Meet the Happy Paws Vet Team in Coombabah

Vanessa – Principal Veterinarian

Dr Vanessa has dreamt of being a vet for as far back as she can remember!

After she realised this dream in 1999 she developed a new dream – to own her own veterinary practice – a dream which became a reality with the opening of Happy Paws in October 2017!

She loves all aspects of general practice, so much so that even after 27 years in small animal practice she still loves talking about fleas! Her special interests include dentistry, soft tissue surgery and fostering the human-animal bond.

She lives in heaven (on the Gold Coast!) with her 3 non-furry children (Sebastian, Oscar and Darcy) and her 4 furry children (Chicken and Noodle (the very senior cats) and Gidget and Flammy (the replacement cats!))

In her free time (ha, what’s that?!) she enjoys reading, camping, 4x4ing, and family time. She is looking forward to welcoming you and your fur babies to Happy Paws and getting to know you!

Dr Tiana – Veterinarian

Tiana graduated from JCU with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science in 2017 has been caring for animals in the veterinary industry ever since.She loves getting to know both pets and their owners and helping them feel comfortable and supported during their visits.

Tiana is particularly passionate about fear-free techniques and helping senior pets maintain a great quality of life in their golden years. Her relaxed personality and sense of humour make her a wonderful part of the Happy Paws team.

When she’s not at the clinic, Tiana enjoys running, gym sessions, hiking adventures and relaxing with a good book. At home she shares her life with her two cats, Bean and Floss.

Sam- Veterinarian

Sam’s journey with veterinary medicine started years ago as a volunteer, and she’s since worked her way through every corner of clinic life – from kennel hand to vet nurse, and now veterinarian. After two years of working full-time as a vet, she’s brought her expertise (and love for all things furry) to the Gold Coast!⁠

Dr Sam loves the variety that general practice brings and is passionate about preventative health, helping pets stay happy and healthy long before problems arise. ⁠

When she’s not at Happy Paws, you’ll find her at the gym, running, hiking or birdwatching! She has two fur children; Napoleon (“Poli”), her three-legged cat, and Link, her energetic Border Collie.⁠

Georgie – Nursing Manager

Georgie has been part of the veterinary world since 2018 and is our fantastic Nursing Manager at Happy Paws. With her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing and ongoing leadership training, she keeps the team organised while making sure every patient receives the very best care.

Georgie loves chatting with clients and helping pets (and their humans!) feel relaxed and welcome at the clinic. Her positivity, reliability and caring nature make her a huge part of what makes Happy Paws feel like such a friendly place to visit.

When she’s not at work, you’ll likely find Georgie enjoying a beach walk, catching up with friends over coffee, or unwinding with a bit of reality TV. She previously had a beautiful black Labrador named Snatch who still holds a very special place in her heart.

Chloe– Veterinary Nurse

Chloe joined the Happy Paws family in 2021 after completing her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing at TAFE Queensland. She quickly became known around the clinic for her love of cats and her calm, gentle approach with patients.

Chloe has a special interest in fear-free handling and is a certified Cat Friendly Professional through International Cat Care. She’s passionate about helping feline patients feel as comfortable and stress-free as possible during their visits.

When she’s not at the clinic, Chloe enjoys live music, camping and exploring new food spots. At home she has two cats, Goose and Duck, who proudly run the household.

Emily – Veterinary Nurse

Em is a Gold Coast local born and bred, beginning her nursing career back in 2015 in mixed practice, before making the move to small animals and joining the Happy Paws team in July of 2021.

She is also our resident social butterfly who truly loves the client facing side of care and is passionate about supporting families and their fur babies every step of the way. Whether she’s guiding you through treatment plans, offering reassurance during uncertain moments, comforting nervous patients, or answering your toughest questions, she brings warmth, empathy, and understanding to every interaction. She is committed to making each visit a positive experience for both pets and the people who love them alike.

Outside of work you’ll find her spending her day by the beach or at any sort of live sporting or music event with friends and family.

Jess – Veterinary Nurse

Jess has been a part of the animal care world for 7 years after completing her cert IV in Vet Nursing through TAFE Gold Coast in 2019.

She’s passionate about all things large animals, and loves consult nursing and educating clients – she’s always up for sharing her knowledge (and learning something new herself!).

With her great communication skills, positive attitude, and team-first energy. Jess brings warmth and calm to every day at Happy Paws. She is always happy to lend a hand and keep both pets and people feeling at ease.

When she’s not in the clinic, Jess loves spending time with her partner Zaydan and family, heading off on camping trips or travelling to new places.

At home, Jess is kept on her toes by her two beautiful border collies, Milly and Maddie – adorable sisters who share her love for adventures and outdoors.

Bobbi – Veterinary Nurse

Bobbi has been part of the vet nursing world for 2 years after graduating with her Cert IV in Vet Nursing in December 2023. She completed her studies at TAFE QLD, and has a special interest in nurse consulting and surgical nursing.

With a bubbly personality and a natural knack for building strong, trust-filled relationships with clients, Bobbi brings warmth and energy to every shift. She’s hardworking, loves keeping things running smoothly, and is always ready to lend a hand (or cuddle a stressed-out kitty!).

