The NWC is led by our founder and wildlife veterinarian, Dr. Sherri Cox. A graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), Dr. Cox has a special interest in orthopedic surgery and has diverse experience working with native birds, reptiles, and mammals. Dr. Cox has also been involved with oiled wildlife and response since 2002. She has been an instructor at the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association conferences, given talks at the OVC, and trained many student veterinarians and veterinary technicians in wildlife medicine.

She is an instructor for the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association and the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, gives talks throughout the world on wildlife rehabilitation medicine, and trains many student veterinarians and veterinary technicians in wildlife medicine. Dr. Cox is also an Adjunct Faculty member at the College of Biological Science, University of Guelph.

Octavio Perez has been part of the medical team since 2014. He does everything from assisting in anesthesia and surgery to preparing temporary housing for post-operative patients. Octavio never passes up a moment to help rescue an animal or transport them to the hospital. He helped to co-found the National Wildlife Centre and was one of its original Board members. In his spare time, he enjoys scuba diving and seeing wildlife in their natural environment.

Dr. Mikaela Jahncke grew up in Mineville, Nova Scotia. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree at the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus in Truro before graduating from the Atlantic Veterinary College in PEI. After graduation, Mikaela worked as a small animal veterinarian in Nova Scotia before deciding to transition to a full-time National Wildlife Centre veterinary intern, based onsite at Hope for Wildlife. Besides wildlife, she has a particular interest in surgery and pathology. Outside of veterinary medicine, Mikaela enjoys the outdoors (especially the ocean!), music, movies, and travelling.

Dr. Nellissa Stalenhoef completed a veterinary internship in wildlife medicine based at the National Wildlife Centre headquarters in Ontario. Since vet school, Dr. Stalenhoef has been passionate about wildlife rehabilitation, conservation, and One Health based medicine. After graduating from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon in 2019, she completed a small animal rotating internship at the Atlantic Veterinary College in PEI. She worked in companion animal practice for almost a year before having the incredible opportunity to join the National Wildlife Centre as an intern. When she is not working with wildlife, she also sees companion animals at the Glendale Veterinary Hospital. We are pleased to say Dr. Stalenhoef will continue helping wild patients as part of the medical team at the National Wildlife Centre in Ontario.

Dr. Taryn Ellis completed a medial degree in biology and chemistry from Queen’s University. She then went on to live out her childhood dream to become a veterinarian when she graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College with honours in 2010.

Since graduation, Taryn has worked in small animal practices mainly in the Southern Georgian Bay/Collingwood region. She did enjoy a short stint teaching anesthesia in the Veterinary Technician Program at Georgian College. Taryn enjoys all aspects of small animal medicine but has a special interest in internal medicine, dentistry and working at incorporating fear free practices into each of her patient’s visits.

Taryn spends her free time with her husband, two sons and their lab/beagle cross Butters. Her and her family are looking forward to adding a kitten into the mix this year. She also enjoys hiking, biking, skiing and cooking.

Dr. Tess McPheeters is the current National Wildlife Centre veterinary intern at Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre in Manitoba. She has always had a passion for wildlife rehabilitation, volunteering at multiple rehab’s while in her undergraduate program. Graduating from Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2022, Dr. Tess went straight into an exotic pet medicine and surgery internship. From there, she worked for a non-profit organization that provided free spay/neuter and vaccine services to underserved communities. She also spent time at her local wildlife rehabilitation centre in Arizona. She is extremely excited to learn more about wildlife medicine and work with a wide array of species.

In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities with her dog, Winnie, exploring different art mediums, and traveling as much as possible.

Dr. Cara Newberry is a new wildlife Veterinary Intern with NWC. She is a California native, where she grew up and went to undergrad and veterinary school. She has always had an interest in conservation and got involved in both wildlife research and rehabilitation during school. After graduating, she completed a small animal internship with a focus on exotic animals. She is very excited to get to work in wildlife full-time with the National Wildlife Centre. She will be located onsite at AIWC (Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation) and gain experience with a whole range of new species. In her free time, she loves to be outside – climbing, snowboarding, or exploring the mountains with her dog.

Dr. Anjuli Dabydeen has always had a passion for wildlife and first volunteered with the National Wildlife Centre in its early stages as a mobile clinic. She completed her Bachelor of Science at the University of Guelph majoring in wildlife biology and conservation, then went on to study her vet degree at the University of Sydney, Australia. She spent two and a half years working with small animals down under but has now returned to fulfill her dream of working with wildlife and conserving nature. She is very excited to be back working with the team at the NWC.

Angie (standing on the right of Dr. Cox) has joined the NWC team in the capacity of Rehabilitation Manager at the new field hospital in Caledon Ontario. Angie brings extensive experience with  the coordination, management and continuity of wildlife rehabilitation programs and services. Having worked in Alberta, Manitoba, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Angie brings a global perspective to the role. In addition to her background providing care and treatment to wildlife, she has worked directly with conservation efforts and led many education and training initiatives with rehabilitators, wildlife custodians, volunteers, and support staff. Her experience with overseeing animal rescue, transportation and release will provide additional leadership as we move closer to opening our new field hospital. Welcome to the team, Angie!

The National Wildlife Centre is welcoming a new Fundraising and Outreach Coordinator, Denise Petrie. With seven years of experience in marketing and strategy, Denise specializes in building strong relationships and driving awareness for organizations. Passionate about supporting animal-related causes, Denise is eager to promote the mission of the National Wildlife Centre, cultivate a dedicated network of donors and volunteers, and spearhead impactful fundraising initiatives.