Welcome to Tantramar Veterinary Hospital, your local veterinarians in Sackville, NB.
We’re proud to provide a wide variety of veterinary medical services for dogs, cats, rabbits, and some exotic species in Sackville & surrounding areas!
Dr. Tanya Sparling
Owner/Veterinarian, DVM, B.Sc, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Specialist
Dr. Tanya Sparling, owner of Amherst Veterinary Hospital, and Tantramar Veterinary Hospital in Sackville, is passionate: passionate about animals, passionate about people, passionate about her staff and the practice they work for. Her warm, friendly exterior is genuine, but so is her hard-driving dedication to excellence in veterinary care, and her unbending devotion to the animals entrusted to her hospital.
Tanya graduated from Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, in 2008, where she received the Animal Behaviour and Welfare Award from the OVMA. In addition to her DVM, Dr. Sparling is a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist, the Vice-President of the Nova Scotia Veterinary Medicine Association, and the NSVMA’s 2018 “Young Veterinarian of the Year”.
Amherst Veterinary Hospital has been a centre of excellence in Cumberland County for more than five decades. Sparling has built on that reputation, expanding the size of the practice dramatically while increasing the services, technologies and therapies available to patients in our region. The AAHA-accredited facility (North America’s gold standard for the industry) has become a surgical and emergency hub for the region.
Dr. Sparling sets high standards for her practice and high standards for herself. Living with Multiple Sclerosis didn’t stop her from completing the Mont Tremblant Ironman in 2019, successfully finishing the 3.9 kilometre swim, 180 kilometre cycle, and 42 kilometre running course within the permitted 17 hours. Tanya was born in Amherst and grew up in Upper Nappan. She’s thrilled that she’s been afforded the opportunity to contribute to the community where she grew up, and make her home (with her husband and daughter) in Cumberland County. Sparling is an active member of her community and enjoys contributing to charitable causes in the region.
Vanessa Reed
Registered Veterinary Technician
Vanessa joined the Amherst Veterinary Hospital team in 2011 and has since transferred in September of 2017, to us here at Tantramar. As the top student in her graduating class of 2011, Vanessa takes her profession very seriously and loves working with our patients. She can always be found lending a helping hand and making sure all your little ones are comfortable and warm. Vanessa grew up in Saint Martin’s, N.B. and recently moved to a hobby farm in Dorchester Cape, N.B. with her husband, 3 dogs, cat and chickens. She can still be seen on occasion at AVH helping Dr. Sparling with rehab therapy appointments.
Natasha Mackintosh
Registered Veterinary Technician/Head of Communications/Assistant Manager
Natasha’s love of animals began at an early age with many family pets including dogs, cats and horses. Fortunately for us, she brought that love of animals to Amherst Veterinary Hospital in 2009 and can be found on occasion helping throughout the hospital here at TVH. She is meticulous in her work and loves to help with management and organization tasks. She is involved in bettering the field she works in as a volunteer with the Animal Care Committee at Oulton College. Although she loves her work, her heart belongs to Gainz (her super handsome French bulldog).
Tish Black
Client Service Representative
In 2003, Tish joined the Amherst Veterinary Hospital reception team after working for some years in the retail industry and has since transferred over to us here in Tantramar. She is always willing to do her utmost to assist our clients and is the one to see regarding fitting your pet with collars or harnesses. Tish has a wonderful attitude and gentle way with all animals. She and her husband have recently rescued greyhounds and are providing a wonderful life for these lucky dogs.
Dr. Christina Youé
DVM, MSc, BSc
Dr. Christina, who was born and raised in Ontario, graduated as a DVM from Guelph University in 2011. She started in general practice at an animal hospital in Calgary until 2016. After a brief time off to start a family, she returned to veterinary medicine as a relief vet at several clinics in Calgary up until her big move east to join the Amherst/Tantramar team in November of 2019. Together with husband Ben they loaded up their belongings, 2 kids (Easton and Winsloe), 2 cats and began a cross Canada trip to be closer to family and start a small hobby farm. Christina is very thorough and her goal for each patient’s visit is to make a plan that works for each individual pet/family.
Melissa Proctor
Registered Veterinary Technician
Melissa joined our team at AVH in September 2010 and moved to TVH in 2020. Upon receiving an animal science degree from the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Melissa moved to Kamloops, British Columbia. There she successfully completed the Veterinary Technician program at Thompson Rivers University. Melissa is full of energy and often can be found having a conversation with our patients, which they love. We feel fortunate she came back to Amherst to join our team. Outside of work, Melissa’s other job is parenting her son Jacob along with husband Trevor.