Jessica knew that she was meant to help animals ever since she was a little girl. She’s always had a soft spot in her heart for them, and her passion simply never let up. Caring for the earth’s creatures is Jessica’s true calling! She’s a member of Balfour Animal Hospital’s talented front-desk team and has plans for becoming a veterinarian herself in the future.

Jessica was born in Poland and came to Canada with her family when she was young. She grew up in the St. Catharines area and has been here ever since! Jessica plans on going back to school in the near future to study veterinary medicine and wanted to gain some real-world experience in the animal-care field in the meantime. That’s when she signed up here at Balfour Animal Hospital—she’s been a member of the hospital family since June of 2019.

Outside of work, Jessica’s interests include gardening, snowboarding, reading, working on cars with her fiancé, and spending quality time with her own pets at home. She lives with Bella, a Pomeranian/Chihuahua mix that has been with Jessica since she was a puppy, a Pomeranian/Poodle mix named Koda, and Tucker the Golden Retriever. Jessica also cares for two horses, Sam and Spanky, a pair of gerbils who go by Tunnel and Troy, and five barn cats: Mama Midnight, Oreo, Griffen, Shivy, and Pistachio.

Mariah grew up in Welland and spent hours in the great outdoors, searching for turtles, frogs, snakes, and other critters by the water. She’s harbored a passion for the earth’s creatures all her life, and it simply made sense to dedicate herself to improving the lives of animals. That’s why she decided to become a veterinary professional! Mariah currently studies at Guelph University and gets to gain hands-on experience in the veterinary field here at Balfour Animal Hospital.

Mariah is in her fourth year of animal biology studies at school, and plans on continuing on to veterinary school in the future. She began her animal-care career as a cooperative career placement student at Main West Animal Hospital, and transferred here to Balfour Animal Hospital a short time ago. She loves to interact one-on-one with the area’s pet owners and their adorable companions! Medically, Mariah likes internal medicine cases, and she’s also fond of dermatology work and the way it relates to her own dog’s atopic dermatitis struggles.

When time permits between her busy school and work schedules, Mariah enjoys snowboarding, skating, swimming, fishing, hiking, and camping. She also loves to dote on her own pets at home. Mariah has a Labrador Retriever, Duncan, who loves to cuddle when he’s not outside chasing squirrels; as well as a rambunctious kitten named Jarvis.

Lauren grew up as an only child, and the family pets were her constant companions. Even at a young age, she knew that she would love to help as many of the earth’s creatures as she possibly could. For Lauren, no other choice of career made sense! She’s a Registered Veterinary Technician with the Balfour Animal Hospital family.

Originally from St. Catharines, Lauren began her veterinary journey at a pet clinic there when she was only 16 years old. Next, she headed to Technician school at Medaille College in Buffalo to earn her degree in veterinary technology. Lauren returned to the practice in St. Catherines as a Registered Veterinary Technician and would help pets there for the next 11 years!

When the time came for a change, Lauren was happy to join the Balfour Animal Hospital family in July of 2020. Her favourite part of her job is one-on-one hospital care and getting to see her hard work pay off in the form of a happier, healthier pet. She’s also fond of helping to educate clients on the best care for their animal companions.

At home, Lauren and her partner have a young daughter (already a huge animal-lover like her mother!) and also share their lives with several pets: a Shepherd named Oakley who can balance a treat on his nose; Willy the Labrador who loves everyone he meets; and a pair of cats named Oliver and Ameilia. When she’s not spending quality time with her family and pets, Lauren enjoys running and practicing yoga. She even hopes to become a certified yoga instructor in the future!

For Kyra, working in a field that allows her to combine her fascination with medicine and physiology with her lifelong love of pets is a dream come true. As a Veterinary Assistant with the Balfour Animal Hospital family, she gets to make a difference in the lives of the community’s pet owners every single day!

Kyra grew up in Welland and started volunteering at a local spay and neuter clinic there in 2014. She was hired as an employee the following April, and would help pets there for the next several years. Kyra began volunteering at Balfour Animal Hospital in the spring of 2017 and was hired that November, and she started working at Main West Animal Hospital as well in the spring of 2020. Medically, she’s fond of diagnostic work and loves to develop a better understanding of what’s ailing her patients using cytology, bloodwork, and other techniques. Above all, Kyra likes making a lasting difference in the lives of the area’s pet owners and animal companions.

Outside of work, Kyra enjoys backpacking and long-distance hiking, traveling—she and her boyfriend have been to more than 25 countries together!—and doting on her own pets at home. She shares her life with three Beagles named Roxy, Bella, and Jazzie, as well as another loveable dog named Lilah who likes to think she’s a Beagle, too. Kyra also owns a 20-year-old leopard gecko who will probably outlive us all.

Dr. Ivan Bos recognized his own affinity for animals at an early age. He can’t remember a time when he didn’t want to do everything in his power to help them live happier, healthier lives! Dr. Bos’s passion simply didn’t quit—he knew that a career as a veterinarian would suit him perfectly. Now, his journey has come full circle: he’s the owner and operator of Balfour Animal Hospital.

Born and raised on the Niagara Peninsula, Dr. Bos graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2001 and then worked in a pair of mixed-animal practices in the Niagara region after his schooling. Next, he purchased a small pet clinic that he would operate for the next five years. In the fall of 2011, Dr. Bos launched his next adventure: Balfour Animal Hospital. He’s been helping the pets and animal parents of the area here ever since!
Medically, Dr. Bos is interested in internal medicine and orthopedic care. He’s also one of the few veterinarians in Ontario certified in stem cell transplant therapy. Dr. Bos especially enjoys the daily tasks that go into operating and maintaining a small business, and he loves to meet new pets and develop lasting relationships with the area’s animal owners over time.

Away from work, Dr. Bos enjoys riding his beloved Yamaha FJR motorcycle and spending quality time with his family. He and his wife Melissa have two children, Kaelyn and Jacob, all of whom can often be seen helping out here at the clinic. Together, they love going camping, playing board games, and caring for their own pets—the family shares their lives with two dogs, a pair of cats, and two horses.

Ever since she was a little girl, Dr. Patricia Bailey - who goes by Trish - has been fascinated by animals of every shape and size. She found herself wanting to know everything about them, including what made them sick and what could make them happy and healthy again. That passion just never quit. Dr. Bailey knew that she was destined to become a veterinarian!

Dr. Bailey is from Ottawa and was first introduced to the veterinary world when she completed a number of high school cooperative career placements at pet clinics in her area. She attended the University of Guelph, then continued on to the Ontario Veterinary College to study veterinary medicine. Dr. Bailey graduated as a veterinarian in 2002, then moved to Windsor to launch her career in private practice.

Dr. Bailey practiced in Windsor for two years before moving to the United Kingdom, where she practiced for another two years. Next, she returned to Canada and settled in the Niagara area. Now, Dr. Bailey is proud to serve the pets and animal owners of the area as a veterinarian with the Balfour Animal Hospital team.

Away from work, Dr. Bailey likes studying history, traveling—she was able to explore much of Europe while living and working in the United Kingdom—and spending time with her own pets at home. She and her husband have three cats: Puck, who doesn’t let his advanced age slow him down in the least; Rhea, who isn’t happy until she’s cuddled up next to someone; and the more reserved Vesta.