Our Veterinarians

In the fourth grade, Dr. Vivienne Jones announced to her parents that she wanted to become a veterinarian. Her father worked as a zoologist, so she’d been surrounded by animals since day one. Raising and caring for her own pet duck, Pecan—a popular figure in the Vancouver neighborhood where Dr. Jones grew up—solidified her desire to care for animals as a career!

After high school, Dr. Jones attended the University of British Columbia on a scholarship to study agriculture before switching into the school’s zoology program. After three years of study, she applied and was accepted to veterinary school at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon. Upon graduating in 1993, she took her first job in a Vancouver general and referral practice before returning to Saskatoon, where she would work in small-animal care for the next 15 years.

In 2009, Dr. Jones, with the help of her mother and father, bought what was then called the Cat Hospital of Saskatoon. Due to her love of dogs, pocket pets, and other animals, she converted the clinic to care for multiple types of pets. Erindale Animal Hospital was born, and Dr. Jones has been happily practicing high-quality veterinary medicine here ever since. She especially enjoys difficult medical cases, geriatric pet care, meeting new pet owners and their animal companions, and making every client’s visit to the hospital a positive, fulfilling experience.

Dr. Jones shares her home with four dogs and five cats, all of whom are rescues. Ranger is a Treeing Walker Coonhound who is originally from Orlando, Florida; and Ginny is an active cattle dog/Border collie mix; Poppy is an attention loving corgi mix; and Pennie is a shy but very sweet corgi mix. The feline portion of the family includes Edward Scissor Paws, named for his ridiculously large paws; See More Buttons, who was brought to Dr. Jones to be re-homed and ended up living with her instead; Audrey Marilyn 911, who was born right here in the clinic; Tiny Tim Bit, who leaps about like a kangaroo despite his amputated front leg; and the newest member of her family is Camille, who has the cutest personality around! Her Mum is a keen art enthusiast and has worked diligently with programs like Public art and Healing through the Arts in Vancouver. She remains a great source of advice and support in all aspects of Dr. Jones’ life.

When she isn’t tending to the needs of Saskatoon’s pets or spending time at home with her own, Dr. Jones enjoys soccer and has fond memories of watching Vancouver Whitecaps games with her father as a child. After veterinary school, she began playing the sport herself on a women’s soccer club, and still plays to this day!

Attending school in Regina and working on the family farm near Yorkton on weekends and holidays, a 100-mile commute, comprised the majority of Dr. Wiks’ growing up years. Barn kitties hauled between the two destinations, a rescued duck who spent weeks convalescing in the bathtub and a calf with frozen extremities living in the kitchen of the farmhouse are all vivid memories. Dr. Wiks’ dad was an avid animal lover – they often could not tell if he was talking to a neighbor, barn cat or cow. All the cattle were his favorites, as he spent hours of his retirement feeding, scratching their backs, and making pets of them all. Given these many experiences, it’s no wonder that Dr. Wiks’ career path involves helping animals!

Two years on scholarship in the pre-veterinary program at the University of Regina, and then a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at the University of Saskatchewan, graduating in 1987, have rounded out Dr. Wiks’ academic career.

Dr. Wiks’ dream of being a small animal veterinarian has been fulfilled as she has worked for the last 33 years in private practice in Saskatoon. She especially loves getting to know her patients and clients in the examination room; dermatology cases are a favorite.  

Spare time away from the clinic is spent taking care of their two horses and a number of other boarding horses, Dr. Wiks’ favorite “little ladies” (the laying hens in the chicken coop) and Bette Davis, the talkative barn cat. Over the years, the family, which includes four children, have enjoyed sheep, goats, cattle and llamas on their acreage. In the house presently is Koda, a Size Small Dog Rescue pup and three orange kitties named Avocado, Peanut and Cheddar.  Most recently, Dr. Wiks and her husband have travelled via RV, exploring some parts of Canada and the US.

As an only child Vet Student Dr. Sam Tait would spend a lot of time with her childhood cat, Sassy, because of this, Sassy became a very important family member. This inspired her to want to pursue vet medicine. She wants to help people make the best decisions for their pet and help them stay healthy for as long as possible.

Sam grew up in 100 Mile House in British Columbia and completed her Bachelors of Science, majoring in Biology & Cooperative Education with distinction from University of Victoria while working at a feline exclusive clinic in Victoria for 2 years.

She moved to Saskatoon in 2018 to attend school at the WCVM where she started the Feline Club. She is also apart of the low-cost spay/neuter clinic for cats run by WCVM and works with Radioactive Iodine cats at VMC. Sam has an interest in all thing’s cats! In June of 2022 Sam won the Boehringer Ingelheim Award of Excellence in Feline Medicine! 

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During Sam’s spare time she enjoys cooking, baking, reading, and getting outside! She loves training her cat, Louie new tricks. He currently knows “high 5”, “sit”, “ring a bell”, “arm hoop jump”, and “hoola hoop jump”.

Sam and her partner, Grant, have 4 pets. Their two cats Louie, and Slinky, and their 2 dogs Zuko and Willow!

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Fun Fact! Sam speaks French and has spent a month in Italy learning Italian. She loves languages.

Dr. Miranda Wallace grew up knowing she wanted to be a veterinarian when she grew up. She values building relationships with clients to ensure their pets live healthy, happy lives. She especially enjoys
surgery.

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She grew up in rural Illinois and completed her Bachelor’s of Science in Storm Lake, Iowa while working at a local veterinary clinic for 4 years. In 2017 Miranda moved to Columbia, Missouri to attend the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine where she was a co-coordinator of the Exotics Symposium.

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Miranda recently moved to Canada with her partner—Thomas, her dog—Bear, and her cat—Lion.

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In her spare time Miranda enjoys baking, reading, and hiking with her dog.

Fun Fact! Miranda has been to every continent except Antarctica!

Dr. Jessica Ursu

The amazing Dr. Sara Bater has joined our team in a part time capacity. She will be assisting with our surgical cases, and supporting our clients and patients through medical appointments. 

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Sarah Bater was born and raised in Saskatoon.  She completed her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at the University of Saskatchewan, and a PhD at the University of Toronto before being accepted to veterinary school. She graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) in 2017, and has worked in small animal private practice for the past 5 years.  Since graduating, Sarah has lectured at WCVM in anatomy, physiology and neuroscience. Sarah recently accepted a clinical associate position at WCVM in the department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, and will start a residency in Neurology/Neurosurgery in the fall of 2022. 

Sarah loves small animal surgery, especially orthopaedics.  She’s thrilled to join the Erindale team as a locum surgeon!

In Sarah’s spare time she likes to be outdoors, spend time at the lake, and bake cupcakes!  Sarah has been married to her husband, Daniel, for 4 years. They have 3 kids and 1 dog (a giant schnauzer named “Kona”).