When she’s not at Happy Paws, you’ll probably find her baking, cleaning, gardening, or golfing with her partner Luke.

At home, Bobbi is a proud pet mum to Timmy the domestic short hair and Marnie the Maine Coon x !

Diane – Veterinary Nurse

Diane (pronounced JEE-AHN-EE) has been part of the veterinary industry for 10 years and brings both experience and compassion to the Happy Paws team. She holds several qualifications including a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, a Certificate III in Companion Animal Services and a Certificate IV in Business, and has studied in both Australia and Brazil.

Diane loves caring for animals and making sure every patient feels safe, comfortable and well looked after while they’re with us.

Outside the clinic, Diane enjoys cooking and baking, ocean swims, and spending time with friends, her husband, and her adorable dog Rusty – a mini Groodle x Toy Poodle.

Ria – Animal Attendant (Trainee Vet Nurse)

If you’ve ever dropped your furry friend off at Happy Paws, chances are they’ve already fallen under Ria’s spell!

She’s our amazing Animal Attendant, always ready with belly rubs, gentle pats, and words of encouragement to help our patients recover and feel right at home.

Ria joined the team in June and is studying her Cert II in Animal Care with AIRC (with big plans to tackle her Cert IV in Vet Nursing next ).

She’s obsessed with all things dentistry and surgery, and she never misses a chance to learn something new, or sneak in a cuddle break!

When she’s not spoiling patients at the clinic, Ria’s either lifting weights at the gym or baking delicious cookies.

At home, she’s surrounded by her own furry crew — dogs Pluto, Nix, and Jupiter, plus cats Rhubarb and Sage — who keep her on her toes.

Kyla – Reception Manager

Kyla is the friendly face who’ll greet you when you walk through the doors at Happy Paws. As our Reception Manager, she loves getting to know our clients and their pets, and making every visit feel easy, welcoming, and stress-free.

After completing her Certificate III in Animal Studies at TAFE Gold Coast in 2022, Kyla knew she wanted to work somewhere she could combine her love of animals with helping people, and she’s been doing exactly that ever since. Her warm nature and bubbly personality make her a favourite with both our clients and the team.

Kyla is also our resident wildlife lover, and the first to put her hand up when a stray or injured animal comes in. Whether it’s a lost pet or a native in need of a little extra care, she’s always keen to help and has a real soft spot for animals doing it tough.

When she’s not at work, you’ll find Kyla camping with her partner Jake, heading to the gym, enjoying beach days, or playing the occasional round of golf. At home, she’s kept busy by Oliver the mischievous cat and Chopper the energetic Border Collie x Kelpie.

Meet Ayana our amazing Practice Manager!

Ayana joined the Happy Paws team in 2020. With over 10 years’ experience as a Veterinary Nurse, she will also be taking care of your furry loved ones when she is not busy in the office. She is the clinic’s go-to Nurse for tricky blood collections and IV catheter placements!

Ayana was born in Japan and grew up on the Gold Coast from 6 years old. In her spare time, you will mainly find her at the beach soaking up the sun or being a couch potato with her Greyhound, Beanie. She has a new addition to the family, a tiny long coat Chihuahua named Pinto who is only 2kg! As she’s an early bird, you will also find her at the gym from 5am!

She has completed her 3 year Leadership Mastery Course through the Lincoln Institute, to further support her role as the glue behind the scenes keeping our clinic operating smoothly and effectively. She enjoys being able to support and lead the team in reaching their full potential and takes pride in facilitating a healthy and happy working environment.

When you are visiting the clinic, you’ll find Ayana is hard to miss with her loud, cheerful and highly contagious laugh!

Meet Amber, one of our fantastic Veterinary Nurses.

Amber brings 2.5 years of dedicated veterinary nursing experience to the Happy Paws team. Originally from New Zealand, she is currently completing her New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing, expanding her skills and knowledge every day.

Amber has a special interest in consult nursing, where she enjoys working closely with the owners to care for their beloved fur babies. She is also passionate about ultrasonography! Known for her excellent people skills and compassionate nature, Amber helps both pets and their families feel comfortable and supported during every visit.

When she’s not at the clinic, you’ll likely find Amber soaking up the sun by the pool, heading out for long walks, or hitting the tennis court. Although she doesn’t have pets here in Australia, her heart is still with her two fur babies back home in New Zealand — Raven, a Ridgeback cross, and Harper, a Rottweiler cross. And here’s a fun fact: Amber is fluent in German!

For Emergencies

During Clinic Hours

Call our team on (07) 5577 5084

Mon-Fri: 8am to 5:30pm
Sat: 8am to 12 noon

After Hours

For after hours emergencies, please visit Animal Emergency Services or SASH Robina.

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Meet the Team

Your Local Friendly Vet Team

Gold Coast veterinarian and veterinary nurses taking care of the fur babies in your furry family!

Dr Vanessa Escott DVM

Dr TianaBVSc

Dr SamanthaBVSc

Georgie

Chloe

Emily

Jess

Bobbi

Diane

Ria

Kyla

Ayana

Amber

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Vanessa

Dr Tiana