Our Staff

Our Staff2024-05-21T11:25:54-04:00

Dr. Phil Andersen

My interest in helping animals started when I was a kid during my visits to my Grandparents’ farm in Mission, B.C.

dr.phill-lg

I loved learning about all the different types of animals, and even thought that one day I’d have my very own farm with each type of cow, duck, chicken, pig, sheep, etc. that I had researched. Wow, how impractical! But, that’s where it all began for me.

My interest in animals and the desire to help them, along with a lot of time spent hitting the books, landed me in veterinary school at the University of Saskatchewan.

I studied intensely and was fortunate enough to gain an externship in veterinary medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, where I was given recognition for my outstanding achievements.

I graduated from veterinary school with Great Distinction, meaning I was near the top of my class, and I also won awards in correlative medicine (fancy way of saying that I looked at the animal as a whole and not just at the part that was the owie), and in pharmacology.

Now was to come my real education. The stuff the books could not teach me. Practicing veterinary medicine in the real world without a net.

I began my illustrious career in a very small town in Saskatchewan. Lucky for me I didn’t need an alarm clock because the trains ran right outside my front door, never allowing me more than an hour or two of uninterrupted sleep at any one time. Time to move.

I settled in Langley and practiced there for many years before the pull of wanting to move on gripped me once again.

I decided to try my hand at being a traveling vet— also known as a locum—moving from clinic to hospital as needed. I learned a lot, and I met a lot of interesting pets and their human companions. But, the interest in starting my own practice intensified, especially over the past two years.

I am excited to announce that I have opened my own practice at The Shops at Morgan Crossing.

All Creatures Animal Hospital is now my permanent home. I bring to it everything I have learned; all my experiences, skills, knowledge, and expertise in medicine and in surgery to make your pet as healthy and happy as he/she can be.

Sincerely,

Phil Andersen, DVM

And the answer is, “Yes!” to those of you who are wondering if the name came by way of the James Harriot books: All Creatures Great and Small. I loved reading them as a kid, and can say that the stories in these books also inspired me to become a veterinarian.

Sonya

Registered Animal Health Technician

Sonya started working here at All Creatures Animal Hospital in August 2018. Sonya has been in the veterinary field since 2010. She first took the Douglas Veterinary Assistant program in 2010 and then graduated from the Douglas Veterinary Technology program in 2014. Sonya decided to purse a career working with animals because of her life long passion for pets. She loves what she does and always tries her best to help. She enjoys being able to interact with a variety of pets and is always excited to learn new things. Sonya likes to meet pet owners and educate them with her knowledge in pet care. She takes pride in ensuring that all animals are comfortable, happy and loved.

During her spare time she likes to spend time with her friends, family and more importantly with her own pets. Sonya has owned pets all her life. Currently she shares her home with her German Shepherd, her black cat and her old orange tabby. Sonya loves being able to provide a nurturing home to her pets. She wants to have a purpose in her career and is glad she can make a difference and help others. Sonya is inspired by people around her and appreciates everyone.

Caroline

Veterinary Assistant

Caroline is our newest member of the team here at All Creatures Animal Hospital and already she has made herself invaluable to our practice.  From having a warm, welcoming presence, to speaking 3 languages so we can better communicate with all our awesome clients, she believes in providing exceptional and well-rounded customer service.

Caroline obtained her Veterinary Assistant diploma through Sprott Shaw College in 2021 and has been gaining
experience in the industry ever since.  Her love and passion for her pets has cultivated a deeper
connection with them and she would like to further advance her career as a veterinary technician in the future.

She had a long life journey with her 2 first dogs, Tenshi the Shih Tzu and BeeBee the Maltese, as well as various turtles, fishes and hamsters during her childhood.  Her current four-legged family member is Beowulf, and they love to hike together all over the Lower Mainland!

Candace


Veterinary Receptionist

Animals have always been an important part of Candace’s life, both personally and professionally.  At 15 years old she started working at a mixed animal veterinary practice in a small farming community in Ontario, starting out as a receptionist and kennel aid, eventually moving up to doing lab work and assisting in surgeries.  After completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Candace began working at another veterinary hospital in Langley way back in 2003 which is where she first met and became friends with Dr. Andersen.  After several years there, she started her own pet sitting and dog walking company, West Coast Tails, which grew to 17 staff, spanned from North Vancouver to Abbotsford and was voted Vancouver’s Best in 2010.  She sold the company in 2012 shortly after her non-furry babies came along, and eventually reconnected with Dr. Andersen in 2019.  She now moonlights as a Veterinary Receptionist/Assistant here at All Creatures Animal Hospital on Saturdays.

One of her favourite aspects of working in the veterinary industry is meeting and interacting with the wonderful pet owners.  A self-proclaimed “Cat Whisperer” she specializes in handling nervous cats.   When she’s not here she works in the office at an elementary school in Langley and is also mom to 2 wonderful humans, Lincoln and Norah, and 3 ungrateful cats, Ryker, Willy and Loki, and her doofy dogs, Monty and Cristina.