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Meet Our Staff

Our Caring & Compassionate Veterinary Team!

Highview Animal Clinic is locally-owned and operated and proud to serve the pets and families of High River, AB. We hope you’ll see us as a partner in your pet’s healthcare and call on us for anything pet-related.
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Melissa

Melissa grew up in Calgary surrounded by various pets that ranged from dogs, rabbits, hamsters, and fish to horses.

Melissa grew up in Calgary surrounded by various pets that ranged from dogs, rabbits, hamsters, and fish to horses. Her passion for all animals large and small started at a young age with her first dog, a Sheltie named Laddie, which her parents assured her was just as good as Lassie. Melissa has been involved in the local veterinary industry in varying roles for the past ten years. After graduating from Mount Royal University with a Bachelor of Arts, where she majored in Anthropology and double minored in Sociology and Business, she has decided to follow her passion for animals and pursue an RVT designation.

In her free time, Melissa enjoys yoga, paddle boarding, and horseback riding with friends. At home, you can find her spending time with her dog Olive.

Office Manager

Joel Thiessen

I grew up in BC and moved to Alberta in 2007. I met Krista in 2010; we got married and now have two boys.

I grew up in BC and moved to Alberta in 2007. I met Krista in 2010; we got married and now have two boys. We are part owners of the Highview Animal Clinic, and although I work mainly from home, you will see me at the clinic as much as I can.

In my off time, I enjoy camping, hunting, hiking, shooting and strength sports. Daily walks with the boys are always interesting, and our vacations are usually about taking my sons to see family.

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Shelley Glatt

I graduated from Olds College, Animal Health Technologist program in 1985 and started working at Highview Animal Clinic in January 2009.

I graduated from Olds College, Animal Health Technologist program in 1985 and started working at Highview Animal Clinic in January 2009. I have spent 35+ years working emergency and am now semi-retired working in our mixed practice.

I was born and raised in Calgary. I got married in 1991 and have 2 creative children, my daughter is a manager at Petsmart and my son is currently studying education majoring in physics at the U of L.

We currently live on an acreage south of Calgary with two dogs, two cats and two horses. Outside of family, work, 4-H, polo-cross, and gardening, I am enjoying a new endeavour on conditioning myself and my horse for endurance trail.

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Jayden Wagner

completed a practicum here at Highview Animal Clinic and afterwards accepted a job which included a move to High River with my cat, Tuff.

I graduated from Olds College with a diploma in Animal Health Technology in 2020. As part of my final semester I completed a practicum here at Highview Animal Clinic and afterwards accepted a job which included a move to High River with my cat, Tuff.

I have always had a passion for animals and am so grateful I get to do what I do every day. I love the hustle and bustle of the job, getting to see all the cute faces that come into the clinic, and feel especially thankful when we get to send them home happy and healthy.

I grew up in Calgary, but always loved to visit my family farm in Duffield and enjoyed time with my aunt’s horses in Strathmore. On my days off, I spend time with my chatty cat, and go into the city to visit family and friends.

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Shelley Donnelly

I was born & raised on a mixed farm near Milk River, Alberta and am a graduate of the Olds College Animal Health Technology program.

I was born & raised on a mixed farm near Milk River, Alberta and am a graduate of the Olds College Animal Health Technology program. Following graduation, I worked in various mixed & small animal practices until the call to raise a family hit my husband & I in the late nineties.

This led to several years of staying home to raise our three amazing girls, who are now young adults in various stages of post secondary education.

We reside in the Davisburg area of Foothills County, on an acreage that we have been at all our married life. I have always had a love of animals & our four-legged family currently includes 3 horses, 3 cats & 2 dogs. I love doing all things family, including hiking, camping & skiing, but also have a passion for kickboxing, horseback riding, gardening, long walks with my dogs & time with a good book or good friends.

I began working at Highview Animal Clinic in November of 2019, & have loved getting back into the veterinary life.

