Our Team

Dr Jenni Trewren
BVSc (First Class Honours) MACVSc (Small Animal Medicine) CMAVA

Jenni grew up in Brisbane, and moved to the Riverland in 1991, after graduating from University of Queensland  - Bachelor of Veterinary Science with First Class Honours. She has lived and worked in the Riverland since then.

She completed post-graduate studies in 1996 when she was awarded Membership of the Australian College of Veterinary Science in Small Animal Medicine – a challenging undertaking with a new baby (Sarah) who was allergic to sleeping. Tim joined the family in 1996, and after being a mum for a few years, she opened Jenni Trewren Veterinary Services in Berri in January 1999. The name of the business was changed to RIvaPetz Pet Care in 2008.

She feels very privileged to be able to provide veterinary care for so many wonderful Riverland pets, and to help ensure their health and well being for their families.
Katie, her darling black & white cat, has been a part of her life since moving to the Riverland, and features in the “Jenni Trewren Veterinary Services” logo. After 18 ½ years of love and companionship, Katie recently passed away.

The menagerie currently consists of; Matilda the Border Collie, Molly the very naughty Burmese cat, Harry & Henry the cockatiels, Silky Bantams and heaps of much loved Guinea Pigs with some really weird hairstyles and great personalities.

Dr Carolyn Carson
BSc BVMS

Carolyn dreamed of being a vet from an early age, and after completing high school in Renmark, studied Veterinary Science at Murdoch University in Perth. Six years and 2 degrees later, her  focus had changed dramatically, because she somehow seemed to have acquired a (temporary) husband and 2 (permanent) sons.

The ensuing years saw her take on the role of mother with a passion, so much so that she home-schooled both boys up to the end of year 7. By then they had seriously had enough of each other and the boys happily went off to Renmark High School. One is now an engineer and the other is studying Psychology in Adelaide. This time presented another change in focus, and she volunteered in many areas, including running a playgroup for 6 years. 

She was re-introduced to the veterinary profession quite by chance, and now works as a veterinarian at Rivapetz Pet Care. She has a weakness for cats, and has had the company of many gorgeous felines over the years, with the household currently inhabited by Mitzi and Tabitha Beryl.

Paula Wachtel

Paula has been a part of the RivaPetz team since 2000, and has thoroughly enjoyed her time working at the clinic.

Animals have always been a huge part of her life, adopting all of the neighborhood strays, orphans and injured creatures as a child. Her particular interest/passion now is in dog behaviour, psychology and training, but she enjoys all aspects of her job, and the opportunity to have daily cuddles from a variety of furry friends.

Now that her children are working and studying in Adelaide, her home is shared with her very understanding husband, her beloved border collies, Honey the Chihuahua x poodle, River the fantastic cat and Merlin the tortoise. In her spare time she shows, breeds and trains border collies under the kennel name Tookurra. You can meet Paula’s dogs at www.tookurra.com.

Paula is a Veterinary Nurse, and runs the Puppy Preschool and Companion Dog Training programs at RivaPetz Pet Care.

Kristie Canham

Kristie’s choice of name for her recent cat addition to the family, Gypsy, is very relevant, reflecting on her own life. Born and raised in country Victoria, Kristie then travelled around Australia with her family, eventually settling in Queensland and honing her management skills in retail.

She then moved to Alice Springs to take up a position as a Veterinary Nurse in an ASAVA Accredited Animal Hospital. It was there that she developed a passion for surgical nursing and wildlife, after seeing quolls, wedge-tailed eagles and a multitude of snakes and lizards. The most common presentation for lizards visiting the clinic was with their head stuck in a VB can.

She has a passion for travel and has managed to squeeze in a trip to Europe and the UK.

Kristie now lives locally with her partner and daughter and an odd assortment of animals including Lily the Bulldog cross, Moose the Boxer, Charlie the Chihuahua, Gypsy the Selkirk Rex and the latest addition, Pixie the Siamese cross.

Helen Cass

Helen is a recent addition to the RivaPetz team, joining us in March 2011.

Helen was born and raised in Adelaide.  She worked in administrative fields within Medical and Agriculture for many years before becoming a mum to four fabulous children over a five year period. 

In January 2009 she married a Mallee farmer and moved to the Riverland to become the “Brady Bunch” with seven children.  Her passion on the farm are the two sheep studs, and together with her husband Ian, they specialise in breeding White Suffolk and Suffolk Ram Sires.  They have a loveable Golden Labrador “Buddy” who is full of energy and the children love him, along with the many chickens, ducks and turkeys, all at home on the farm.

She enjoys the interaction and characteristics of all the wonderful pets that come through the doors at Rivapetz Pet Care and looks forward to getting to know all our special patients and clients.

Helen is the Client Relations Manager at RivaPetz Pet Care, in addition to providing administration support.

Di Harris

It is a pleasure to welcome an additional team member to RivaPetz Pet Care.

 Di Harris has joined the Client Care team in 2012, and will job-share with Helen, making sure that there is a friendly face to greet you when you visit the clinic.

Di's family includes two adorable Cocker Spaniels, and a 20 year old cat, in addition to two adult children who are both studying in Adelaide. Animals have always been an important part of her family life and she is now looking forward to them featuring in her work life as well.

Di is excited to be the most recent addition to the RivaPetz team and to have the opportunity to meet all of our great clients and patients.

She is pictured here with "Tawny", one of our successful wildlife rehabilitation patients.

Sumo - The Clinic Cat

Sumo' was first brought into the clinic as a stray, needing a caring and loving home. Most unwanted cats and kittens are put up for adoption but this one seemed different.

When "Sumo" was first let out of her cage, to have the run of the clinic, she hopped right out and set about inspecting everything and everyone. We all fell in love with her! We soon began to realise that she would make the perfect clinic cat. She settled into clinic life really well, equally dividing her daily time with each staff member. She is such a sweet and affectionate cat, but also has a devilish streak within her, she is far from being the little lady-she will roar in and out of each room sounding like a freight train.

Little did we know that she would go on to develop ringworm! Earning her the name the ‘ringworm infected thug' or ‘Ompa Lumpa'.

Her favourite pastimes are spending time at the front counter where she can meet and greet all of our clients and patients or the warm fax machine in Jenni's office but, she still manages to catch up on some sleep in-between the hectic jobs of being the clinic cat.