Veterinarian

Dr. Darcie Sharp

Dr. Darcie Sharp is a 2003 graduate of the Atlantic Veterinary College.  After spending her first few years in veterinary practice in Ontario, she moved back to her hometown of Sussex.  She started working in the Salisbury area in 2008, and now divides her veterinary practice time between our SilverFox and Sunshine Valley hospitals.  

With a strong focus on preventative medicine and improving the quality of life for her older patients, Dr. Sharp tries to provide the best care possible throughout the life of your companions.  Along with all our veterinarians, she spends many hours every year keeping up to date with advances in veterinary medicine, diagnostics, and surgery.   

Growing up on a dairy farm in the Sussex area Dr. Sharp has been involved in the care and treatment of animals for most of her life.  She spent a lot of her pre-college years involved in various 4-H projects and working on farms.  She has been involved in various forms of dog training for over 25 years, including CKC obedience, Rally, and Agility.  

Outside of clinic hours, Dr. Sharp is kept busy being involved in various organizations.  Summer months find her spending many evenings coaching her daughter’s softball team, winters helping with junior curling with both her children.   Year round she is involved as a 4-H sheep project leader.  Mixed in when time permits is time spent training her dogs, gardening, and craft projects.  

Dr Sharp lives on a small hobby farm with her husband, 2 children, 2 (or more by times) dogs, 2 cats, and ever changing number of sheep.  

Veterinarian

Dr. Kristi Pickering

Dr. Kristi Pickering is a 2015 graduate of the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC).

As far back as she can remember, Kristi had always wanted to be a veterinarian.  She continued her studies when she went on to do a small animal internship again at AVC where she developed a passion for internal medicine , oncology and surgery.  

Dr. Pickering loves the variety that comes with general practice and enjoys meeting all the clients and their beloved pets.

At home during her spare time, she can be found spending time with her husband, daughter, 2 dogs and 2 cats.

Veterinarian

Dr. Doug McGrath

Dr. Doug McGrath is a 1991 graduate of the University of Montreal and has been practicing veterinary medicine since 1991; the year he obtained his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine.

Early in his career, from 1991 to 1993, Dr. McGrath worked for the department of Agriculture in Bathurst for the New-Brunswick government as a Regional Veterinarian.

In 1993, he opened his first veterinary hospital, l’Hôpital Vétérinaire de la Péninsule in Tracadie-Sheila, NB and owned and operated 2 satellite clinics, located in Caraquet and Shippagan.

After selling his business in 2004, Dr. McGrath and his family moved to Dieppe. Dr. McGrath taught at the Oulton College in the veterinary department until he opened Acadia Veterinary Hospital late 2006 in Dieppe.

He then acquired 2 more Vet clinics; Community Animal Hospital and Salisbury veterinary clinic.

After selling Acadia Veterinary Hospital and Community Animal Hospital in 2013, Dr. McGrath opened 2 new Veterinary Medical Centres; SilverFox in Salisbury and Sunshine Valley in Sussex.

Doug has a special interest in building the most efficient and best staffed veterinary hospitals and is convinced that these 2 new veterinary medical centres will be a prime example of that.

Prior to becoming a veterinarian, Dr. McGrath played professional hockey and was under contract for the New Jersey Devils of the NHL.

Dr. McGrath has been inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame as part of the University Blue Eagles and the Tracadie-Sheila Sports Hall of Fame in the << individual athlete >> category.

Today, Doug plays hockey for fun and also for fund raising events with ex pro hockey players for the Maritime All Stars formerly known as the Tim Horton’s All Stars.

Doug is married and has a daughter, 1 dog and 2 rescued cats.

Registered Vet Technician

Alanna

From a young age, Alanna had an interest in animal health and frequently found injured animals she would try to nurse to health so becoming a registered veterinary technician  (RVT) was an obvious choice.

Alanna graduated as a RVT from the veterinary technology program at the St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ontario in 2005.  After successfully writing her registry exam 4 months later, she went on to enjoy 13 years working as a RVT in Ontario.  She relocated to New Brunswick after she met her husband who is originally from Sussex and started with our practice in 2018.

Together they have 2 children and 3 dogs.  Alanna enjoys spending time in the outdoors and at their cottage in St. George with her family.

Registered Vet Technician

Emily

Emily is a 2019 graduate from the Veterinary Technology program at Oulton College.

Originally from Saint John, Emily now makes her home in the outskirts of Sussex where she can be found spending time with her basset beagle, her senior cat who was formerly a barn cat and her newest addition, another barn kitty.

Emily grew up in an animal filled family, loving animals, especially cats so animals have always been a huge part of her life.

Some of her hobbies and interests include drawing, going on family vacations and watching Marvel movies.  She has also been involved with Taekwondo for 10 years, achieving her 1^st and 2^nd Dan(degree) black belts.

Manager + Admin Coordinator

Kim

Kim Steeves has been the head of customer service and a technical assistant with practice for over 17 years.  Having a deep passion for all living things big and small, she has always found the work very rewarding and loves interacting with the clients and their beloved pets.

Kim has resided in the Salisbury and Petitcodiac area for 16 years where together with her husband of 20 years raised their families.  Among their families, they also had many pets and farm animals, including a few horses. Currently, they have a dog and a cat who are both rescue animals.

In her spare time, Kim loves camping, gardening, going on road trips, entertaining friends and family, spoiling her grandchildren and renovating.

Registered Vet Technician

Cindy

Cindy graduated from Oulton College in 2009 as a veterinary technician. After successfully writing her veterinary national exam, she graduated as a registered veterinary technician (RVT).  She moved to Oromocto to work for 3 years and returned to the Moncton area to continue working, gaining a total of 11 years of experience working as a RVT.  Cindy started with our practice since 2019 and is very happy working in the Salisbury and Petitcodiac community.

Cindy grew up in Colpitts Settlement where she still resides with her fiance, daughter, 2 cats and 2 dogs.  In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, foraging, gardening and doing yoga.

Technician

Julia

Julia’s father recalls that ever since she could talk, she’s said she’d wanted to be a veterinarian.

 After graduating from veterinary medicine in 2008 at the Brazilian University (UNIPINHAL), Julia worked in a small animal practice for six years and then moved on to the veterinary pharmaceutical industry for four years until she decided to move to Canada with her husband.

Since moving to Moncton in 2018 with her husband, 2 dogs (one being a rescue) and 1 rescue cat, Julia has fallen in love with New Brunswick, its four seasons and the snow.

In her spare time, Julia enjoys spending time with her husband, watching movies and tv shows ( she is a Friends fanatic), biking, riding horses (though she hasn’t had the chance in Canada yet), playing with her dogs and having fun with friends.

Julia is so proud and happy to be part of the Sunshine Valley Veterinary family.

Vet Assistant

Tessa 

Tessa graduated with honours from the Veterinary Assistant program at Eastern College in Moncton. Born in Wales and moving to Canada as a child, Tessa now lives in Waterford with her fiance, son, parents, brother, 5 dogs, 3 horses and several kitties. 

From a very young age, Tessa was an avid equestrian; participating in many horse shows and working & caring for horses. This continued when she moved countries, also working on several professional horse facilities in Alberta and in her spare time, she still rides. This lifestyle and love for animals ultimately brought Tessa to find her dream job at Sunshine Valley Veterinary Centre as she is also passionate about working with the public and helping those in need.