Dr. Shelagh Morrison received her veterinary degree, with honors, from the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, in 1998. During veterinary school she spent 2 summers working with the Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife center, helping to raise and rehabilitate hundreds of wild animals and participating in the center’s public education program. She continues to be involved, whenever possible, with wildlife rehabilitation.
Upon graduation Shelagh completed a 1 year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Alta Vista Animal Hospital in Ottawa, working with the specialists in ophthalmology, internal medicine and surgery. For the next 7 years she worked as an associate veterinarian, primarily focusing on emergency medicine and critical care cases. During that time she was also the official veterinarian for the Parliament Hill cat colony. After two maternity leaves and three children she decided to continue practicing quality medicine, but in an atmosphere with regular hours and a more relaxed pace. She joined the team at the Queensway West Animal Hospital one day a week in November 2005 and became a permanent part-time associate in April 2006. She is enjoying getting to know clients and their pets and following puppies and kittens as they grow up, something she did not get to do often while practicing emergency medicine. Shelagh shares her home in the country with her husband Garth, her daughter Madelyn and her twin son and daughter Jaron and Paige. Her home is also shared by 2 dogs and 4 cats. Many who have been to QWAH already know Jake, a 3 legged black and white spotted Pointer cross who usually accompanies Shelagh to work (his bio to follow). Phoebe, the rather large black cat, can also often be seen lounging around at the hospital as she comes to work for acupuncture treatments (from Dr. Duns) and follow ups for her diabetes. Then there is Vegas, a Brussels Griffon Terrier also known a “small dog”, who is her daughter Madelyn’s faithful furry companion. Dexter is a black and white cat she rescued as a kitten after a severe head trauma (so he has his own issues) and Charlie is a lovely Siamese adopted from the humane society. Last is Merlin, the big grey tabby, who was her husband’s (then boyfriend) faithful “roommate” for 7 years while she was away at university (and he remained here in Ottawa). Shelagh spends most of her spare time with her young children and family. She teaches Sunday school at their local church and is involved with her childrens’ co-op nursery school. She enjoys renovating her 60+ year old home (something she and her husband have been slowly working on since they moved there in the Fall of 1998) and just “relaxing” whenever she gets the chance. . |
