many long nights after school, she was the main person on a call with the doctors. She had a priceless experience and she was lucky enough to meet her now husband at the hospital when he began his veterinary career in 1992.

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After completing 8 years working there, she decided to travel and consider her career options. While in university, she discovered that she loved business. Later, she spent a year developing a business plan and deciding on the right location before they (she and her husband) opened the Maritime Animal Hospital in April of 1998.

The Vessey family shares their home with 3 amazing kids, Jessica, Katie and Bradley as well as 2 dogs and 3 cats.

Susan

Hospital Manager

Susan grew up in rural Cape Breton and her passion for animals began at a very young age. There were always a variety of pets to adore including numerous dogs and cats, a retired standard bred racehorse and a flock of laying hens. Most of her childhood was spent outside or in the barn and always included animals.

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After graduating from high school she studied Animal Science at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. She began working for Maritime Animal Hospital in April 2000 as a veterinary assistant. It included many late night emergencies and a wealth of new information but she enjoyed the challenge and was eventually promoted to hospital manager. She continues to have a passion for veterinary hospital management and overall client and patient communication. In an effort to grow, she tries to attend a variety of continuing education including Dale Carnegie, and the North American Veterinary Conference.
Outside of work she enjoys gardening, hiking and spending time with her husband Philip and four children. Her family also includes Blackie the cat and Wally, their sweet pit bull mix. She feels very fortunate to work with such a fun loving, competent and caring team.

Amy

Registered Veterinary Technician (Bilingual)

A year after graduating from the Nova Scotia Agricultural College Veterinary Technician Program, Amy joined Maritime Animal Hospital in 2001. She has a special interest in anaesthesiology and pain management. With keen interest on these topics, she has attended several conferences including the National American Veterinary Conference in Florida, twice. She strives to provide the best care for her patients during and after the surgery.