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Kristen Thomas

I graduated from Olds College in 2022. I completed my practicum at Highview Animal Clinic and accepted a job offer afterwards.

I graduated from Olds College in 2022. I completed my practicum at Highview Animal Clinic and accepted a job offer afterwards. I am very happy to be back in my hometown of High River! Before choosing a career as a veterinary technician, I studied photography and have a Bachelor of Design from ACAD.

I worked in the aviation world, security in the oil patch, and I worked for the film industry in Vancouver, both in television and feature films. Working with animals has been a very rewarding career thus far, and I am looking forward to many more years.

In my off time, I participate in Viking Age historical re-enactment, thrifting items for my Lord of the Rings-inspired home, embroidery, and going to metal concerts. I have two cats and two guinea pigs who have joined me on many adventures and like to “help” with my embroidery.

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Laci

I grew up on a horse ranch just outside High River.

I grew up on a horse ranch just outside High River. As a child, I loved chasing all our cats and dogs around, playing with our guinea pigs and hedgehogs and learning to ride and show reining horses. I was first introduced to Vet Medicine by the staff at Highview Animal Clinic as a volunteer in High School. Then, after graduation, I worked here for a year as a tech assistant until going to college. I graduated from Olds College - Animal Health Technologist program in 2011. After a practicum at Moore Equine, I got married, moved back to High River, and came back to Highview, where I have stayed since October 2011.

I now have three beautiful children, who keep me super busy! Some of my hobbies are baking, reading, drawing, crafting, working out, and riding horses. I love being a vet tech and working at Highview - it has always felt like home!

Veterinary Receptionist

Kimberley Cabelguen

I was born in Alberta but moved numerous times while growing up to many different provinces.

I was born in Alberta but moved numerous times while growing up to many different provinces, ending up back home in Alberta, where I stayed home for 10 years with the support of my husband to raise our three amazing boys.

Once our kids got older, I enrolled at Bow Valley College, where I received my Veterinary Office Assistant Certificate. I started working at Highview Animal Clinic in October of 2013.

In my spare time, I like to read, spend time with my husband and kids, and go out for walks with our Maltese Jake.

Veterinary Receptionist

Terri McDuffe

I was born in High River and have worked at Highview Animal Clinic since January 2002.

I was born in High River and have worked at Highview Animal Clinic since January 2002.
Veterinary Receptionist

Chanda Casemore

Chanda joined the Highview Animal Clinic team in 2018. She has been in the customer service industry for over 10 years.

Chanda joined the Highview Animal Clinic team in 2018.

She has been in the customer service industry for over 10 years. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling and gardening.

Chanda is known to be very polite and courteous to all of our wonderful patients, so feel free to start a conversation with her when dropping your animal in for any veterinary service.

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Morgan Cruikshank

I have lived just south of high river my whole life on my families farm. Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of working in veterinary medicine.

I have lived just south of high river my whole life on my families farm. Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of working in veterinary medicine. I have always loved any and every animal and they have always been a huge part of my life.

I have been a part of 4-H since I was 9 years old and learned so much and grown along side my animals along the way. In high school I did a lot of volunteering at a vet clinic. I graduated from Olds College Animal Health Technology Program in May 2022. At the end of my program, I came home to do my practicum at Highview Animal Clinic and enjoyed it so much that I stayed.

In my spare time, I enjoy riding/spending time with my horses, spending time with my cats, dogs, ducks and cows, and enjoy time with my family and friends. I’m very excited to pursue my dreams and work along side the staff at Highview Animal Clinic.

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Amy

Amy graduated from Northern College's RVT program in 2007 with honors.

Amy graduated from Northern College's RVT program in 2007 with honors. After that, she moved to Alberta to start her career. She's worked in a variety of veterinary fields since then. She enjoys working in small animal medicine and is excited to learn more about large animals. She has a particular soft spot for the elderly animals she meets. In her free time, she enjoys karate and spending as much time outdoors with her family as she can.