The contents of his primary school incubator birthing Kevin's interest in animals, he went on to spend his youth breeding rare species of aviary birds.​

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Kevin left the University of Bristol with his Honours Degree in 1995, going on to explore his love for exotics at a mixed practice in Swindon.

 

​In 2001, after achieving his Royal College Certificate in Zoological Medicine, he went on as a locum vet in the Cheshire area, treating animals at the Bristol Zoo, Stapeley Wildlife Centre and countless others across the country.

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​Then becoming an examiner for the Royal College, Kevin began to help other Vets throughout their studies, leading him to publish widely in esteemed Veterinary Journals and speak internationally at Conferences and Events.

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In 2006, he received his Zoological Medicine Diploma in Reptilian Medicine and became recognised by the Royal College as a Specialist in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine.

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​2008 saw Kevin move to Edinburgh to lead the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Medicine's Exotic department, where he single-handedly introduced skills such as endoscopy, ear surgeries, Orthopedics and upgrades to the Anesthetics equipment which made longer, more complex procedures safer for patients.

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Now - living his lifelong dream as the director of his own independent, exotics only practice Fife Exotic Vets - Kevin gets to work alongside his hand-selected Exotics Team, doing what he loves.

Growing up, Shona had a variety of different exotic animals as pets including fish, stick insects, and rodents.

 

Beginning her degree in Veterinary Medicine in 2016, Shona went on to complete a variety of different work experience placements to supplement her studies. She worked to deliver emergency care and rehabilitation at Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue as well as routine and referral services at The Dick Vet Rabbit and Exotic Practice. 

 

Noticing a gap in teaching for exotic animal healthcare versus dogs or cats, Shona found herself advocating for the welfare and equal treatment of all species. These experiences igniting her passion for exotics, she opted to add an extra year to her degree for research and a thesis in Zoology at the University of Edinburgh.

 

Further developing her skills, not only did she go on to do work experience placements in small and exotic animals at the Edinburgh Poultry Health Services, The Lawrie Veterinary Practice, Apex Vets and Edinburgh Zoo but she also completed a course in ‘Leading First Aid and Mental Health’ at St Andrews First Aid.

 

In 2022, Shona graduated from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies with distinction. 

 

Returning to the Dick Vet Rabbit and Exotic practice as a locum and enrolling in an externship at Chester Zoo, she continued to hone her communication and practical skills. 

 

Looking to aid exotic creatures in their most vulnerable moments, Shona further bullet-proofed herself in critical care by becoming a ‘Race Certified Reptile, Amphibian, Avian and Small Mammal First Aider’ and ‘Recover Certified BLS Rescuer’.

 

In 2024, Shona went on to be an Animal Rescue Officer for the Scottish SPCA, triaging and treating wildlife.

 

With seven years experience delivering both routine healthcare and emergency services, Shona looks forward to continuing to provide exotic animals with the expert treatment they deserve.

Monika had a pet tortoise growing up, and she worked hard to make sure it had the happiest of homes. 

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With the inability to vocalise and with body language cues that aren't as widely understood as species such as cats and dogs, reptiles piqued Monika's interest. She became passionate about her pets, observing them and researching her tortoises behaviour to learn more about how to care for them. In university, she took on neglected tortoises, nursing them back to health and providing them with an enriching, attentive home. 

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In Poland during 2012, she graduated as a Veterinary Technician. Working at both the Private Veterinary Clinic and Veterinary Center in Lodz, Monika quickly became the 'go to' nurse for her knowledge and interest in exotic species. With a budding interest in preventative care through physiotherapy and analgesia for injured or geriatric cases, Monika became a qualified Masseur Technician at the local human hospital. But she quickly outgrew her environment and in 2016, moved to the UK to expand her craft.

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After overcoming differences in program content between Poland and Scotland, Monika received her Diploma in Veterinary Nursing of Zoological Species, the same year going on to achieve a Diploma in Parrot Studies and Behaviour.

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In 2022 she obtained her Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Nursing with a specialisation in 'Analgesia and Pain Management' from the Harper Adams University. Seeing the success of alternative care (such as Physiotherapy, Acupuncture and Laser Treatment) in human medicine, Monika advocates for a combined, comprehensive approach to medicine in order to maximise comfort and minimise recovery time in injured exotic species. Following this, in 2023 she took an Animal Acupuncture course, a Small Avian Behavioural course and received a 'Avian Fear Free' certification.

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Monika is completing an Advanced Programme in Veterinary Nursing of Zoo Animals with Girling&Fraser Ltd.

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Now working alongside her friends at Fife Exotic Vets, Monika brings her expertise and special interest in Pain Management to the Exotics Team.​

Surrounded by horses, Beth was the kind of kid who dug for worms and searched for insects so that the seemingly 'unlovable' creatures could get some attention too.

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Driven by her desire to learn about the animals that lived beyond her back garden, Beth spent three months in Australia at Shepparton Veterinary Clinic to learn more about the treatment of equine, farm, exotic and wild species.

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Back on UK soil, she went on to work towards her Veterinary Nursing Diploma at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies where she also worked weekends at their Exotic Animal Teaching Facility to soak up additional experience.

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In 2014, while completing her studies she began volunteering for the British Divers Marine Life Rescue where she helps care for Scottish seals. She is still a volunteer to this day.

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​Freshly graduated as a Vet Nurse, Beth began working for the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Exotic and Wildlife Service where she began teaching vet students, clients and zookeepers about ways to improve the welfare of numerous species. 

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Constantly seeking experiences with a range of species and in varying degrees of urgency, Beth began taking trips to South Africa in order to expand her skills. There, she took part in a research project into the affects of Global Warming on baboons and practiced her handling of both large and small venomous reptiles.

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In 2018, now with her Degree in Veterinary Nursing in Exotic and Wildlife Species, she went on to work for the Royal Veterinary College, Beaumont Sainsbury's Animal Hospital in London providing expert nursing care, client education and services for the Falconry Centres in the surrounding areas.

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​Throughout her ten years of experience in complex exotic and wildlife cases, Beth has actively sought to expand her knowledge at every step along the way. She is now able to share her wealth of knowledge with the exotics team here at Fife Exotic Vets.

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When species of wild birds became frequent visitors to grandma's garden, Erika discovered her passion for Wildlife.

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Freshly graduated as a Registered Veterinary Nurse, Erika went to work for Edinburgh's Braid Vets where she was able to hone her craft. Then moving to work for the PDSA Pet Hospital where she could join the front lines of UK Animal Welfare and Public Education, she found that the charity sector provided the greatest sense of purpose and the most challenges.

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Driven by the fulfilment that comes with handling unique cases in high stress environments and her desire to further her skills in these areas, in 2018 Erika undertook not one, but two part-time positions, as both an MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour at the University of Edinburgh and complex nursing at a referral level at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Medicine. During this time she achieved her Low-stress Handling Silver Certificate, her ISFM Feline Nursing Certificate and was the Honorary Treasurer of the British Veterinary Nursing Association Council.

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Finding that it combined her interest in complex wildlife cases and in teaching, Erika became an Exotics Vet Nurse at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Medicine.​​​​​

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With her special interest in Behaviour and her own business No Stress Pets, Erika works alongside the team at Fife Exotic Vets to bring bespoke, expert care to clients.